Gary Player

Gary Player, 52, became the second man to win successive Senior Opens when he defeated Bob Charles by two strokes in an 18-hole playoff at Medinah (Illinois) Country Club. Miller Barber won the 1984 and 1985 Senior Open Championships in addition to his 1982 title.

Player shot 74-70-71-73-288 to force a playoff with Charles, who had rounds of 75-70-70-73-288. Billy Casper, the 1983 Senior Open Champion, and Walt Zembriski posted rounds of 3-under-par 69 to share the first-round lead. Harold Henning was one stroke behind.

Casper shot a 70, 1 under par, in the second round to take a four-stroke lead at 4-under-par 140. Zembriski was close behind Casper until the par-3 17th hole where he put two balls in Lake Kadijah on his way to a 7. He finished his round in 75 for an even-par 36-hole total of 144. Henning and Lou Graham, who had won the 1975 U.S. Open at Medinah, moved ahead of Zembriski. They were tied for second at 143.

After the third round, Player and Casper shared the lead at 1-under-par 215. Casper shot 76 in the third round and was tied with Graham, one stroke behind at even par. By the 14th hole of the final round, Charles had a three-stroke lead over Player, but Charles bogeyed the next three holes to Player's par and the two again were tied.

Both men parred the 18th, forcing the playoff. Player took a two-stroke lead at the third hole of the playoff round when he tapped in a short birdie putt after Charles' bogey. Charles bogeyed the fourth to fall three strokes behind. Player birdied the seventh to extend his lead to four strokes. Charles managed to birdie three holes on the second nine, but Player played the back in two under par. He won the playoff 68-70.

Robert Housen was the low amateur with rounds of 77-76-75-74-302. The USGA accepted 1,662 entries for the championship.