Learn A Little More About The Open Championship

Do you know everything you need to know about the Open Championship yet? Well you’re gonna.

We’re going to give you a whirlwind trip through all the important bits and bobs you should be aware of when it comes to this massive golfing extravaganza.

What’s in a name…

Alright, so we’re calling it the Open Championship in this article, for the most part. But it’s also commonly called the British Open and, simply, the Open. If you spot mention of any of those, you’ll know what’s being talked about.

It’s really, really, realllllly old

The Open Championship was originally founded in 1860. That makes it the oldest golf tournament in the world. And, for it’s still one of the most prestigious golf competitions around.

Where is the Open Championship held?

So the first venue for the Open Championship was Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. But since then it’s certainly toured around a lot. Although it’s always in a coastal links golf course somewhere in the United Kingdom.

The venue where it’s been held the most times over the years is the iconic Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland, with an impressive 30 hosting titles to its name.

Other notable Scottish venues include the Muirfield, Royal Troon Golf Club and Carnoustie Golf Links. Then in England, there’s the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club and the Royal St George’s Golf Club. Last but not least, there’s been one Northern Irish venue: Royal Portrush Golf Club.

When is it usually played?

The Open Championship, generally speaking, is held in mid-July. Which is good news for everyone playing and attending because July is one of the most reliable months for good weather in the British Isles. Although having said that, nothing is ever guaranteed and there have been more than a few windy/rainy events!

And to be a little more exact, it starts on the day before the third Friday in July, running from that Thursday until the Sunday.

It’s a major

Have you heard golfing folk chat about majors? Well, the Open Championship is one of ’em. There are four men’s major golf championships. The others you should look out for are the Masters, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.

It’s also an official event on the PGA Tour, European Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.

What does “open” really mean?

Well in theory, open means that absolutely anyone can qualify, whether you’re amateur or professional. But how often have you spotted a total unknown in the Open Championship? In reality, it’s just a small number of the world’s top ranking amateurs, alongside a mostly professional cohort.

What’s happens when you win?

Well if you win the Open Championship, they give you the Claret Jug and call you the Champion Golfer of the Year. The title harks back to the very first Open in 1860, meanwhile the trophy came just a few years later in 1872.

You also get a whole host of other prizes and privileges, including a gold medal, the winner’s share of the purse, guaranteed entry to all future Open Championships until you turn 60 and entry to the next 10 Opens, even if you’re over 60.

Where can I bet on the Open Championship?

Well, listen, any good sportsbook worth its salt is going to have markets for the Open Championship. But that we tend to keep coming back to is bet365. You see, not only do they have a pretty great set of promotions, we’ve also got this bet365 bonus code, which means you can boost your welcome offer.