The first Open Championship was played in 1860.
The inaugural tournament took place on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. It was organized as a competition for professional golfers after the death of Allan Robertson, who had been regarded as the leading golfer of his era. Clubs were invited to send their best professionals to compete for the Champion Golfer title.
Only eight players entered the first event. They played three rounds of Prestwick’s twelve-hole links course, for a total of 36 holes. Willie Park Sr. won with a score of 174, finishing two strokes ahead of Old Tom Morris. The winner’s prize was the Challenge Belt, which preceded the Claret Jug; the Claret Jug was first awarded in 1872.
The Open is now one of golf’s four men’s major championships and is generally called the British Open outside the United Kingdom. Its official name remains The Open Championship.