How The Open Championship Actually Works
BLUF: The Open Championship—simply called 'The Open'—is the oldest of golf's four major championships, first held in 1860, and the only major played outside the United States, on the links courses of the British Isles.
Links golf is a fundamentally different test from parkland courses: wind, firm turf, deep bunkers, and unpredictable bounces demand creativity and adaptability that no other major requires.
What The Open Is
The Open Championship is one of golf's four major championships, organized by The R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews). It is held annually in mid-to-late July and rotates among a roster of links courses in England and Scotland. The tournament uses a 72-hole stroke-play format over four days with a 36-hole cut. The winner receives the Claret Jug, one of the most iconic trophies in sport. As the oldest major, The Open carries historical weight that no other golf tournament can match.
How It Started
The first Open Championship was held at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland in 1860, with just eight professionals competing over 36 holes. It was the first major golf championship in the world. The tournament opened to amateurs in 1861 and has been held annually since (except during the World Wars). The Open has been played at courses including St Andrews (the 'Home of Golf'), Royal Liverpool, Royal St George's, and Carnoustie. Its history spans the entire modern era of golf, from the gutta-percha ball to the modern game.
What Makes Links Golf Different
Links courses are built on the sandy, wind-exposed coastal land between the sea and the agricultural interior—the original terrain where golf was invented in Scotland. They feature firm, fast-running fairways; deep pot bunkers; undulating greens; and virtually no trees. The primary defense is wind, which can change direction and intensity dramatically during a round. Players must shape shots to account for wind, use the ground to run the ball onto greens, and exercise creative shot-making that is rarely required on the manicured parkland courses where most modern golf is played.
The Weather Factor
The British weather is the course's most unpredictable defense. Players in early starting times may face calm conditions while afternoon players battle 30-mph winds and driving rain—or vice versa. This randomness is both criticized (as unfair) and celebrated (as authentic). The Open is the major most likely to be decided by weather adaptation. Players who can score in wind and rain gain a massive advantage, and some of the greatest Open performances have come in the most brutal conditions.
Why The Open Matters
The Open matters because it is golf's original championship and the test that most distinguishes links golf from the rest of the sport. For many golfers and fans, winning The Open is the highest achievement in golf because it requires a style of play that cannot be manufactured through modern technology and course management. The tournament connects modern golf to its Scottish origins and provides an international counterpoint to the three American-based majors. The Claret Jug is the prize that golf's greatest players covet most.