Blackheath (England), Perth, Bruntsfield (Edinburgh), Musselburgh and St Andrews golf clubs were invited to send up to three of their best players known as a "respectable caddie" to represent each of the clubs.
James Ogilvie Fairlie of Prestwick Golf Club decided to form a competition in 1860, "to be played for by professional golfers", and to decide who would succeed Robertson as the "Champion Golfer". Allan Robertson was the most famous of these pros, and was regarded as the undisputed best golfer between 1843 and his death in 1859. Professionals made a living from playing for bets, caddying, ball and club making, and instruction. In the mid-19th century golf was played mainly by well-off gentlemen, as hand-crafted clubs and balls were expensive. The first Open Championship was played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland, over three rounds of the twelve-hole links course. Willie Park Sr., the first "Champion Golfer of the Year", wearing the Challenge Belt, the winner's prize at The Open until 1870 History Early tournament years (1860–1870) 6.4 Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain and Ireland) awards.6.2 Other prizes and benefits, based upon finishing position.1.8 Tiger Woods and the modern era (1994 onwards).1.7 Tom Watson, Ballesteros, Faldo, and Norman (1975–1993).1.6 Player, Palmer, Nicklaus – The Big Three (1959–1974).1.5 Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, and Ben Hogan's Triple Crown (1946–1958).1.4 American success with Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones, and the last Open at Prestwick (1920–1939).1.3 English hosts and winners, and the Great Triumvirate (1890–1914).1.2 The introduction of course rotation and the Claret Jug (1872–1889).The current champion is Collin Morikawa, who won the 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England with a score of 265. The success of the tournament has led to many other open golf tournaments to be introduced around the world.
In practice, the current event is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world's leading amateurs also play, by invitation or qualification. It is called The Open, because it is in theory "open" to all, i.e. Since the PGA Championship moved to May in 2019, the Open has been chronologically the fourth and final major tournament of the year. The Open is one of the four men's major golf tournaments, the others being the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Later the venue rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. 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. For other uses, see British Open (disambiguation) and The Open (disambiguation). "British Open" and "The Open" redirect here.