The British Open is golf's oldest national championship and the only one of the majors that is played outside the USA. First held in October, 1860, The Open was mostly played in Scotland during its early years. Prestwick Golf Club was the birthplace of the event, which saw just eight players compete in its inaugural year. The following year, the tournament was declared open to the whole world and the event has been known simply as The Open ever since.
By the turn of the century The Open was being held at more and more courses and in 1923 it was held at Troon for the first time, the venue for this year's event. Since those early days, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club has established a rota of seaside courses to host the event. It means the Open has a unique links-course character among the majors. The biggest obstacles facing the players are the wind and the bunkers - and it certainly makes for some thrilling competitions.
Originally, the winner of the tournament was awarded a red, Morocco leather belt embellished with a silver buckle. But in 1870 Tom Morris completed a trio of victories and was given the belt to keep. That left the championship without a trophy - although The Open was not staged in 1871, and only a standard medal was issued a year later. It wasn't until 1873 that the famous Claret Jug trophy was commissioned and presented to the winner for the first time.
Close History
Open Championship (as it is known in the United Kingdom) or British Open history dates back to 1860, and the tournament has been played every year since, save for two breaks during the wartime years of 1915 to 1919 and 1940 to 1945.
The first Open Championship was played over three rounds at the 12-hole Prestwick Golf Course (now known as the Royal Prestwick) in October, 1860. Just eight men played in that first challenge and Willie Park of Musselburgh beat Tom Morris by two strokes with a score of 174.
It was only in 1894 that English golf clubs began to be included in the venue rotation of what, over the years, has become one of the most famous and widely viewed sporting events in the world. Of the 136 times the British Open has been staged since 1860, a Scottish club has hosted 90 of them. The Open Championship still clings to the roots of its prestigious history; spending its formative years exclusively in Scotland, the tournament retains a rich Scottish vein.
Today, Scotland is home to five of the nine British courses that share the privilege of hosting the British Open. St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Carnoustie and Turnberry are the cream of the crop in terms of Scottish links course. Indeed, they are among the best is the world.
But in Scotland, golf is the game of the people and readily accessible to everyone. Unlike privileged courses in other parts of the globe, these fabled links also remain very much available for visitors to play, allowing the general public to experience the thrill of playing courses steeped in history and tradition and born of a rich golfing heritage.
The Trophy
British Open history began in 1860, when Willie Park Snr was awarded the Challenge Belt, made of wide, red Moroccan leather and gilded with silver buckles and emblems.
The first man to hold the present trophy aloft was 1873 champion Tom Kidd. This trophy has come to be the oldest and most coveted in world golf. The original Championship Cup, or "Claret Jug", as it is known, has remained permanently at the R&A since 1927, with a copy being presented to each British Open winner to keep until the crowning of the new champion.
By the turn of the century The Open was being held at more and more courses and in 1923 it was held at Troon for the first time, the venue for this year's event. Since those early days, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club has established a rota of seaside courses to host the event. It means the Open has a unique links-course character among the majors. The biggest obstacles facing the players are the wind and the bunkers - and it certainly makes for some thrilling competitions.
Originally, the winner of the tournament was awarded a red, Morocco leather belt embellished with a silver buckle. But in 1870 Tom Morris completed a trio of victories and was given the belt to keep. That left the championship without a trophy - although The Open was not staged in 1871, and only a standard medal was issued a year later. It wasn't until 1873 that the famous Claret Jug trophy was commissioned and presented to the winner for the first time.
Close History
Open Championship (as it is known in the United Kingdom) or British Open history dates back to 1860, and the tournament has been played every year since, save for two breaks during the wartime years of 1915 to 1919 and 1940 to 1945.
The first Open Championship was played over three rounds at the 12-hole Prestwick Golf Course (now known as the Royal Prestwick) in October, 1860. Just eight men played in that first challenge and Willie Park of Musselburgh beat Tom Morris by two strokes with a score of 174.
It was only in 1894 that English golf clubs began to be included in the venue rotation of what, over the years, has become one of the most famous and widely viewed sporting events in the world. Of the 136 times the British Open has been staged since 1860, a Scottish club has hosted 90 of them. The Open Championship still clings to the roots of its prestigious history; spending its formative years exclusively in Scotland, the tournament retains a rich Scottish vein.
Today, Scotland is home to five of the nine British courses that share the privilege of hosting the British Open. St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Carnoustie and Turnberry are the cream of the crop in terms of Scottish links course. Indeed, they are among the best is the world.
But in Scotland, golf is the game of the people and readily accessible to everyone. Unlike privileged courses in other parts of the globe, these fabled links also remain very much available for visitors to play, allowing the general public to experience the thrill of playing courses steeped in history and tradition and born of a rich golfing heritage.
The Trophy
British Open history began in 1860, when Willie Park Snr was awarded the Challenge Belt, made of wide, red Moroccan leather and gilded with silver buckles and emblems.
The first man to hold the present trophy aloft was 1873 champion Tom Kidd. This trophy has come to be the oldest and most coveted in world golf. The original Championship Cup, or "Claret Jug", as it is known, has remained permanently at the R&A since 1927, with a copy being presented to each British Open winner to keep until the crowning of the new champion.
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