Prince's

In 1932 The Open visited Prince’s for what would prove to be the first and only time as Gene Sarazen set a new scoring record for the Championship of 283 using the newly invented sand wedge. The present-day 27-hole layout is the result of a 1950 re-design following war-time damage to the original course which was redesigned and rebuilt by Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison.

Upcoming Venues

Prince's in pictures

The History of The Open

The journey of golf's original major

1860

The 1st Open is played at Prestwick with Willie Park Senior claiming glory.

1862

Tom Morris Snr wins The Open by 13 strokes, a record which still stands today.

1870

Young Tom Morris takes possession of the Challenge Belt after a third successive victory.

1873

The Open is played at St Andrews for the first time with Tom Kidd winning the newly crafted Claret Jug.

1883

The Open is played over 18 holes for the first time, after Prestwick extends its course.

1907

Arnaud Massy becomes the first Continental winner of The Open.

1914

Harry Vardon wins his sixth Open and the last before the First World War. His record of six remains unbeaten.

1930

The legendary Bobby Jones wins The Amateur, the US Amateur, the US Open and his third Open Championship to claim the 'grand slam'.

1951

The Open is played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. This is the only time it has been held outside mainland Britain.

1953

Ben Hogan wins The Open at Carnoustie in his first and only appearance.

1961

'The King' Arnold Palmer wins The Open at Royal Birkdale and would go on to defend his title the following year at Royal Troon.

1965

Peter Thomson wins his fifth Claret Jug, cementing his place as an icon of The Open.

1969

The Open is broadcast in colour on BBC Television for the first time.

1977

Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in what would become known as 'The Duel in the Sun' at Turnberry, an iconic moment of golf and sportsmanship.

1978

Jack Nicklaus wins his third and final Open, claiming victory at St Andrews.

1983

Tom Watson wins his fifth and final Open Championship.

1988

Now an icon of European golf, Seve Ballesteros wins his third Open at Royal Lythm and St Annes.

1999

Paul Lawrie wins at Carnoustie in one of the most dramatic finishes in Open history.

2000

The largest even Open crowd is at St Andrews to witness Tiger Woods claim his first Claret Jug.

2004

The International Final Qualifying is launched giving players the chance to qualify directly intothe starting field of 156 competitors.

2006

An emotional Tiger Woods captures his third Open with victory at Royal Liverpool.

2009

Matteo Mannasero becomes the youngest ever winner of the Silver Medal aged just 16 years and 3 months. He played the first two rounds with eventual runner-up Tom Watson, aged 59.

2017

Branden Grace shoots 62 at Royal Birkdale, the lowest ever round in a major.

2018

Francesco Molinari becomes the first ever Italian major champion with victory at Carnoustie.