Inaugural Tournament
The British Open was first played in 1860 in Ayrshire, Scotland, at Prestwick Golf Club. It was won by Willie Park Sr. over the legendary Old Tom Morris.
Young Tom Morris
Young Tom Morris, the son of the man who organized the tournament a decade earlier, became the second multiple winner of the tournament. He won it in 1868, 1869 and 1870, winning by 12 shots on the 12-hole course in 1870.
Claret Jug
The original prize, a Moroccan red leather belt, was replaced in 1870 by the Claret Jug. This trophy is still in use. The first went to Young Tom Morris.
Organization
In 1871, the tournament became jointly organized by the Golf Club of St. Andrews, Prestwick Golf Club and the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. It expanded to 72 holes in 1898 and added a cut after two rounds.
Winners
The tournament was only won by six amateurs from 1860 to 1930. The most notable was Bobby Jones in his 1930 Grand Slam year. In the first 80 years of the tournament, only players from England, Scotland, the United States and France earned victories in the tournament.
Notable Champions
The Open Championship has been won by some of the biggest names in modern golf, including Sam Snead (1946); Ben Hogan (1953); Gary Player (1959, 1968, 1974); Arnold Palmer (1961, 1962); Jack Nicklaus (1966, 1970, 1978); Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982); Nick Faldo (1987, 1990, 1992); and Tiger Woods (2000, 2005, 2006).
About The Author
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
