The British Open

The Open Championship is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf, and is played at one of nine courses across the UK.

After the first championship in 1860, the championship has been played annualy, except from during the two World Wars and in 1871. The competition has been played at 14 different courses, including St Andrews in Scotland, Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake & Royal St George's in Kent, and five courses including Prestwick & Musselburgh Links are no longer used by the championship.

The field for the open is 156 golfers and there are three ways those who want to participate can gain a place in the competition. Two thirds of the participants are made up of leading players who are given exemptions in order to ensure that the top professionals are guaranteed a place in the competition.

The remaining amount are players who qualify via Local Qualifying which is made up of Regional Qualifying and International Qualifying. Regional Qualifying is made up of 16 18-hole competitions around Great Britain that take place just before the event with 12 places available and at International Qualifying 36-hole qualifiers are played, with one held in Africa, Australia, Asia, America & Europe.

International Qualifying has tougher entry rules than Regional Qualifying, as it is only those players who have an Official World Golf Rankings rating who are permitted to enter, but for those eligible there are 36 places available split across the 5 venues.

The golfer who has won the most Open Championships is Harry Vardon, of England, who won six tournaments between 1896 and 1914, closely followed by renowned golfer and course designer James Braid who along with John Henry Taylor (ENG), Peter Thomson (AUS) & Tom Watson (USA) has won 5 titles.

The next competition is the 140th Edition in 2011, which will be held at Royal St George, in Sandwich in Kent.