The Open Championship
, Outside the United Kingdom sometimes referred to as The Open Championship British Open, is the oldest still being played golf tournament in the world.
History and Significance
The idea of an open championship, which is played annually at varying rates, appeared for the first time in 1856. Lack support from other clubs ventured Prestwick Golf Club a start alone. On October 17, 1860, the first launched by the Earl of Eglinton and Colonel James Fairlie title fights were held in Prestwick. The eight leading players of the time were playing in one day three rounds of 12 -hole course in Prestwick. Willie Park Sr. won with 174 strokes of the first title. [Q 1] For the first time in 1863 prizes were awarded to the runners- participants and a prize pool of £ 10 fixed it ( the winner received up to this point only the championship belt for one year). Only in 1864 that was also the winner of an additional cash prize of £ 6 and the total prize money for this was raised to £ 15. After Young Tom Morris in 1870 won the tournament for the third time in a row, there was on the organizing committee disagreement on how to proceed. The disagreement was so great that in 1871 no tournament was held. From the following year joined the host between Prestwick, Musselburgh and St Andrews.
Until 1894 this tournament was held exclusively in Scotland. Royal St George's was the first venue in England.
The Open Championship is one of the four major golf tournaments, the so-called majors, and from these the only discharged in Europe tournament.
The name " Open " refers to the fact that in this tournament must compete both amateurs and professionals. Theoretically, participation is open to everyone so, if he is eligible for or automatically eligible under special achievements of the past.
The host places
The tournament is held annually in July by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews ( R & A). The tournament is always set up so that the final day of the third Sunday in July. The venue alternates between currently nine courses, the tradition dictates that they are links courses, which are typical of the Gulf in the UK. The list of host places is called " Rota " and consists of:
Current courses
- Carnoustie
- Muirfield
- Royal Birkdale
- Royal Lytham & St.Annes
- Royal Liverpool ( Hoylake )
- Royal St George's
- Royal Troon Golf Club
- St Andrews Old Course (most common venue with 27 tournaments)
- Turnberry
Former places
- Prestwick Golf Club (first venue of 1860-1872 )
- Musselburgh links
- Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
- Prince's Golf Club ( Sandwich, Kent)
- Royal Portrush Golf Club ( the only course is not on the British mainland, but in Northern Ireland)
Claret Jug
The famous trophy for the winner of the Open - the Champion Golfer of the Year - has been around since 1872, having previously presented the winner's Championship Belt - had passed into the possession of Young Tom Morris - after three-time gain in a row. This original trophy is ( donated in 1908 by the Morris family ) since 1928 in the clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, together with the Championship Belt issued.
The use is currently in the Claret Jug in 1928 the winner Walter Hagen presented for the first time. Each winner gets to keep the original trophy until the next Open Championship and then gets a replica of the trophy.
Silver Medal
The best amateur at the Open Championship receives award as the so-called Silver Medal, provided he has made the cut and finished the tournament over the full distance. The ceremony traditionally takes place just before the handover of the Claret Jug.
The winners since 1980
Source: Official website [Q 2]
(*) The number indicates the number of wins of the individual golfer to until then.
The following footnotes are assigned: [Q 3]
Famous Multiple winners
- Harry Vardon (6 wins 1896-1914 )
- John Henry Taylor (5 wins and 6 second places 1894-1914 )
- James Braid (5 wins 1901-1910 )
- Peter Thomson (5 wins 1954-1965 )
- Tom Watson (5 wins 1975-1983 )
- Willie Park Senior, winner of the first Open ( 4 wins to 1875 )
- Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris (each 4 wins to 1872 )
- Walter Hagen (4 wins 1922-1929 )
- Bobby Locke (4 wins 1949-1957 )
- Jack Nicklaus (3 wins and seven second places 1964-1979 )
- Jamie Anderson (3 wins 1877-1879 )
- Bob Ferguson (3 wins 1880-1882 )
- Robert Tyre Jones Jr (3 wins 1926-1930 )
- Henry Cotton (3 wins 1934-1948 )
- Gary Player (3 wins 1959-1974 )
- Severiano Ballesteros (3 wins 1979-1988 )
- Nick Faldo (3 wins between 1987 and 1992 )
- Tiger Woods (3 wins since 2000)
- Gene Sarazen ( victory in 1932 and the oldest participants in 1976 with 74 years )