The Open Championship is the oldest Major in golf.
It’s known for its rich history, tradition, and the unique challenges it presents to players.
Here are six things that make The Open Championship truly special…
History
The Open is not just any tournament; it’s the world’s oldest golf competition. It started back in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club with only eight golfers. Willie Park Sr won by two shots after three rounds on a 12-hole course.
Links Golf
The Open showcases links golf, which many consider the purest form of the game. These courses are coastal and shaped by nature, making them unpredictable due to wind and weather changes. Tiger Woods fell in love with links golf during his first Championship in 1986. “I thought it was really weird to see the guys bounce balls into the greens because I have never seen that before,” he said. “Once I got the first chance to play it, I fell in love with it.”
Fans often find this aspect fascinating because of how different and challenging it is compared to other forms of golf.
Champion Golfer of the Year
One unique tradition at The Open is calling its winner “Champion Golfer of the Year.” Jordan Spieth, who won in 2017, mentioned how special this title made him feel throughout various events during the year.
The Claret Jug
Another iconic element is The Claret Jug, awarded since 1873. Before that, winners received a Challenge Belt until Young Tom Morris won three times consecutively by 1870. This led to creating The Claret Jug as we know it today.
Four-Hole Playoff
Unlike most PGA Tour events where sudden-death decides ties, The Open uses a four-hole aggregate-score playoff system. If still tied after four holes, then sudden-death comes into play. This format began in 1989 when Mark Calcavecchia triumphed over Greg Norman and Wayne Grady.
Medals
Besides The Claret Jug , winners also get a gold medal they can keep forever! Introduced in 1872 before The Claret Jug was ready; now both awards go hand-in-hand every year. There’s also a silver medal for top amateurs who make cuts while PGA members vie for Tooting Bec Cup given for lowest single round score each week!
What do you think about these traditions?
