![<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Open Championship</span> Golf tournament held in the UK](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/The_Open_Championship_logo.png)
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later the venue rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom. It is organised by The R&A.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestwick</span> Town and former royal burgh in Scotland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/The_Cross%2C_Prestwick_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5238971.jpg/320px-The_Cross%2C_Prestwick_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5238971.jpg)
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr to the south on the Firth of Clyde coast, the centre of which is about two miles south, and the small village of Monkton to the north. It had a population of 14,901 at the 2011 census.
The following is a partial timeline of the history of golf.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Tom Morris</span> Scottish professional golfer (1821–1908)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Old_Tom_Morris.jpg/320px-Old_Tom_Morris.jpg)
Thomas Mitchell Morris, otherwise known as Old Tom Morris, and The Grand Old Man of Golf, was a Scottish golfer. He was born in St Andrews, Fife, the "home of golf" and location of the St Andrews Links, and died there as well. Young Tom Morris, also a golfer, was his son.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Tom Morris</span> Scottish professional golfer (1851–1875)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Young_Tom_Morris.jpg/320px-Young_Tom_Morris.jpg)
Thomas Morris, known as Tom Morris Junior, Young Tom Morris and also Tommy Morris, was a Scottish professional golfer. He is considered one of the pioneers of professional golf, and was the first young prodigy in golf history. He won four consecutive titles in the Open Championship, and did this by the age of 21.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestwick Golf Club</span> Golf course in South Ayrshire, Scotland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Prestwick.18thhole.jpg/320px-Prestwick.18thhole.jpg)
Prestwick Golf Club is a golf course in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is approximately 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. Prestwick is a classic links course, built on the rolling sandy land between the beach and the hinterland. The course is near the Prestwick airport, and some holes run along railway tracks on the eastern side of the course.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Auchterlonie</span> Scottish golfer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/Willie_Auchterlonie_-_c._1897.PNG)
William "Willie" Auchterlonie was a Scottish professional golfer. He was a native of St Andrews. He won the 1893 Open Championship at the age of 21 years and 25 days and he remains the second youngest Open Champion after Tom Morris, Jnr, but it was to prove to be his only Open. His brother, Laurie Auchterlonie, won the 1902 U.S. Open.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Strath</span> Scottish professional golfer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Andrew_Strath.PNG/320px-Andrew_Strath.PNG)
Andrew Anderson Strath was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the mid-19th century. He won the 1865 Open Championship. In total, he accumulated six top-10 finishes in The Open Championship.
Christopher Thomas Kidd was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century. He won the 1873 Open Championship on his home course at St Andrews, Scotland.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">1870 Open Championship</span> Golf tournament](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Young_Tom_Morris.jpg/320px-Young_Tom_Morris.jpg)
The 1870 Open Championship was a golf competition held at Prestwick Golf Club, Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the 11th Open Championship and the last to be contested for the Challenge Belt. Tom Morris, Jr. won the championship by 12 shots from Bob Kirk and Davie Strath. By winning for a third successive time Tom Morris, Jr. gained permanent possession of the Challenge Belt.
The 1872 Open Championship was the 12th Open Championship, held 13 September at Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Tom Morris Jr. won the Championship for the fourth successive time, by three strokes from runner-up Davie Strath, having been five shots behind Strath before the final round. He was just 21 years and 146 days old.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">1860 Open Championship</span> Golf tournament](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/James_Ogilvie_Fairlie_1840s_salt_paper_%28calotype%29.PNG/320px-James_Ogilvie_Fairlie_1840s_salt_paper_%28calotype%29.PNG)
The 1860 Open Championship was a golf competition held at Prestwick Golf Club, in Ayrshire, Scotland. It is now regarded as the first Open Championship. Until his death in 1859, Allan Robertson was regarded as top golfer in the world. The Open Championship was created to determine his successor. Eight golfers contested the event, with Willie Park, Sr. winning the championship by 2 shots from Tom Morris, Sr.
The 1873 Open Championship was the 13th Open Championship, held 4 October at the Old Course at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Tom Kidd won the Championship by a stroke from Jamie Anderson. This was the first Open Championship not held at Prestwick. The Championship was still contested over 36 holes; now two rounds of 18 holes rather than three rounds of 12. Since the new "Champion Trophy" was not ready in 1872, Kidd became the first golfer to receive it at the Championship. "The trophy conferred on the successful golfer is a silver cup which, however, can never become the absolute property of any winner. Along with the honour the winner receives a medal and likewise a money prize."
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrews Golf Club</span> Private golf club in Scotland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/St_Andrews_Golf_Club%2C_Links_House%2C_13_The_Links%2C_St_Andrews-10663637613_751e650580_o.jpg/320px-St_Andrews_Golf_Club%2C_Links_House%2C_13_The_Links%2C_St_Andrews-10663637613_751e650580_o.jpg)
St Andrews Golf Club, originally known as St Andrews Mechanics Golf Club, is a private members' golf club located in St Andrews, Scotland. The club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, having been established in 1843.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Ogilvie Fairlie</span> Scottish golfer and landowner](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/James_Ogilvie_Fairlie.PNG)
James Ogilvie Fairlie was a Scottish amateur golfer and landowner. He is best remembered as the principal organiser of the first Open Championship in 1860. Fairlie was a founding member of Prestwick Golf Club in 1851.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Chambers Jr.</span> Scottish publisher and encyclopaedist](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Robert_Chambers%27_grave%2C_Dean_Cemetery.JPG/320px-Robert_Chambers%27_grave%2C_Dean_Cemetery.JPG)
Robert Chambers was a Scottish publisher, editor of Chambers' Journal, amateur golfer and encyclopaedist, the son of Robert Chambers, the co-founder of the W & R Chambers publishing house in Edinburgh.
Alexander Hamilton Doleman was a Scottish amateur golfer. Doleman tied for ninth place in the 1870 Open Championship. His brothers John, William, and Frank were also golfers.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hunter (golfer)</span> Scottish professional golfer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7f/John_Hunter%2C_golfer_-_c._1899.PNG)
John Hunter was a Scottish professional golfer who played in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Hunter finished in eighth place in the 1898 Open Championship. He won the first Scottish Professional Championship at Panmure Golf Club in 1907 with a score of 304 over four rounds, which included a record round of 71 in the third round.
![<span class="mw-page-title-main">Challenge Belt</span> Award presented to the winner of The Open Championship in golf from 1860 to 1870](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Willie_Park_Senior_wearing_the_Championship_Belt.jpg/320px-Willie_Park_Senior_wearing_the_Championship_Belt.jpg)
The Challenge Belt was awarded to the winner of The Open Championship in golf from 1860 until 1870. It was replaced by the Claret Jug for the 1872 Open Championship which is still being used to the present day. The winner of the first Open Championship, Willie Park Sr., in 1860 at the Prestwick Golf Club received no prize money; instead, he was allowed to keep the Belt until the following Open Championship.