Which of golf's four men's major championships is the only one played outside the United States?

The Open Championship is the only one of golf’s four men’s major championships played outside the United States. Usually called The Open, and sometimes the British Open outside the United Kingdom, it is staged on links courses across the United Kingdom.

The tournament was founded in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, making it the oldest of the four modern men’s majors. The R&A now organizes it, and the event rotates among historic coastal courses in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Its links setting often brings firm fairways, deep bunkers, coastal winds, and unpredictable weather into play.

The other three majors—the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship—are played in the United States, although their host courses change from year to year. The Open is therefore the outlier geographically, not because it is less important: it is officially recognized as one of golf’s four major championships.

A frequent naming mix-up is treating “The Open” and “British Open” as separate events. They are two names for the same championship.