The 1974 Open Championship was the 103rd Open Championship, held from 10–13 July at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. Gary Player won his third Open Championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Peter Oosterhuis. It was the eighth of his nine major titles and second of the year; he won the Masters in April. In the other two majors in 1974, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, Player had top ten finishes. The use of the "bigger ball" (1.68 in, 42.67 mm) was made compulsory. In previous Opens players could use the "smaller ball" (1.62 in, 41.15 mm).