The 153rd Open is scheduled to take place at Royal Portrush next month. Golf’s oldest tournament has a prestigious history, so here’s a deep dive to whet your appetite for this year’s Open!
The Origins of The Open
When talking about the history of the British Open, you’ve got to start at the beginning. The very first Open was held in 1860, meaning this event predates both the Masters Tournament and the PGA Tour by seventy years or so. Though the first Open took place in October, it is now always held in July.
The Open began at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, but it soon became tradition to hold this event at different ‘links’ golf courses around the UK. Links courses are usually coastal, offering interesting views, dunes, and terrain. Past Open venues include Carnoustie, Royal Liverpool and Muirfield.
This event has remained fairly consistent, but one interesting wrinkle in the history of the British Open is that the prize has changed over time. For the tournament’s first decade, a championship belt with a silver buckle was the iconic reward for the most skilled golfer. However, when Tom Morris Jr won three years in a row, this prize was reconsidered.
At first, the belt was temporarily replaced with a medal, which was awarded to now four-time winner Tom Morris Jr in 1872. Medals like this are still a big part of the event. For example, as of 1974, a silver medal is given to the leading amateur of The Open.
Winners still receive medals too, but this was no replacement for the championship belt. So, in 1873, they introduced the Claret Jug as the major prize of the event. This is the iconic symbol of The Open that we all know today.
Who Won the Last Open?
The last Open Championship was won by Xander Schauffele in 2024. He secured his victory by just two shots, but showed clear skill in the final portion of the game by succeeding despite 20mph crosswinds on the back nine. This was just two months after Schauffele won the PGA Championship – 2024 was a big year for the American!
Xander Schauffele’s win was an historic event. He will be competing again in 2025, and has every chance of winning for the second year in a row.
Why Is It No Longer Called ‘The British Open’?
Technically, The Open has never been officially called ‘The British Open’. However, many people refer to it that way to avoid confusion. The US Open (established in 1895) typically takes place the month before The Open, and it’s easy to get the two tournaments mixed up.
The US Open only has ‘US’ in its name because it came after the original Open Championship. This is similar to how many British shows end up with American spin-offs that just add ‘US’ to the name. The fact that it was adapted does not change the name of the original – so the British event is just called The Open.
According to The Open’s own website: “The Open is the correct name for the Championship. It is also the most appropriate.”
Even though this may factually be the case, it is sometimes still necessary to use the term ‘British Open’ in order to be clear. As long as you remember that the true name is The Open, it does no harm to say British Open conversationally, just for clarity.
What Is the Prize for The Open?
As mentioned above, the prize was historically a belt, but now the winner of The Open gets to take home the Claret Jug to keep for the year. However, that’s not the only prize on offer.
There is also a considerable payment made to the winner. The actual amount tends to change year on year; there is usually a set “purse” for each event, and the winner is not the only one who gets to take home a cash prize. In 2024, the purse was $17 million, with winner Xander Schauffele taking $3.1 million of that as his prize. The purse for the 2025 Open has not yet been announced.
Of course, the real prize is that you get to keep coming back to play in The Open until you are 60, or for the next ten years (whichever is longer).
When Is The Open?
The Open is held every July. This year’s event will take place at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland on 13th – 20th July 2025. Much of the event will be broadcast live for viewers not able to attend in person. For people lucky enough to be there, the gates will open at 9am on the 13th.
Ready to Play Golf?
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