The British Open, often referred to simply as The Open, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of golf. Held annually in the United Kingdom, it is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf, making it a cornerstone of the sport’s history and tradition. Every year in July, the players play 18 holes a day over four days, from Thursday to Sunday.
A Rich History
The Open was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Over the years, it has been held at various historic courses across the UK, including St. Andrews, Royal Birkdale, and Royal Troon. Each venue adds its unique character and challenges, contributing to the tournament’s rich tapestry.
The Claret Jug
The winner of The Open is awarded the Claret Jug, one of the most iconic trophies in sports. This symbol of excellence has been hoisted by many of golf’s greatest players, from legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer to modern stars like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The Challenge of Links Golf
The Open is renowned for its links-style courses, characterized by their coastal locations, rolling sand dunes, and unpredictable weather. These elements combine to create a unique and challenging environment, testing the skill and resilience of even the best golfers in the world.
Links golf is often regarded as the purest form of the game, maintaining a connection to its origins in 15th-century Scotland. These courses feature open terrain, typically devoid of trees, with undulating surfaces and a sandy base. They are largely shaped by natural forces rather than constructed by human hands. Weather, especially wind, plays a significant role in links golf. The breeze can vary in direction and strength, requiring golfers to adjust their play for each round. These courses are also known for their deep pot bunkers and gorse bushes that constitute the rough. Golfers often adapt by keeping the ball flight lower to minimize wind impact, which makes distance control more challenging.
Memorable Moments
The Open has produced countless memorable moments. From thrilling comebacks to dramatic finishes, the tournament is a stage where golf’s greatest stories unfold. Who can forget Tom Watson’s near-miss at age 59 in 2009 or Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson’s epic duel in 2016?
A Global Celebration
The Open is not just a British event; it is a global celebration of golf. Fans from around the world tune in to watch the drama unfold, making it one of the most-watched tournaments each year. It brings together a diverse field of competitors, all vying for the honor of being called “Champion Golfer of the Year.”
The British Open is more than just a golf tournament. It is a storied competition that represents the pinnacle of golfing tradition and excellence. With its rich history, iconic courses, and unforgettable moments, The Open continues to captivate golf fans around the world. Whether you’re a long-time follower of the sport or a new enthusiast, The Open is an event that showcases the very best of golf.
Historic and Upcoming British Open Venues
Explore our shop for beautiful golf art prints featuring many of the iconic British Open venues. These prints make perfect souvenirs and memorabilia, and they are the ideal gift for every golfer: Golf Art Prints.
2026 154nd Open
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
2025 153nd Open
Royal Portrush Golf Club
2024 152nd Open
Royal Troon
2023 151st Open
Royal Liverpool
Brian Harman won with a score of 271, −13 to par.
2022 150th Open
St Andrews
Cameron Smith won with a score of 268, −20 to par.
2021 149th Open
Royal St George’s
Collin Morikawa won with a score of 265, −15 to par.
2019 148th Open
Royal Portrush
Shane Lowry won with a score of 269, −15 to par.
2018 147th Open
Carnoustie
Francesco Molinari won with a score of 276, −8 to par.
2017 146th Open
Royal Birkdale
Jordan Spieth won with a score of 268, −12 to par.
2016 145th Open
Royal Troon
Henrik Stenson won with a score of 264, −20 to par.
2015 144th Open
St Andrews
Zach Johnson won with a score of 273, −15 to par.
2014 143rd Open
Royal Liverpool
Rory McIlroy won with a score of 271, −17 to par.
2013 142nd Open
Muirfield
Phil Mickelson won with a score of 281, −3 to par.
2012 141st Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Ernie Els won with a score of 273, −7 to par.
2011 140th Open
Royal St George’s
Darren Clarke won with a score of 275, −5 to par.
2010 139th Open
St Andrews
Louis Oosthuizen won with a score of 272, −16 to par.
2009 138th Open
Turnberry
Stewart Cink won with a score of 278, −2 to par.
2008 137th Open
Royal Birkdale
Pádraig Harrington won with a score of 283, 3 to par.
2007 136th Open
Carnoustie
Pádraig Harrington won with a score of 277, −7 to par.
2006 135th Open
Royal Liverpool
Tiger Woods won with a score of 270, −18 to par.
2005 134th Open
St Andrews
Tiger Woods won with a score of 274, −14 to par.
2004 133rd Open
Royal Troon
Todd Hamilton won with a score of 274, −10 to par.
2003 132nd Open
Royal St George’s
Ben Curtis won with a score of 283, −1 to par.
2002 131st Open
Muirfield
Ernie Els won with a score of 278, −6 to par.
2001 130th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
David Duval won with a score of 274, −10 to par.
2000 129th Open
St Andrews
Tiger Woods won with a score of 269, −19 to par.
1999 128th Open
Carnoustie
Paul Lawrie won with a score of 290, 6 to par.
1998 127th Open
Royal Birkdale
Mark O’Meara won with a score of 280, E to par.
1997 126th Open
Royal Troon
Justin Leonard won with a score of 272, −12 to par.
1996 125th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Tom Lehman won with a score of 271, −13 to par.
1995 124th Open
St Andrews
John Daly won with a score of 282, −6 to par.
1994 123rd Open
Turnberry
Nick Price won with a score of 268, −12 to par.
1993 122nd Open
Royal St George’s
Greg Norman won with a score of 267, −13 to par.
1992 121st Open
Muirfield
Nick Faldo won with a score of 272, −12 to par.
1991 120th Open
Royal Birkdale
Ian Baker-Finch won with a score of 272, −8 to par.
1990 119th Open
St Andrews
Nick Faldo won with a score of 270, −18 to par.
1989 118th Open
Royal Troon
Mark Calcavecchia won with a score of 275, −13 to par.
1988 117th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Seve Ballesteros won with a score of 273, −11 to par.
1987 116th Open
Muirfield
Nick Faldo won with a score of 279, −5 to par.
1986 115th Open
Turnberry
Greg Norman won with a score of 280, E to par.
1985 114th Open
Royal St George’s
Sandy Lyle won with a score of 282, 2 to par.
1984 113th Open
St Andrews
Seve Ballesteros won with a score of 276, −12 to par.
1983 112th Open
Royal Birkdale
Tom Watson won with a score of 275, −9 to par.
1982 111th Open
Royal Troon
Tom Watson won with a score of 284, −4 to par.
1981 110th Open
Royal St George’s
Bill Rogers won with a score of 276, −4 to par.
1980 109th Open
Muirfield
Tom Watson won with a score of 271, −13 to par.
1979 108th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Seve Ballesteros won with a score of 283, −1 to par.
1978 107th Open
St Andrews
Jack Nicklaus won with a score of 281, −7 to par.
1977 106th Open
Turnberry
Tom Watson won with a score of 268, −12 to par.
1976 105th Open
Royal Birkdale
Johnny Miller won with a score of 279, −9 to par.
1975 104th Open
Carnoustie
Tom Watson won with a score of 279, −9 to par.
1974 103rd Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Gary Player won with a score of 282, −2 to par.
1973 102nd Open
Troon
Tom Weiskopf won with a score of 276, −12 to par.
1972 101st Open
Muirfield
Lee Trevino won with a score of 278, −6 to par.
1971 100th Open
Royal Birkdale
Lee Trevino won with a score of 278, −14 to par.
1970 99th Open
St Andrews
Jack Nicklaus won with a score of 283, −5 to par.
1969 98th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Tony Jacklin won with a score of 280, −4 to par.
1968 97th Open
Carnoustie
Gary Player won with a score of 289, 1 to par.
1967 96th Open
Royal Liverpool
Roberto De Vicenzo won with a score of 278, −10 to par.
1966 95th Open
Muirfield
Jack Nicklaus won with a score of 282, −2 to par.
1965 94th Open
Royal Birkdale
Peter Thomson won with a score of 285, −7 to par.
1964 93rd Open
St Andrews
Tony Lema won with a score of 279, −9 to par.
1963 92nd Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Bob Charles won with a score of 277, −3 to par.
1962 91st Open
Troon
Arnold Palmer won with a score of 276, −12 to par.
1961 90th Open
Royal Birkdale
Arnold Palmer won with a score of 284, −4 to par.
1960 89th Open
St Andrews
Kel Nagle won with a score of 278, −10 to par.
1959 88th Open
Muirfield
Gary Player won with a score of 284, −4 to par.
1958 87th Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Peter Thomson won with a score of 278, −6 to par.
1957 86th Open
St Andrews
Bobby Locke won with a score of 279, −9 to par.
1956 85th Open
Royal Liverpool
Peter Thomson won with a score of 286, 2 to par.
1955 84th Open
St Andrews
Peter Thomson won with a score of 281, −7 to par.
1954 83rd Open
Royal Birkdale
Peter Thomson won with a score of 283, −9 to par.
1953 82nd Open
Carnoustie
Ben Hogan won with a score of 282, −6 to par.
1952 81st Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Bobby Locke won with a score of 287, −1 to par.
1951 80th Open
Royal Portrush
Max Faulkner won with a score of 285, −3 to par.
1950 79th Open
Troon
Bobby Locke won with a score of 279, −1 to par.
1949 78th Open
Royal St George’s
Bobby Locke won with a score of 283, −5 to par.
1948 77th Open
Muirfield
Henry Cotton won with a score of 284, E to par.
1947 76th Open
Royal Liverpool
Fred Daly won with a score of 293, 21 to par.
1946 75th Open
St Andrews
Sam Snead won with a score of 290, −2 to par.
1940–45No championships due to World War II
1939 74th Open
St Andrews
Dick Burton won with a score of 290, −2 to par.
1938 73rd Open
Royal St George’s
Reg Whitcombe won with a score of 295, 15 to par.
1937 72nd Open
Carnoustie
Henry Cotton won with a score of 290, 2 to par.
1936 71st Open
Royal Liverpool
Alf Padgham won with a score of 287.
1935 70th Open
Muirfield
Alf Perry won with a score of 283.
1934 69th Open
Royal St George’s
Henry Cotton won with a score of 283.
1933 68th Open
St Andrews
Denny Shute won with a score of 292.
1932 67th Open
Prince’s
Gene Sarazen won with a score of 283.
1931 66th Open
Carnoustie
Tommy Armour[c] won with a score of 296.
1930 65th Open
Royal Liverpool
Bobby Jones won with a score of 291.
1929 64th Open
Muirfield
Walter Hagen won with a score of 292.
1928 63rd Open
Royal St George’s
Walter Hagen won with a score of 292.
1927 62nd Open
St Andrews
Bobby Jones won with a score of 285.
1926 61st Open
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Bobby Jones won with a score of 291.
1925 60th Open
Prestwick
Jim Barnes[f] won with a score of 300.
1924 59th Open
Royal Liverpool
Walter Hagen won with a score of 301.
1923 58th Open
Troon
Arthur Havers won with a score of 295.
1922 57th Open
Royal St George’s
Walter Hagen won with a score of 300.
1921 56th Open
St Andrews
Jock Hutchison[h] won with a score of 296.
1920 55th Open
Royal Cinque Ports
George Duncan won with a score of 303.
1915–19No championships due to World War I
1914 54th Open
Prestwick
Harry Vardon won with a score of 306.
1913 53rd Open
Royal Liverpool
John Henry Taylor won with a score of 304.
1912 52nd Open
Muirfield
Ted Ray[g] won with a score of 295.
1911 51st Open
Royal St George’s
Harry Vardon won with a score of 303.
1910 50th Open
St Andrews
James Braid won with a score of 299.
1909 49th Open
Royal Cinque Ports
John Henry Taylor won with a score of 291.
1908 48th Open
Prestwick
James Braid won with a score of 291.
1907 47th Open
Royal Liverpool
Arnaud Massy won with a score of 312.
1906 46th Open
Muirfield
James Braid won with a score of 300.
1905 45th Open
St Andrews
James Braid won with a score of 318.
1904 44th Open
Royal St George’s
Jack White won with a score of 296.
1903 43rd Open
Prestwick
Harry Vardon won with a score of 300.
1902 42nd Open
Royal Liverpool
Sandy Herd won with a score of 307.
1901 41st Open
Muirfield
James Braid won with a score of 309.
1900 40th Open
St Andrews
John Henry Taylor won with a score of 309.
1899 39th Open
St George’s
Harry Vardon won with a score of 310.
1898 38th Open
Prestwick
Harry Vardon won with a score of 307.
1897 37th Open
Royal Liverpool
Harold Hilton won with a score of 314.
1896 36th Open
Muirfield
Harry Vardon[i] won with a score of 316.
1895 35th Open
St Andrews
John Henry Taylor won with a score of 322.
1894 34th Open
St George’s
John Henry Taylor won with a score of 326.
1893 33rd Open
Prestwick
William Auchterlonie won with a score of 322.
1892 32nd Open
Muirfield
Harold Hilton won with a score of 305.
1891 31st Open
St Andrews
Hugh Kirkaldy won with a score of 166.
1890 30th Open
Prestwick
John Ball won with a score of 164.
1889 29th Open
Musselburgh
Willie Park Jr. won with a score of 155.
1888 28th Open
St Andrews
Jack Burns won with a score of 171.
1887 27th Open
Prestwick
Willie Park Jr. won with a score of 161.
1886 26th Open
Musselburgh
David Brown won with a score of 157.
1885 25th Open
St Andrews
Bob Martin won with a score of 171.
1884 24th Open
Prestwick
Jack Simpson won with a score of 160.
1883 23rd Open
Musselburgh
Willie Fernie won with a score of 159.
1882 22nd Open
St Andrews
Bob Ferguson won with a score of 171.
1881 21st Open
Prestwick
Bob Ferguson won with a score of 170.
1880 20th Open
Musselburgh
Bob Ferguson won with a score of 162.
1879 19th Open
St Andrews
Jamie Anderson won with a score of 169.
1878 18th Open
Prestwick
Jamie Anderson won with a score of 157.
1877 17th Open
Musselburgh
Jamie Anderson won with a score of 160.
1876 16th Open
St Andrews
Bob Martin won with a score of 176.
1875 15th Open
Prestwick
Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 166.
1874 14th Open
Musselburgh
Mungo Park won with a score of 159.
1873 13th Open
St Andrews
Tom Kidd won with a score of 179.
1872 12th Open
Prestwick
Young Tom Morris won with a score of 166.
1871Championship cancelled as no trophy available.
1870 11th Open
Prestwick
Young Tom Morris won with a score of 149.
1869 10th Open
Prestwick
Young Tom Morris won with a score of 157.
1868 9th Open
Prestwick
Young Tom Morris won with a score of 154.
1867 8th Open
Prestwick
Old Tom Morris won with a score of 170.
1866 7th Open
Prestwick
Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 169.
1865 6th Open
Prestwick
Andrew Strath won with a score of 162.
1864 5th Open
Prestwick
Old Tom Morris won with a score of 167.
1863 4th Open
Prestwick
Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 168.
1862 3rd Open
Prestwick
Old Tom Morris won with a score of 163.
1861 2nd Open
Prestwick
Old Tom Morris won with a score of 163.
1860 1st Open
Prestwick
Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 174.
