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The Open Championship








The Open Championship


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The Open Championship
Tournament information
Location
United Kingdom, varies
Established
17 October 1860 (1860-10-17)
158 years ago
Course(s)
Carnoustie Golf Links
Championship Course
Angus, Scotland (in 2018)
Par
71 (in 2018)
Length
7,402 yd (6,768 m)
(in 2018)
Organized by
The R&A
Tour(s)
European Tour
PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Format
Stroke play
Prize fund
$10.5 million (in 2018)
Month played
July
Tournament record score
Aggregate
264* Henrik Stenson (2016)
*record for all majors
To par
−20* Henrik Stenson (2016)
*equals record for all majors
Current champion

Italy Francesco Molinari

2018 Open Championship

The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is an annual golf tournament conducted by The R&A. It is one of the four major championships in professional golf, and is the oldest of the four. The Open is traditionally played in mid-July; beginning 2019, with the rescheduling of the PGA Championship to May, the tournament will be the final major of the golf season.


It was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The Open has always been held in the United Kingdom and is the only major played outside the United States.


The current champion is Francesco Molinari, who won the 147th Open at Carnoustie in 2018 with a score of 276. The 2019 Open Championship will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. It was held at Portrush in 1951, the only occasion that it has not been held in Scotland or England.




Contents





  • 1 History


  • 2 Format

    • 2.1 Timeline of format changes



  • 3 Trophies and medals


  • 4 Host courses

    • 4.1 Future venues



  • 5 Qualification

    • 5.1 Timeline of qualification changes



  • 6 Tournament name


  • 7 Tour status


  • 8 Prize money


  • 9 Records


  • 10 Champions


  • 11 Silver Medal winners


  • 12 Broadcasting

    • 12.1 United Kingdom


    • 12.2 United States



  • 13 Notes and references


  • 14 External links




History[edit]




The Open was first played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.[1] The inaugural tournament was restricted to professionals and attracted a field of eight golfers who played three rounds of Prestwick's twelve-hole course in a single day. Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 174, beating Old Tom Morris, by two strokes. The following year the tournament was opened to amateurs; eight of them joined ten professionals in the field.





Prestwick Golf Club, site of the first Open Championship in 1860





Willie Park Sr. wearing the Challenge Belt, the winner's prize at The Open from 1860 to 1870


James Ogilvie Fairlie was the principal organiser of the first Open Championship held at Prestwick in 1860. With the untimely death of Allan Robertson, aged 43 in 1859, Prestwick members decided to conduct a challenge the following year that would determine the land’s greatest golfer. In a proposed competition for a "Challenge Belt", Fairlie sent out a series of letters to Blackheath, Perth, Edinburgh, Musselburgh and St Andrews, inviting a player known as a "respectable caddie" to represent each of the clubs in a tournament to be held on 17 October 1860.[2]


Originally, the trophy presented to the event's winner was the Challenge Belt, a red leather belt with a silver buckle. The Challenge Belt was retired in 1870, when Young Tom Morris was allowed to keep it for winning the tournament three consecutive times. Because no trophy was available, the tournament was cancelled in 1871. In 1872, after Young Tom Morris won again for a fourth time in a row, he was awarded a medal. The present trophy, The Golf Champion Trophy, better known by its popular name of the Claret Jug, was then created.


Prestwick administered The Open from 1860 to 1870. In 1871, it agreed to organise it jointly with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. In 1892 the event was doubled in length from 36 to 72 holes, four rounds of what was by then the standard complement of 18 holes. The 1894 Open was the first held outside Scotland, at the Royal St George's Golf Club in England. Because of an increasing number of entrants, a cut was introduced after two rounds in 1898. In 1920 full responsibility for The Open Championship was handed over to The Royal & Ancient Golf Club.


The early winners were all Scottish professionals, who in those days worked as greenkeepers, clubmakers, and caddies to supplement their modest winnings from championships and challenge matches. The Open has always been dominated by professionals, with only six victories by amateurs, all of which occurred between 1890 and 1930. The last of these was Bobby Jones' third Open and part of his celebrated Grand Slam. Jones was one of six Americans who won The Open between the First and Second World Wars, the first of whom had been Walter Hagen in 1922. These Americans and the French winner of the 1907 Open, Arnaud Massy, were the only winners from outside Scotland and England up to 1939.


The first post-World War II winner was the American Sam Snead, in 1946. In 1947, Northern Ireland's Fred Daly was victorious. While there have been many English and Scottish champions, Daly was the only winner from Ireland until the 2007 victory by Pádraig Harrington. There has never been a Welsh champion. In the early postwar years The Open was dominated by golfers from the Commonwealth, with South African Bobby Locke and Australian Peter Thomson winning the Claret Jug in eight of the 11 championships from 1948 and 1958 between them. During this period, The Open often had a schedule conflict with the match-play PGA Championship, which meant that Ben Hogan, the best American golfer at this time, competed in The Open just once, in 1953 at Carnoustie, a tournament he won.


Another South African, Gary Player was Champion in 1959. This was at the beginning of the "Big Three" era in professional golf, the three players in question being Player, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus. Palmer first competed in 1960, when he came second to the little-known Australian Kel Nagle, but he won the next two years. While he was far from being the first American to become Open Champion, he was the first that many Americans saw win the tournament on television, and his charismatic success is often credited with persuading leading American golfers to make The Open an integral part of their schedule, rather than an optional extra. The improvement of trans-Atlantic travel also increased American participation.


Nicklaus' victories came in 1966, 1970, and 1978. Although his tally of three wins is the least of his majors, it greatly understates how prominent Nicklaus was at the Open throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He finished runner-up seven times, which is the record and had a total of sixteen top-5 finishes, which is tied most in Open history with John Henry Taylor and easily the most in the postwar era. Nicklaus also holds the records for most rounds under par (61) and most aggregates under par (14). At Turnberry in 1977 he was involved in one of the most celebrated contests in golf history, when his duel with Tom Watson went to the final shot before Watson emerged as the champion for the second time with a record score of 268 (12 under par).


Watson won five Opens, more than anyone else has since the 1950s, but his final win in 1983 brought down the curtain on an era of U.S. domination. In the next 11 years there was only one American winner, with the others coming from Europe and the Commonwealth. The European winners of this era, Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, who was the first Scottish winner in over half a century, and the Englishman Nick Faldo, were also leading lights among the group of players who began to get the better of the Americans in the Ryder Cup during this period.




Logo from 1995 through 2002. Previously, the Open Championship did not have an official logo beyond the Claret Jug.


In 1995, John Daly's playoff win over Italian Costantino Rocca began another era of American domination. Tiger Woods won three Championships, two at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, and one at Hoylake in 2006. There was a dramatic moment at St Andrews in 2000, as the ageing Jack Nicklaus waved farewell to the crowds, while the young challenger to his crown watched from a nearby tee. Nicklaus later decided to play in The Open for one final time in 2005, when the R&A announced St Andrews as the venue, giving his final farewell to the fans at the Home of Golf.


There have also been wins by previously little known golfers, including Paul Lawrie's playoff win after the 72nd-hole collapse of Jean van de Velde in 1999, Ben Curtis in 2003 and Todd Hamilton in 2004.




Logo for 2003−2014


In 2007, the Europeans finally broke an eight-year drought in the majors when Pádraig Harrington of Ireland defeated Sergio García by one stroke in a four-hole playoff at Carnoustie. Harrington retained the Championship in 2008.


In 2009, 59-year-old Tom Watson turned in one of the most remarkable performances ever seen at The Open. Leading the tournament through 71 holes and needing just a par on the last hole to become the oldest ever winner of a major championship, Watson bogeyed, setting up a four-hole playoff, which he would lose to Stewart Cink.


In 2013, Phil Mickelson won his first Open Championship at Muirfield. His victory meant that he had won 3 of the 4 majors in pursuit of the career grand slam, just needing the U.S. Open, where he has finished runner-up six times.


In 2015, Zach Johnson denied Jordan Spieth his chance of winning the Grand Slam by winning an aggregate playoff over Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman at the Old Course at St Andrews.



Format[edit]


The Open is a 72-hole stroke play tournament contested over four days, Thursday through Sunday. Since 1979 it has been played in the week which includes the 3rd Friday in July. Currently, 156 players are in the field, mostly made up of the world's leading professionals, who are given exemptions, along with winners of the top amateur championships. Further places are given to players, amateurs and professionals, who are successful in a number of qualifying events. There is a cut after 36 holes after which only the leading 70 players (and ties) play in the final 36 holes on the weekend. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, a four-hole aggregate playoff is held; if two or more players are still tied, it continues as sudden-death until there is a winner.



Timeline of format changes[edit]


  • 1860: Contested over 36 holes, played on a single day

  • 1892: Extended to 72 holes, played over two days

  • 1898: Cut introduced after 36 holes. Those 20 or more strokes behind the leader were excluded

  • 1904: Extended to a third day with 18 holes on each of the first two days. Cut rule unchanged

  • 1905: Cut rule changed to exclude those 15 or more strokes behind the leader

  • 1907: Qualifying introduced, replacing the 36-hole cut and the contest reduced again to two days

  • 1910: Cut reintroduced instead of qualifying, play being extended to three days again. Top 60 and ties made the cut.

  • 1911: With an increase in the number of entries, the first two rounds were spread over three days, with 36 holes on the fourth day

  • 1912: Qualifying reintroduced to replace the cut. Contest reduced again to two days

  • 1926: Cut reintroduced. First Open with both qualifying and a cut. Extended again to a third day with 18 holes on the first two days. Those 15 or more strokes behind the leader were excluded from the final day. Days standardised as Wednesday to Friday

  • 1929: Cut rule changed to ensure that at least 60 made the cut even if 15 or more strokes behind the leader

  • 1930: Cut rule changed to top 60 and ties

  • 1937: Cut rule changed to top 40 and ties

  • 1938: Cut rule changed to be a maximum of 40 players. Ties for 40th place did not make the cut

  • 1939: Cut rule changed to be a maximum of 44 players. Ties for 44th place did not make the cut

  • 1946: Cut rule changed to be a maximum of 40 players. Ties for 40th place did not make the cut

  • 1951: Cut rule changed to be a maximum of 50 players. Ties for 50th place did not make the cut

  • 1957: Leaders after 36 holes go off last, replacing the random draw

  • 1963: Cut rule changed to top 45 and ties

  • 1964: Playoff reduced from 36 holes to 18, followed by sudden-death if still level

  • 1966: Play extended to four days, 18 holes per day from Wednesday to Saturday. Cut rule changed to top 55 and ties

  • 1968: Cut rule changed to top 70 and ties after 36 holes and then top 45 and ties after 54 holes

  • 1970: Cut rule changed to top 80 and ties after 36 holes and then top 55 and ties after 54 holes

  • 1971: Cut rule changed to top 80 and ties after 36 holes and then top 60 and ties after 54 holes

  • 1973: Play in groups of three introduced for the first two rounds

  • 1974: Use of "bigger ball" (1.68 in, 42.67 mm) made compulsory

  • 1978: "10-shot rule" introduced so that players within 10 shots of the leader make the cut even if outside the top 80/60

  • 1980: Play from Thursday to Sunday

  • 1986: 54-hole cut discontinued. Cut rule changed to top 70 and ties after 36 holes. Four-hole playoff introduced

  • 1996: "10-shot rule" dropped


Trophies and medals[edit]




The Claret Jug


There are a number of medals and trophies that are, or have been, given for various achievements during The Open.[3]


  • The Challenge Belt – awarded to the winner from 1860 until 1870, when Young Tom Morris won the belt outright by winning the Championship for the third year in a row.

  • The Golf Champion Trophy (commonly known as the Claret Jug) – replaced the Challenge Belt and has been awarded to the winner since 1873 although Young Tom Morris, the winner in 1872, is the first name engraved on it. (The Open was not held in 1871.)

  • Gold medal – awarded to the winner. First given out in 1872 when the Claret Jug was not yet ready, and since awarded to all champions.

  • Silver medal – awarded since 1949 to the leading amateur completing the final round.

  • Bronze medal – awarded since 1972 to all other amateurs completing the final round.

The Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain and Ireland) also mark the achievements of their own members in The Open.


  • Ryle Memorial Medal – awarded since 1901 to the winner if he is a PGA member.[4]

  • Braid Taylor Memorial Medal – awarded since 1966 to the highest finishing PGA member.[5]


  • Tooting Bec Cup – awarded since 1924 to the PGA member who records the lowest single round during the championship.[6]

The Braid Taylor Memorial Medal and the Tooting Bec Cup are restricted to members born in, or with a parent or parents born in, the UK or Republic of Ireland.



Host courses[edit]





The Open Championship is located in Scotland

Carnoustie

Carnoustie



St Andrews

St Andrews



Muirfield

Muirfield



Turnberry

Turnberry



Royal Troon

Royal Troon





Active venues in Scotland
The 2018 venue (Carnoustie) is shown in green





The Open Championship is located in England

Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale



Royal Liverpool(Hoylake)

Royal Liverpool
(Hoylake)



Royal St George's 

Royal St George's 



Royal Lytham

Royal Lytham





Active venues in England




The Open Championship is located in Northern Ireland

Royal Portrush

Royal Portrush





Active venue in Northern Ireland


The common factor in the venues is links courses. The Open has always been played in Scotland, northwest England, and southeast England, along with one course in Northern Ireland which will again stage the competition in 2019.


From 1860 to 1870 The Open was organised by and played at Prestwick Golf Club. From its revival in 1872 until 1891 it was played on three courses in rotation: Prestwick, The Old Course at St Andrews, and Musselburgh Links. In 1892 the newly built Muirfield replaced Musselburgh in the rotation. In 1893 two English courses, Royal St George's and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, were invited to join the rotation with Royal St George's being allocated the 1894 Open and Royal Liverpool having the 1897 event.[7] At a meeting in 1907 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club became the sixth course on the rota, being allocated the 1909 Open. With three courses in both England and Scotland, the meeting also agreed that the Championship was to be played in England and Scotland alternately.[8] The alternation of venues in England and Scotland continued until the Second World War.


The rotation of the six courses was reinstated after the First World War with Royal Cinque Ports hosting the first post-war Open in 1920. It had been chosen as the venue for the cancelled 1915 Open.[9] In 1923 Troon was used instead of Muirfield when "some doubts exists as to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers being desirous of their course being used for the event".[10] Muirfield returned as the venue in 1929. Serious overcrowding problems at Prestwick in 1925 meant that the course was never again used for the Open and was replaced by Carnoustie as the third Scottish course. While Royal St George's and Royal Liverpool continued to be used at six-year intervals the third English course varied. After Royal Cinque Ports in 1920, Royal Lytham was used in 1926 and then Prince's in 1932. Royal Cinque Ports was intended as the venue in 1938 but in February of that year abnormal high tides caused severe flooding to the course leaving it like "an inland sea several feet deep"[11] and the venue was switched to Royal St George's.[12] Birkdale was chosen as the venue for 1940, although the event was cancelled because of the Second World War.[13]


There are ten courses in the current rota, five in Scotland, four in England and one in Northern Ireland. In recent times the Old Course has hosted the Open every five years. The remaining courses host the Open roughly every 10 years but the gaps between hosting Opens may be longer or shorter than this. In 2014, it was announced by The R&A that Royal Portrush was returning to the active rota and in October 2015 Portrush was confirmed as the venue for the 2019 Open.[14][15]


The most recent course to be removed from the active rota was Muirfield in May 2016, following The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers refusal to permit female members to join their club.[16] On 14 March 2017, the members voted to admit females; the R&A subsequently stated that Muirfield would be welcomed back to the Open rota.


From 1894 (when it was first played in England) to 2018, it has been played 63 times in Scotland, 50 times in England and once in Northern Ireland. It was not until 2011 and 2012 that England hosted consecutive Opens.



Future venues[edit]






































Year
Edition
Course
Town
County
Country
Dates
Last hosted
Ref
2019148thRoyal Portrush Golf ClubPortrushAntrimNorthern Ireland18–21 July1951[17]
2020149thRoyal St George's Golf ClubSandwichKentEngland16–19 July2011[18]
2021150thOld Course at St AndrewsSt AndrewsFifeScotland15–18 July2015[19]


Qualification[edit]



The field for the Open is 156, and golfers gain a place in a number of ways.[20] Most of the field is made up of leading players who are given exemptions. Further places are given to players who are successful in The Open Qualifying Series and in Final Qualifying.[21] Any remaining places, and places made available because qualified players are not competing, are made available to the highest ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking.


There are currently 27 exemption categories. Among the more significant are:


  • The top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. This category means that no member of the current elite of world golf will be excluded.

  • The top 30 in the previous season's European Tour Race to Dubai and the 30 qualifiers for Tour Championship. Most of these players will also be in the World top 50.

  • All previous Open Champions who will be age 60 or under on the final day of the tournament. Each year a number of past champions choose not to compete.

  • All players who have won one of the other three majors in the previous five years.

  • The top 10 from the previous year's Open Championship.

  • The winners of The Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur (provided the winners maintain their amateur status prior to the tournament).

International qualifying is through the "Open Qualifying Series". About ten tournaments are selected each year. These currently consist of one event from the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Sunshine Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Korean Tour and three from the European Tour and the PGA Tour. A pre-allocated number of places are made available at these tournaments (from 1 to 4) which are given to the leading players in those events who are not, at that point, qualified for the Open, provided they finish in a high-enough position. In 2018 a total of 34 places were available.


Local qualifying was the traditional way for non-exempt players to win a place at The Open. In recent years it has comprised a number of "Regional Qualifying" competitions around Britain and Ireland with successful competitors, joined by those players exempt from regional qualifying, playing in 36-hole "Final Qualifying" tournaments. In 2018 there were 12 places available through Final Qualifying, three at each of the four venues.



Timeline of qualification changes[edit]


Up to 1920 a variety of qualification systems were used. From 1921 to 1962 (except 1926) local qualifying was used. All those who entered played 18 holes on one of two courses and then played 18 holes on the other course the following day. Qualifying took place immediately before the Championship itself. In 1963 a system of exemptions for the leading players was introduced with local qualifying continuing for the remaining players. Since then a large number of changes have been made to the exemption criteria and to the qualifying system for the remaining players.


  • 1907: Qualifying introduced for the first time. Players play 36 holes on one of two days. Top 30 and ties qualify on each day

  • 1908: Players play on either the first morning and second afternoon or the first afternoon and second morning. Top 30 and ties qualify from each group

  • 1909: Same but each of the two groups has to contain at least 30 professionals

  • 1910: Qualifying dropped

  • 1912: Qualifying reintroduced. Players play 36 holes on one of three days. Top 20 and ties qualify on each day

  • 1914. Qualifying over two days using two courses. Exactly 100 players qualify. 18-hole playoff the following day for those tied for final places. This was the first occasion on which qualifying did not take place on the championship course.

  • 1920: Separate qualifying for amateurs and professionals. Amateurs qualify at the Open venue (total of 8 places with the Amateur Champion receiving automatic entry). Professionals qualified using two courses in Surrey. Top 72 and ties qualify

  • 1921: Local qualifying reintroduced using two courses. Generally the Championship course is used together with a nearby course. Top 80 and ties qualify

  • 1926: Regional qualifying used. Total of 101 and ties qualify at one of three venues (southern, central, northern)

  • 1927: Local qualifying reintroduced. Top 100 and ties qualify

  • 1937: Top 140 and ties qualify

  • 1938: Maximum of 130 players qualify. Ties for 130th place did not qualify

  • 1946: Maximum of 100 players qualify. Ties for 100th place did not qualify

  • 1961: Maximum of 120 players qualify. Ties for 120th place did not qualify

  • 1963: Exemption from qualifying introduced for the leading players including past 10 Open champions. Local qualifying continues for the remainder of the field but now two separate competitions are held with a preallocated number of places available. Two courses near the Open venue are used but not the Open venue itself. Playoff for those tied for final places. Total of 120 qualify

  • 1965: Total of 130 qualify

  • 1968: Exemption extended to all previous Open champions

  • 1971: Total of 150 qualify

  • 1984: Exemption for previous Open champions aged under 65

  • 1995: Exemption for previous Open champions extended to those aged 65 or under

  • 2004: International Final Qualifying introduced

  • 2008: Exemption for previous Open champions restricted to those aged 60 or under (with transitional arrangement for those born between 1942 and 1948)

  • 2014: Open Qualifying Series introduced replacing International Final Qualifying


Tournament name[edit]


In Britain, the tournament is best known by its official title, The Open Championship, or simply the Open.[22] Outside of the United Kingdom, the tournament is often referred to as the "British Open" to disambiguate the tournament from other national open golf tournaments, such as the U.S. Open. Likewise, the Masters and PGA Championship are often referred to as the "U.S. Masters" and "U.S. PGA Championship" outside of the United States, the latter being distinguished in the UK from the European Tour's BMW PGA Championship.[23][24] Although it is not the official title of the men's championship, the Open's women's counterpart is officially titled the Women's British Open.


The R&A has contractually required its media rightsholders to refer to the event as The Open Championship; NBC presenter Johnny Miller admitted that during the network's first year as U.S. broadcaster, he sometimes had to correct himself on-air after accidentally referring to the event as the "British Open".[22]


Some U.S. critics have argued that the insistence of referring to the tournament as "The Open" is an expression of exceptionalism for the event by the R&A in comparison to other open golf tournaments, albeit one that is justified due to its history.[22][24][23]Alastair Johnston of IMG, who markets the tournament and its media rights internationally, remarked that negotiations in some regions had been complicated by local executives who did not believe it was appropriate to refer to the event as simply "The Open Championship".[22]



Tour status[edit]


The Open Championship has been an official event on the PGA Tour since 1995. Because of this, the prize money won in The Open by PGA Tour members is included on the official money list. In addition, all Open Championships before 1995 have been retroactively classified as PGA Tour wins, and the list of players with the most wins on the PGA Tour has been adjusted to reflect this. The European Tour has recognised The Open as an official event since its first official season in 1972, and it is also an official money event on the Japan Golf Tour.



Prize money[edit]


The 2015 edition had a total prize money fund of £6.3 million and a first prize of £1.15 million, which equated to about $9.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The other three major championships in 2015 had prize money of $10.0 million and first prizes of $1.8 million, so that all four majors had similar prize money. Prize money is given to all professionals who make the cut and, since the number of professionals making the cut changes from year to year, the total prize money varies somewhat from the advertised number.


The prize fund in 2016 was £6.5 million, with a winner's share of £1.175 million; about $8.6 million and $1.55 million. The other majors had prize money of at least $10.0 million and first prizes of at least $1.8 million. The relative decline in prize money, in dollar terms, was attributable to a fall in the £/$ exchange rate.


For the first time in 2017, the prize money was denominated in U.S. dollars.[25] With total prize money of $10.25 million (£7.89 million), it was somewhat lower than the other major championships, $11 million at the Masters, $12 million for the U.S. Open and $10.5 million at the PGA Championship.


There was no prize money in the first three Opens. In 1863, a prize fund of ten pounds was introduced, which was shared between the second-, third-, and fourth-placed professionals, with the champion keeping the belt for a year. Old Tom Morris won the first champion's cash prize of six pounds in 1864.


Until the late 1990s, The Open prize fund was significantly lower than the other three majors; by 2002, it was the highest.



Records[edit]


  • Oldest winner: Old Tom Morris (46 years, 102 days), 1867.

  • Youngest winner: Young Tom Morris (17 years, 156 days), 1868.[26]

  • Most victories: 6, Harry Vardon (1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914).

  • Most consecutive victories: 4, Young Tom Morris (1868, 1869, 1870, 1872 – there was no championship in 1871).

  • Lowest score after 36 holes: 130, Nick Faldo (66-64), 1992; Brandt Snedeker (66-64), 2012

  • Lowest score after 54 holes: 198, Tom Lehman (67-67-64), 1996

  • Lowest final score (72 holes): 264, Henrik Stenson (68-65-68-63, 264), 2016.

  • Lowest final score (72 holes) in relation to par: −20, Henrik Stenson (68-65-68-63, 264), 2016.

  • Greatest victory margin: 13 strokes, Old Tom Morris, 1862. This remained a record for all majors until 2000, when Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach. Old Tom's 13-stroke margin was achieved over just 36 holes.

  • Lowest round: 62, Branden Grace, 3rd round, 2017; a record for all majors.

  • Lowest round in relation to par: −9, Paul Broadhurst, 3rd round, 1990; Rory McIlroy, 1st round, 2010.


  • Wire-to-wire winners (after 72 holes with no ties after rounds): Ted Ray in 1912, Bobby Jones in 1927, Gene Sarazen in 1932, Henry Cotton in 1934, Tom Weiskopf in 1973, Tiger Woods in 2005, and Rory McIlroy in 2014.[27]

  • Most runner-up finishes: 7, Jack Nicklaus (1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979)


Champions[edit]

























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































YearDatesChampionCountryVenueWinning
score
Winning
margin
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share (£)
201819–22 JulFrancesco Molinari
 Italy
Carnoustie276 (−8)2 strokes
United States Kevin Kisner
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy
England Justin Rose
United States Xander Schauffele
1,440,000
201720–23 JulJordan Spieth
 United States
Royal Birkdale268 (−12)3 strokes
United States Matt Kuchar
1,420,000
201614–17 JulHenrik Stenson
 Sweden
Royal Troon264 (−20)3 strokes
United States Phil Mickelson
1,175,000
201516–20 JulZach Johnson
 United States
St Andrews273 (−15)Playoff
Australia Marc Leishman
South Africa Louis Oosthuizen
1,150,000
201417–20 JulRory McIlroy
 Northern Ireland
Royal Liverpool271 (−17)2 strokes
United States Rickie Fowler
Spain Sergio García
975,000
201318–21 JulPhil Mickelson
 United States
Muirfield281 (−3)3 strokes
Sweden Henrik Stenson
945,000
201219–22 Jul
Ernie Els (2)

 South Africa
Royal Lytham & St Annes273 (−7)1 stroke
Australia Adam Scott
900,000
201114–17 JulDarren Clarke
 Northern Ireland
Royal St George's275 (−5)3 strokes
United States Dustin Johnson
United States Phil Mickelson
900,000
201015–18 JulLouis Oosthuizen
 South Africa
St Andrews272 (−16)7 strokes
England Lee Westwood
850,000
200916–19 JulStewart Cink
 United States
Turnberry278 (−2)Playoff
United States Tom Watson
750,000
200817–20 Jul
Pádraig Harrington (2)

 Ireland
Royal Birkdale283 (+3)4 strokes
England Ian Poulter
750,000
200719–22 JulPádraig Harrington
 Ireland
Carnoustie277 (−7)Playoff
Spain Sergio García
750,000
200620–23 Jul
Tiger Woods (3)

 United States
Royal Liverpool270 (−18)2 strokes
United States Chris DiMarco
720,000
200514–17 Jul
Tiger Woods (2)

 United States
St Andrews274 (−14)5 strokes
Scotland Colin Montgomerie
720,000
200415–18 JulTodd Hamilton
 United States
Royal Troon274 (−10)Playoff
South Africa Ernie Els
720,000
200317–20 JulBen Curtis
 United States
Royal St George's283 (−1)1 stroke
Denmark Thomas Bjørn
Fiji Vijay Singh
700,000
200218–21 JulErnie Els
 South Africa
Muirfield278 (−6)Playoff
Australia Stuart Appleby
Australia Steve Elkington
France Thomas Levet
700,000
200119–22 JulDavid Duval
 United States
Royal Lytham & St Annes274 (−10)3 strokes
Sweden Niclas Fasth
600,000
200020–23 JulTiger Woods
 United States
St Andrews269 (−19)8 strokes
Denmark Thomas Bjørn
South Africa Ernie Els
500,000
199915–18 JulPaul Lawrie
 Scotland
Carnoustie290 (+6)Playoff
United States Justin Leonard
France Jean van de Velde
350,000
199816–19 JulMark O'Meara
 United States
Royal Birkdale280 (E)Playoff
United States Brian Watts
300,000
199717–20 JulJustin Leonard
 United States
Royal Troon272 (−12)3 strokes
Northern Ireland Darren Clarke
Sweden Jesper Parnevik
250,000
199618–21 JulTom Lehman
 United States
Royal Lytham & St Annes271 (−13)2 strokes
South Africa Ernie Els
United States Mark McCumber
200,000
199520–23 JulJohn Daly
 United States
St Andrews282 (−6)Playoff
Italy Costantino Rocca
125,000
199414–17 JulNick Price
 Zimbabwe
Turnberry268 (−12)1 stroke
Sweden Jesper Parnevik
110,000
199315–18 Jul
Greg Norman (2)

 Australia
Royal St George's267 (−13)2 strokes
England Nick Faldo
100,000
199216–19 Jul
Nick Faldo (3)

 England
Muirfield272 (−12)1 stroke
United States John Cook
95,000
199118–21 JulIan Baker-Finch
 Australia
Royal Birkdale272 (−8)2 strokes
Australia Mike Harwood
90,000
199019–22 Jul
Nick Faldo (2)

 England
St Andrews270 (−18)5 strokes
Zimbabwe Mark McNulty
United States Payne Stewart
85,000
198920–23 JulMark Calcavecchia
 United States
Royal Troon275 (−13)Playoff
Australia Wayne Grady
Australia Greg Norman
80,000
198814–18 Jul
Seve Ballesteros (3)

 Spain
Royal Lytham & St Annes273 (−11)2 strokes
Zimbabwe Nick Price
80,000
198716–19 JulNick Faldo
 England
Muirfield279 (−5)1 stroke
United States Paul Azinger
Australia Rodger Davis
75,000
198617–20 JulGreg Norman
 Australia
Turnberry280 (E)5 strokes
England Gordon J. Brand
70,000
198518–21 JulSandy Lyle
 Scotland
Royal St George's282 (+2)1 stroke
United States Payne Stewart
65,000
198419–22 Jul
Seve Ballesteros (2)

 Spain
St Andrews276 (−12)2 strokes
West Germany Bernhard Langer
United States Tom Watson
55,000
198314–17 Jul
Tom Watson (5)

 United States
Royal Birkdale275 (−9)1 stroke
United States Andy Bean
United States Hale Irwin
40,000
198215–18 Jul
Tom Watson (4)

 United States
Royal Troon284 (−4)1 stroke
England Peter Oosterhuis
Zimbabwe Nick Price
32,000
198116–19 JulBill Rogers
 United States
Royal St George's276 (−4)4 strokes
West Germany Bernhard Langer
25,000
198017–20 Jul
Tom Watson (3)

 United States
Muirfield271 (−13)4 strokes
United States Lee Trevino
25,000
197918–21 JulSeve Ballesteros
 Spain
Royal Lytham & St Annes283 (−1)3 strokes
United States Ben Crenshaw
United States Jack Nicklaus
15,000
197812–15 Jul
Jack Nicklaus (3)

 United States
St Andrews281 (−7)2 strokes
United States Ben Crenshaw
United States Raymond Floyd
United States Tom Kite
New Zealand Simon Owen
12,500
19776–9 Jul
Tom Watson (2)

 United States
Turnberry268 (−12)1 stroke
United States Jack Nicklaus
10,000
19767–10 JulJohnny Miller
 United States
Royal Birkdale279 (−9)6 strokes
Spain Seve Ballesteros
United States Jack Nicklaus
7,500
19759–13 JulTom Watson
 United States
Carnoustie279 (−9)Playoff
Australia Jack Newton
7,500
197410–13 Jul
Gary Player (3)

 South Africa
Royal Lytham & St Annes282 (−2)4 strokes
England Peter Oosterhuis
5,500
197311–14 JulTom Weiskopf
 United States
Troon276 (−12)3 strokes
England Neil Coles
United States Johnny Miller
5,500
197212–15 Jul
Lee Trevino (2)

 United States
Muirfield278 (−6)1 stroke
United States Jack Nicklaus
5,500
19717–10 JulLee Trevino
 United States
Royal Birkdale278 (−14)1 stroke
Taiwan Lu Liang-Huan
5,500
19708–12 Jul
Jack Nicklaus (2)

 United States
St Andrews283 (−5)Playoff
United States Doug Sanders
5,250
19699–12 JulTony Jacklin
 England
Royal Lytham & St Annes280 (−4)2 strokes
New Zealand Bob Charles
4,250
196810–13 Jul
Gary Player (2)

 South Africa
Carnoustie289 (+1)2 strokes
New Zealand Bob Charles
United States Jack Nicklaus
3,000
196712–15 JulRoberto De Vicenzo
 Argentina
Royal Liverpool278 (−10)2 strokes
United States Jack Nicklaus
2,100
19666–9 JulJack Nicklaus
 United States
Muirfield282 (−2)1 stroke
United States Doug Sanders
Wales Dave Thomas
2,100
19657–9 Jul
Peter Thomson (5)

 Australia
Royal Birkdale285 (−7)2 strokes
Wales Brian Huggett
Republic of Ireland Christy O'Connor Snr
1,750
19648–10 JulTony Lema
 United States
St Andrews279 (−9)5 strokes
United States Jack Nicklaus
1,500
196310–13 JulBob Charles
 New Zealand
Royal Lytham & St Annes277 (−3)Playoff
United States Phil Rodgers
1,500
196211–13 Jul
Arnold Palmer (2)

 United States
Troon276 (−12)6 strokes
Australia Kel Nagle
1,400
196112–15 JulArnold Palmer
 United States
Royal Birkdale284 (−4)1 stroke
Wales Dai Rees
1,400
19606–9 JulKel Nagle
 Australia
St Andrews278 (−10)1 stroke
United States Arnold Palmer
1,250
19591–3 JulGary Player
 South Africa
Muirfield284 (−4)2 strokes
England Fred Bullock
Belgium Flory Van Donck
1,000
19582–5 Jul
Peter Thomson (4)

 Australia
Royal Lytham & St Annes278 (−6)Playoff
Wales Dave Thomas
1,000
19573–5 Jul
Bobby Locke (4)

 South Africa
St Andrews279 (−9)3 strokes
Australia Peter Thomson
1,000
19564–6 Jul
Peter Thomson (3)

 Australia
Royal Liverpool286 (+2)3 strokes
Belgium Flory Van Donck
1,000
19556–8 Jul
Peter Thomson (2)

 Australia
St Andrews281 (−7)2 strokes
Scotland John Fallon
1,000
19547–9 JulPeter Thomson
 Australia
Royal Birkdale283 (−9)1 stroke
South Africa Bobby Locke
Wales Dai Rees
England Syd Scott
750
19538–10 JulBen Hogan
 United States
Carnoustie282 (−6)4 strokes
Argentina Antonio Cerdá
Wales Dai Rees
United States Frank Stranahan (a)
Australia Peter Thomson
500
19529–11 Jul
Bobby Locke (3)

 South Africa
Royal Lytham & St Annes287 (−1)1 stroke
Australia Peter Thomson
300
19514–6 JulMax Faulkner
 England
Royal Portrush285 (−3)2 strokes
Argentina Antonio Cerdá
300
19505–7 Jul
Bobby Locke (2)

 South Africa
Troon279 (−1)2 strokes
Argentina Roberto de Vicenzo
300
19496–9 JulBobby Locke
 South Africa
Royal St George's283 (−5)Playoff
Republic of Ireland Harry Bradshaw
300
194830 Jun – 2 Jul
Henry Cotton (3)

 England
Muirfield284 (E)5 strokes
Northern Ireland Fred Daly
150
19472–4 JulFred Daly
 Northern Ireland
Royal Liverpool293 (+21)1 stroke
England Reg Horne
United States Frank Stranahan (a)
150
19463–5 JulSam Snead
 United States
St Andrews290 (−2)4 strokes
United States Johnny Bulla
South Africa Bobby Locke
150
1940–1945: No Championships because of World War II
19395–7 JulDick Burton
 England
St Andrews290 (−2)2 strokes
United States Johnny Bulla
100
19386–8 JulReg Whitcombe
 England
Royal St George's295 (+15)2 strokes
Scotland Jimmy Adams
100
19377–9 Jul
Henry Cotton (2)

 England
Carnoustie2902 strokes
England Reg Whitcombe
100
193625–27 JunAlf Padgham
 England
Royal Liverpool2871 stroke
Scotland Jimmy Adams
100
193526–28 JunAlf Perry
 England
Muirfield2834 strokes
England Alf Padgham
100
193427–29 JunHenry Cotton
 England
Royal St George's2835 strokes
South Africa Sid Brews
100
19335–8 JulDenny Shute
 United States
St Andrews292Playoff
United States Craig Wood
100
19328–10 JunGene Sarazen
 United States
Prince's2835 strokes
United States Macdonald Smith
100
19313–5 JunTommy Armour
 United States
Carnoustie2961 stroke
Argentina José Jurado
100
193018–20 Jun
Bobby Jones (a) (3)

 United States
Royal Liverpool2912 strokes
United States Leo Diegel
United States Macdonald Smith
100
19298–10 May
Walter Hagen (4)

 United States
Muirfield2926 strokes
United States Johnny Farrell
75
19289–11 May
Walter Hagen (3)

 United States
Royal St George's2922 strokes
United States Gene Sarazen
75
192713–15 Jul
Bobby Jones (a) (2)

 United States
St Andrews2856 strokes
Jersey Aubrey Boomer
England Fred Robson
75
192623–25 Jun
Bobby Jones (a)

 United States
Royal Lytham & St Annes2912 strokes
United States Al Watrous
75
192525–26 JunJim Barnes
 United States
Prestwick3001 stroke
England Archie Compston
Jersey Ted Ray
75
192426–27 Jun
Walter Hagen (2)

 United States
Royal Liverpool3011 stroke
England Ernest Whitcombe
75
192314–15 JunArthur Havers
 England
Troon2951 stroke
United States Walter Hagen
75
192222–23 JunWalter Hagen
 United States
Royal St George's3001 stroke
United States Jim Barnes
Scotland George Duncan
75
192123–25 JunJock Hutchison
 United States
St Andrews296Playoff
England Roger Wethered (a)
75
192030 Jun – 1 JulGeorge Duncan
 Scotland
Royal Cinque Ports3032 strokes
Scotland Sandy Herd
75
1915–1919: No Championships because of World War I
191418–19 Jun
Harry Vardon (6)

 Jersey
Prestwick3063 strokes
England J.H. Taylor
50
191323–24 Jun
J.H. Taylor (5)

 England
Royal Liverpool3048 strokes
Jersey Ted Ray
50
191224–25 JunTed Ray
 Jersey
Muirfield2954 strokes
Jersey Harry Vardon
50
191126–30 Jun
Harry Vardon (5)

 Jersey
Royal St George's303Playoff
France Arnaud Massy
50
191021–24 Jun
James Braid (5)

 Scotland
St Andrews2994 strokes
Scotland Sandy Herd
50
190910–11 Jun
J.H. Taylor (4)

 England
Royal Cinque Ports2916 strokes
England Tom Ball
England James Braid
50
190818–19 Jun
James Braid (4)

 Scotland
Prestwick2918 strokes
England Tom Ball
50
190720–21 JunArnaud Massy
 France
Royal Liverpool3122 strokes
England J.H. Taylor
50
190613–15 Jun
James Braid (3)

 Scotland
Muirfield3004 strokes
England J.H. Taylor
50
19057–9 Jun
James Braid (2)

 Scotland
St Andrews3185 strokes
England Rowland Jones
England J.H. Taylor
50
19048–10 JunJack White
 Scotland
Royal St George's2961 stroke
Scotland James Braid
England J.H. Taylor
50
190310–11 Jun
Harry Vardon (4)

 Jersey
Prestwick3006 strokes
Jersey Tom Vardon
50
19024–5 JunSandy Herd
 Scotland
Royal Liverpool3071 stroke
Scotland James Braid
Jersey Harry Vardon
50
19015–6 JunJames Braid
 Scotland
Muirfield3093 strokes
Jersey Harry Vardon
50
19006–7 Jun
J.H. Taylor (3)

 England
St Andrews3098 strokes
Jersey Harry Vardon
50
18997–8 Jun
Harry Vardon (3)

 Jersey
St George's3105 strokes
Scotland Jack White
30
18988–9 Jun
Harry Vardon (2)

 Jersey
Prestwick3071 stroke
Scotland Willie Park Jr.
30
189719–20 May
Harold Hilton (a) (2)

 England
Royal Liverpool3141 stroke
Scotland James Braid
30
189610–11,13 JunHarry Vardon
 Jersey
Muirfield316Playoff
England J.H. Taylor
30
189512–13 Jun
J.H. Taylor (2)

 England
St Andrews3224 strokes
Scotland Sandy Herd
30
189411–12 JunJ.H. Taylor
 England
St George's3265 strokes
Scotland Douglas Rolland
30
189331 Aug – 1 SepWilliam Auchterlonie
 Scotland
Prestwick3222 strokes
Scotland Johnny Laidlay (a)
30
189222–23 Sep
Harold Hilton (a)

 England
Muirfield3053 strokes
England John Ball (a)
Scotland Sandy Herd
Scotland Hugh Kirkaldy
35
18916–7 OctHugh Kirkaldy
 Scotland
St Andrews1662 strokes
Scotland Willie Fernie
Scotland Andrew Kirkaldy
10
189011 Sep
John Ball (a)

 England
Prestwick1643 strokes
Scotland Willie Fernie
Scotland Archie Simpson
13
18898,11 Nov
Willie Park Jr. (2)

 Scotland
Musselburgh155Playoff
Scotland Andrew Kirkaldy
8
18886,8 OctJack Burns
 Scotland
St Andrews1711 stroke
Scotland David Anderson Jr.
Scotland Ben Sayers
8
188716 SepWillie Park Jr.
 Scotland
Prestwick1611 stroke
Scotland Bob Martin
8
18865 NovDavid Brown
 Scotland
Musselburgh1572 strokes
Scotland Willie Campbell
8
18853 Oct
Bob Martin (2)

 Scotland
St Andrews1711 stroke
Scotland Archie Simpson
10
18843 OctJack Simpson
 Scotland
Prestwick1604 strokes
Scotland Willie Fernie
Scotland Douglas Rolland
8
188316–17 NovWillie Fernie
 Scotland
Musselburgh159Playoff
Scotland Bob Ferguson
8
188230 Sep
Bob Ferguson (3)

 Scotland
St Andrews1713 strokes
Scotland Willie Fernie
12
188114 Oct
Bob Ferguson (2)

 Scotland
Prestwick1703 strokes
Scotland Jamie Anderson
8
18809 AprBob Ferguson
 Scotland
Musselburgh1625 strokes
Scotland Peter Paxton
8
187927,29 Sep
Jamie Anderson (3)

 Scotland
St Andrews1693 strokes
Scotland Jamie Allan
Scotland Andrew Kirkaldy
10
18784 Oct
Jamie Anderson (2)

 Scotland
Prestwick1572 strokes
Scotland Bob Kirk
8
18776 AprJamie Anderson
 Scotland
Musselburgh1602 strokes
Scotland Bob Pringle
8
187630 Sep, 2 OctBob Martin
 Scotland
St Andrews176Playoff
Scotland Davie Strath
10
187510 Sep
Willie Park Sr. (4)

 Scotland
Prestwick1662 strokes
Scotland Bob Martin
8
187410 AprMungo Park
 Scotland
Musselburgh1592 strokes
Scotland Tom Morris Jr.
8
18734 OctTom Kidd
 Scotland
St Andrews1791 stroke
Scotland Jamie Anderson
11
187213 Sep
Tom Morris Jr. (4)

 Scotland
Prestwick1663 strokes
Scotland Davie Strath
8
1871Championship cancelled as no trophy available
187015 Sep
Tom Morris Jr. (3)

 Scotland
Prestwick14912 strokes
Scotland Bob Kirk
Scotland Davie Strath
6
186916 Sep
Tom Morris Jr. (2)

 Scotland
Prestwick15711 strokes
Scotland Bob Kirk
6
186823 SepTom Morris Jr.
 Scotland
Prestwick1543 strokes
Scotland Tom Morris Sr.
6
186726 Sep
Tom Morris Sr. (4)

 Scotland
Prestwick1702 strokes
Scotland Willie Park Sr.
7
186613 Sep
Willie Park Sr. (3)

 Scotland
Prestwick1692 strokes
Scotland Davie Park
6
186514 SepAndrew Strath
 Scotland
Prestwick1622 strokes
Scotland Willie Park Sr.
8
186416 Sep
Tom Morris Sr. (3)

 Scotland
Prestwick1672 strokes
Scotland Andrew Strath
6
186318 Sep
Willie Park Sr. (2)

 Scotland
Prestwick1682 strokes
Scotland Tom Morris Sr.
-
186211 Sep
Tom Morris Sr. (2)

 Scotland
Prestwick16313 strokes
Scotland Willie Park Sr.
-
186126 SepTom Morris Sr.
 Scotland
Prestwick1634 strokes
Scotland Willie Park Sr.
-
186017 OctWillie Park Sr.
 Scotland
Prestwick1742 strokes
Scotland Tom Morris Sr.
-

(a) denotes amateur

"Dates" column includes all days on which play took place or was planned to take place, including any playoffs


The Open began paying in U.S. dollars in 2017,[25] subsequent figures in pounds are rounded estimates.[28]



Silver Medal winners[edit]


Since 1949, the Silver Medal is awarded to the leading amateur, provided that the player completes all 72 holes.[3] In the 70 Championships from 1949 to 2018, it has been won by 45 players on 51 occasions. Frank Stranahan won it four times in the first five years (and was also the low amateur in 1947), while Joe Carr, Michael Bonallack and Peter McEvoy each won it twice. The medal has gone unawarded 19 times.




  • 1949 – Frank Stranahan


  • 1950 – Frank Stranahan (2)


  • 1951 – Frank Stranahan (3)


  • 1952 – Jackie Jones


  • 1953 – Frank Stranahan (4)


  • 1954 – Peter Toogood


  • 1955 – Joe Conrad


  • 1956 – Joe Carr


  • 1957 – Dickson Smith


  • 1958 – Joe Carr (2)


  • 1959 – Reid Jack


  • 1960 – Guy Wolstenholme


  • 1961 – Ronnie White


  • 1962 – Charlie Green


  • 1963 – none


  • 1964 – none


  • 1965 – Michael Burgess


  • 1966 – Ronnie Shade


  • 1967 – none


  • 1968 – Michael Bonallack


  • 1969 – Peter Tupling


  • 1970 – Steve Melnyk


  • 1971 – Michael Bonallack (2)


  • 1972 – none


  • 1973 – Danny Edwards


  • 1974 – none


  • 1975 – none


  • 1976 – none


  • 1977 – none


  • 1978 – Peter McEvoy


  • 1979 – Peter McEvoy (2)


  • 1980 – Jay Sigel


  • 1981 – Hal Sutton


  • 1982 – Malcolm Lewis


  • 1983 – none


  • 1984 – none


  • 1985 – José María Olazábal


  • 1986 – none


  • 1987 – Paul Mayo


  • 1988 – Paul Broadhurst


  • 1989 – Russell Claydon


  • 1990 – none


  • 1991 – Jim Payne


  • 1992 – Daren Lee


  • 1993 – Iain Pyman


  • 1994 – Warren Bennett


  • 1995 – Steve Webster


  • 1996 – Tiger Woods


  • 1997 – Barclay Howard


  • 1998 – Justin Rose


  • 1999 – none


  • 2000 – none


  • 2001 – David Dixon


  • 2002 – none


  • 2003 – none


  • 2004 – Stuart Wilson


  • 2005 – Lloyd Saltman


  • 2006 – Marius Thorp


  • 2007 – Rory McIlroy


  • 2008 – Chris Wood


  • 2009 – Matteo Manassero


  • 2010 – Jin Jeong


  • 2011 – Tom Lewis


  • 2012 – none


  • 2013 – Matthew Fitzpatrick


  • 2014 – none


  • 2015 – Jordan Niebrugge


  • 2016 – none


  • 2017 – Alfie Plant


  • 2018 – Sam Locke



Broadcasting[edit]


As of 2016, European Tour Productions serves as the host broadcaster for the Open Championship. The host broadcaster, as well as British and American broadcasters Sky Sports and NBC Sports, utilized a total of 175 cameras during the 2016 tournament.[29][30]




United Kingdom[edit]


In the United Kingdom, the Open Championship was historically broadcast by the BBC—a relationship which lasted from 1955 to 2015. The BBC's rights to the Open had been threatened by the event's removal from Category A of Ofcom's "listed" events, a status which legally mandated that the Open be broadcast in its entirety by a terrestrial broadcaster. It had since been moved to Category B, meaning that television rights to the tournament could now be acquired by a pay television outlet, such as BT Sport or Sky Sports, as long as rights to broadcast a highlights programme or otherwise delayed coverage are sub-licensed to either the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, or Channel 5.[31][32][33]


Former R&A chief executive Peter Dawson had become critical of the quality of the BBC's television coverage, stating alongside its final renewal in 2010 that "They know we've got our eye on them. You have to stay in practice and keep up with advances in technology." The Guardian felt that the R&A was being "pressured" to negotiate a more lucrative broadcast deal, as the other three majors have in the United States, but also argued that viewer interest in golf could face further declines in the UK without widely available coverage.[33][32]


On 3 February 2015, the R&A announced that Sky Sports had acquired broadcast rights to the Open beginning in 2017, under a five-year contract valued at £15 million per-year, doubling the value of the previous BBC contract. As required by broadcasting regulations, rights to broadcast a nightly highlights programme were also sold: the BBC acquired this highlights package. Dawson praised Sky Sports' past involvement with televised golf, explaining that "the way people consume live sport is changing significantly and this new agreement ensures fans have a range of options for enjoying the championship on television and through digital channels".[34][35] The BBC chose to opt out of the final year of its existing contract, making Sky Sports' broadcast rights begin one year early, in 2016.[36]



United States[edit]


In the United States, ABC had historically held rights to the Open.[37] Beginning in 2010 under an eight-year agreement, the Open moved exclusively to ABC's sister pay television channel ESPN, with only tape-delayed highlights shown on ABC.[38] In June 2015, it was announced that NBC Sports would acquire rights to the Open Championship under a 12-year deal beginning in 2017; early round coverage airs on Golf Channel, with the main NBC network broadcasting live weekend coverage. The R&A cited NBC's successful broadcasts of Premier League football, which also primarily airs on weekend mornings in U.S. time zones, as an advantage of NBC's acquisition of The Open.[39] Similarly to the BBC, ESPN chose to opt out of its final year of Open rights, causing NBC's rights to begin in 2016 instead.[36]


The 2018 edition of the Open Championship had a total of 49.5 hours of coverage in the United States, with 29 hours being on Thursday and Friday, and 20.5 hours being on Saturday and Sunday; the Golf Channel cable network had a total of 34 hours of coverage, with 29 hours on Thursday and Friday, and 5 hours on Saturday and Sunday. The NBC broadcast network had a total of 15.5 hours of coverage on the weekend, with 8 hours Saturday, and 7.5 hours Sunday.

The 49.5 total hours of coverage on Golf Channel and NBC remained unchanged from 2017, with the difference being that Golf Channel's total coverage went down thirty minutes from 34.5 hours to 34 hours, and NBC's total coverage went up thirty minutes from 15 hours to 15.5 hours.



Notes and references[edit]




  1. ^ "Prestwick Golf Club details". theopen.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015. 


  2. ^ Joy, David (June 2003). "Prestwick Golf Club". Links Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016. 


  3. ^ ab "Claret Jug". theopen.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016. 


  4. ^ "Ryle Memorial Medal" (PDF). Professional Golfers' Association. Retrieved 9 November 2014. 


  5. ^ "Braid Taylor Memorial Medal" (PDF). Professional Golfers' Association. Retrieved 9 November 2014. 


  6. ^ "Tooting Bec Cup" (PDF). Professional Golfers' Association. Retrieved 9 November 2014. 


  7. ^ "The Open Golf Championship". The Times. 10 July 1893. p. 7. 


  8. ^ "The Open Championship". The Times. 18 November 1907. p. 12. 


  9. ^ "The Golf Championship - Official announcement". The Times. 14 April 1915. p. 16. 


  10. ^ "The Championships". The Times. 22 May 1922. p. 22. 


  11. ^ "Gales and snow - Damage on east coast - Widespread flooding". The Times. 14 February 1938. p. 12. 


  12. ^ "Golf - The Open and Amateur Championships - New Conditions". The Times. 12 February 1938. p. 4. 


  13. ^ "Golf Championships for 1940". The Times. 21 January 1939. p. 4. 


  14. ^ "The Open: Press conference confirms Royal Portrush". BBC News. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014. 


  15. ^ "Royal Portrush to host The 148th Open in 2019". theopen.com. Retrieved 20 October 2015. 


  16. ^ "Muirfield to lose right to host Open after vote against allowing women members". BBC Sport. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016. 


  17. ^ "Royal Portrush". theopen.com. Retrieved 20 October 2015. 


  18. ^ "Royal St George's". theopen.com. Retrieved 20 October 2015. 


  19. ^ "150th Open". theopen.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018. 


  20. ^ "The Open Championship – Entry Form" (PDF). theopen.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015. 


  21. ^ "Qualification". theopen.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016. 


  22. ^ abcd Costa, Brian (18 July 2017). "Dear American Twits, This Golf Event Is Properly Called 'The Open'". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 18 July 2017. (subscription required)


  23. ^ ab Ryan, Shane (14 July 2015). "Americans: It's okay to call this major "The British Open," and don't let anyone tell you otherwise". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 July 2017. 


  24. ^ ab Bacon, Shane (16 July 2012). "British Open or Open Championship? The debate stops now". CBS Sports. Retrieved 18 July 2017. 


  25. ^ ab "Open Championship: Royal Birkdale prize money to be paid in US dollars, not sterling". BBC.com. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017. 


  26. ^ "Notes: Young Tom Morris gets 20 days older". PGA Tour. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 5 August 2006. 


  27. ^ "Did you know number 50". The Open Championship. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 


  28. ^ "GBP/USD - Pound to Dollar". FX Empire. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017. 


  29. ^ "Live From The Open Championship: A New Era Begins for the R&A". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 31 July 2016. 


  30. ^ "CTV Takes Axon's Cerebrum Back To The Open Golf Championship". TV Technology. Retrieved 31 July 2016. 


  31. ^ "Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events" (PDF). Ofcom. March 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2011. 


  32. ^ ab "BBC could lose exclusive Open coverage rights as R&A ponders new deal". The Guardian. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016. 


  33. ^ ab Murray, Ewan (14 January 2015). "What would it mean for golf if the BBC lost the Open Championship?". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2016. 


  34. ^ Gibson, Owen (3 February 2015). "Sky Sports wins rights to show Open Championship golf live from 2017". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2016. 


  35. ^ "Open Championship: Sky wins rights; BBC to show highlights". BBC Sport. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016. 


  36. ^ ab Ourand, John (12 October 2015). "NBC getting British Open a year early". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 12 October 2015. 


  37. ^ Stewart, Larry (21 July 1995). "ABC getting a major chance with British Open coverage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 July 2012. 


  38. ^ "All four rounds of British Open shown live on ESPN beginning in '10". ESPN. Retrieved 26 July 2016. 


  39. ^ Ourand, John; Lombardo, John (8 June 2015). "NBC, Golf Channel ending ABC/ESPN British Open reign". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2015. 



External links[edit]







  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata

  • Coverage on European Tour.com

  • Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site

  • Coverage on PGA.com













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