The British Open

Welcome to the home of the British Open golf tournament - more properly called the Open Championship - on About.com. The British Open golf tournament is one of the four golf majors, and the oldest, dating back to the 1860s.

2012 British Open
• When: July 19-22
• Where: Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lancashire, England

Previous Opens at Royal Lytham & St. Annes
The 2012 British Open will be the 11th Open played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Click on a year to view the scores and read a recap of the previous 10 tournaments:
1926 1952 1958 1963 1969 1974 1979 1988 1996 2001

2011 British Open Golf Tournament
Ten years since his last Top 10 finish in a major, 42-year-old Darren Clark claimed a 3-stroke victory, earning his first major championship win. Phil Mickelson surged early in the final round, tying the score at one point, but dropped back on the back nine. Dustin Johnson was in position after the 13th hole to challenge Clarke, but hit an approach on 14 out of bounds. Johnson and Mickelson tied for third. Recap/Scores
2012 British Open
Official website

Final Leaders
Darren Clarke, 275
Phil Mickelson, 278
Dustin Johnson, 278
Thomas Bjorn, 279
Chad Campbell, 280
Anthony Kim, 280
Rickie Fowler, 280
Scores

Previous Opens played at Royal St. George's:
2003 1993 1985 1981 1949 1938 1934 1928 1922 1911 1904 1899 1894

Royal St. George's Photos
Take a closer look at the golf course with this photo gallery, and read more about the club's history.

British Open Golf Tournament - Facts, Figures, Trivia

British Open Past Champions
The British Open dates back to 1860, and you can see every champion through the years on this list.

British Open Records
Wondering about the oldest and youngest winners? The tournament scoring record? Browse through some of the British Open records.

British Open Golf Courses
What links have hosted the Open Championship? Here's the list of every golf course used as a site for the championship.

British Open FAQ
Who won the first British Open and when was it played? Why is the trophy called the Claret Jug? What is the cut rule? Who won the most Opens? These and many other questions are addressed and answered.

Take a British Open Quiz
How well do you know your British Open trivia? Try one of our Open Championship quizzes to test your knowledge. They're not easy, but if you don't the answers you'll wind up learning lots of new facts.

Future Sites
• 2011: Royal St. George's
• 2012: Royal Lytham & St. Annes
• 2013: Muirfield
• 2014: Royal Liverpool
• 2015: The Old Course at St. Andrews

Futures dates/sites: 2011 British Open | 2012 British Open | 2013 British Open | 2014 British Open | 2015 British Open