Tag: Open Championship

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British Open – “Claret Jug” Victory Award

Tiger Woods with the Claret Jug in 2000. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods with the Claret Jug in 2000. (Photo: Getty)

The trophy that rewards the winner of the British Open Championship is officially known as the “Championship Trophy”, but it is commonly referred to as the “Claret Jug”; it is a Bordeaux decanter. “Claret” is the English name for a dry red wine produced in the famous French wine-growing region of Bordeaux. The British Open trophy is modeled after a silver wine jug in which claret was served in the 19th century.

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Before the Claret Jug there was the Championship belt

But the winner of the British Open did not get the Claret Jug from time immemorial. The first winners were awarded with a championship belt. The first British Open was held in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club. The first belt was also awarded in that year.

The belt was made of wide, red morocco leather and was trimmed with silver buckles and decorations. This trophy would possibly still be today’s British Open award had it not been for the special achievement of Young Tom Morris: Prestwick Golf Club hosted the first eleven British Opens. Each year the championship belt changed hands as a challenge cup. But Prestwick’s rules stated that the belt would become the property of the golfer who won the British Open three times in a row. Young Tom Morris achieved this feat in 1872, winning in 1868, 1869 and 1870. So he could take home the Championship belt after his third win in 1870.

The British Open briefly had no victory award

Suddenly the British Open had no trophy and Prestwick did not have the funds to commission its own. So club members came up with the idea of sharing a trophy with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Prestwick suggested that the three clubs could take turns hosting the British Open and all contribute something to the new trophy.

While the clubs deliberated, no British Open was held in 1871. Eventually they pooled money for a new trophy.

Tom Kidd 1873 first winner of the Claret Jug

When Young Tom Morris won the British Open again, the trophy had not yet been completed. So in 1873, Tom Kidd was the first British Open winner to win the Claret Jug.

This original trophy has been on display in the clubhouse of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews since 1927, along with the Championship belt (donated by the Morris family in 1908). The trophy currently in circulation is a copy of the original and was first presented to the 1928 winner, Walter Hagen. Each winner is allowed to keep this trophy for one year after his victory, must return it to the next British Open and then receives a replica of the traveling trophy for his own use.

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British Open – Cut Rule

Not everyone plays 72 holes. (Photo: Getty)
Not everyone plays 72 holes. (Photo: Getty)

The British Open cut rule is not difficult to understand: The top 70 finishers after 36 holes make the cut. Everyone else doesn’t make the weekend. This cut rule was first used at the 1898 British Open.

British Open: briefly with two cuts

But there wasn’t always this one-cut system. In 1968, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) installed two cuts: one cut after 36 holes, another cut after 54 holes. This cut rule lasted until 1985, during which time the top 80 players advanced after the first cut and the top 60 players advanced after the second.

In 1986, the cut rule at the British Open was changed back to the best 70 after 36 holes. It is still in place today.

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British Open 2022: R&A announces prize money increase

The winner of the Claret Jug will also collect the highest prize money in Open history at the 2022 British Open. (Photo: Getty)
The winner of the Claret Jug will also collect the highest prize money in Open history at the 2022 British Open. (Photo: Getty)

One week before the start of the British Open 2022 in St. Andrews, the prize money for the 150th edition of the tournament was announced. The winner of this year’s Open will be able to take home over two million pounds for the first time, in addition to the Claret Jug. The total prize money of the last major in the calendar year will be increased by 22 per cent.

In concrete terms, this means a jump from 12.5 to 14 million US dollars in prize money, with which the R&A, the organising association of the British Open 2022, wants to do justice to the increased prize money last year.

“There have been significant changes in prize money over the last year. We have therefore increased the prize fund by 22% which means that the prize money has increased by more than 60% since 2016,” Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A said.

Competitive bidding by the organisers

By comparison, the US Masters and PGA Championship had both increased prize money to $15 million before this year’s editions. The US Open is the men’s major with the highest prize money at 17.5 million dollars, winner Matt Fitzpatrick received over three million dollars. The Players Championship, the flagship tournament of the PGA Tour, paid out 20 million dollars this year and 25 million dollars next year.

The drastic price increase is probably also linked to the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series, which lures stars to its tour with high sign-up bonuses and awards an additional 25 million dollars per tournament.

“We have made this substantial investment while balancing our wider commitments to developing golf at all levels around the world and to continuing to elevate the AIG Women’s Open.” Last year, the Association, together with the main sponsor, provided record prize money for the Women’s Major, which has since been surpassed by the US Women’s Open.

2022 British Open prize money

  1.  $2,500,000
  2.  $1,455,000
  3.  $933,000
  4.  $725,000
  5.  $583,000
  6.  $505,000
  7.  $434,000
  8.  $366,000
  9.  $321,000
  10.  $290,000
  11.  $264,000
  12.  $234,000
  13.  $220,000
  14.  $206,000
  15.  $191,500
  16.  $176,000
  17.  $167,500
  18.  $159,750
  19.  $153,000
  20.  $145,750
  21.  $139,000
  22.  $132,000
  23.  $125,000
  24.  $118,000
  25.  $114,000
  26.  $109,000
  27.  $105,000
  28.  $101,500
  29.  $97,000
  30.  $92,000
  31.  $89,000
  32.  $84,500
  33.  $81,500
  34.  $79,250
  35.  $76,500
  36.  $73,500
  37.  $70,000
  38.  $66,500
  39.  $64,000
  40.  $62,000
  41.  $59,500
  42.  $56,500
  43.  $54,000
  44.  $51,000
  45.  $48,000
  46.  $45,500
  47.  $43,700
  48.  $42,000
  49.  $40,000
  50.  $39,100
  51.  $38,200
  52.  $37,600
  53.  $37,000
  54.  $36,500
  55.  $35,900
  56.  $35,400
  57.  $35,000
  58.  $34,750
  59.  $34,500
  60.  $34,250
  61.  $34,000
  62.  $33,900
  63.  $33,750
  64.  $33,600
  65.  $33,400
  66.  $33,100
  67.  $32,900
  68.  $32,600
  69.  $32,400
  70.  $32,200
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Open Championship 2022: LIV Golf players may play in St. Andrews

LIV Golf Players are allowed to play The Open. (Photo: Getty)
LIV Golf Players are allowed to play The Open. (Photo: Getty)

The R&A is allowing LIV golfers to compete in the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. These include former Open winners Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen, also qualifying are Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Abaham Ancer, plus Brooks Koepka, who may also join the LIV Golf Tour.

Open Championship: Openness has been Fundamental

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said:

“The Open is golf’s original Championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal.

“Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for The 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the Championship at St Andrews.

“We are focused on staging a world class Championship in July and celebrating this truly historic occasion for golf. We will invest the proceeds of The Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now.”

The USGA had allowed the players who participated in the first event of the LIV Golf Series, which is funded by the Saudi government’s PIF, to participate in the US Open. The issue had arisen after the PGA Tour suspended the players. However, the major tournaments are hosted by independent promoters who set their own qualifying criteria. However, neither the USGA nor the R&A guarantee that the qualification criteria will not change in the future. In the long run, the question of whether there will be world ranking points for LIV golf tournaments will also be relevant in this context, as these are often an important component of major qualification.

The DP World Tour has not commented yet and wants to make a decision about the sanctions for the LIV Golf participants in the coming days.

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LIV Tour

US Open withdraw: Tiger Woods gives his body “even more time”

Tiger Woods cancels the US Open because of his physical condition. (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods cancels the US Open because of his physical condition. (Photo: Getty)

The third major of the year will take place next week at the Country Club in Brookline. However, Tiger Woods will not be taking part in the US Open 2022. The 15-time major winner published a statement on Twitter in which he explained his decision.

Tiger Woods: “My body needs more time”

After his serious car accident in February 2021, Tiger Woods had taken a lot of time to get back on his feet. After holding on for four rounds at the Masters in April, he had to abandon the second major of the season after three rounds. At the PGA Championship, the 46-year-old’s strength was simply no longer enough. Now the superstar confirmed on his social media channels that he had decided against participating in the third major of the year. The reason: his continued less than optimal physical condition. In his statement, Woods explained that his “body needs more time to get stronger.” He has already informed the USGA of his decision.

Tiger Woods plans with the Open Championship 2022

The Open Championship will be held in Scotland from July 14 to 17. The fourth major of the season is also high on Tiger Woods’ agenda. In his statement on Twitter, he gives his fans hope: “I hope and plan to be ready to play in the Open next month. Looking forward to being back soon.” Back in April, Woods stated in an interview that he was already looking forward to St. Andrews: “It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I’ll be there.” Whether he can actually compete there in July remains to be seen. In the end, he will have to listen to his body.

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Panorama

150th Open Championship expects more spectators than ever before

They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)
They are still empty: the spectator stands at the 150th Open Championship. (Photo: Getty)

From July 14 to 17, 2022, the Open Championship will take place in St. Andrews. For the 150th time, the world’s best golfers will compete for the Major title. After the tournament had to be cancelled altogether in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic and was still held under tightened conditions last year, attendance figures are expected to break records in this year’s edition.

150th Open Championship: “Extraordinary demand from fans”

The previous attendance record for the Open Championship in Scotland was 239,000 in 2000, when Tiger Woods won his first European Major title here. That record is set to become history in this anniversary year. There is no shortage of demand in any case. “The 150th Open at St. Andrews will be a major event for golf, and that is clearly reflected in the extraordinary demand from fans,” announced Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive. More than 1.3 million fans are said to have applied for the popular tickets. 290,000 of them are expected to get the chance to be up close and personal at the event.

Fostering enthusiasm among young fans

Golf is known to be a sport where the older generations are most likely to be found. Attracting young talent and promoting youth sports also plays a role in the last Major of the year. Out of a total of 290,000 tickets, 20 percent of the tickets will be given to under-25s, including 20,000 free tickets for under-16s.

The R&A is already in talks with the Scottish Government and its health advisors in view of the high visitor numbers, in order to be able to offer the greatest possible security during Major week. Martin Slumbers is confident and full of anticipation: “We really appreciate their passion and enthusiasm for the Open and look forward to setting a new attendance record, far exceeding the previous best set in 2000.”

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Panorama

Greg Norman wants to participate in the 150th Open Championship

Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)

Greg Norman has been causing quite a stir as CEO of the LIV Golf Invitational Series for several months. He wants to organize a tournament series that is in direct competition with the world’s major tours: PGA and DP World Tour. In doing so, he also doesn’t shy away from “luring” as many big-name players as possible onto his tour, triggering a major controversy. Now he is making headlines again – but not with his LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Greg Norman wants to return to the Open Championship after 13 years

Greg Norman wants to return to tournament action in 2022. After ten years of not participating in professional sports, he wants to compete for a title again. And not just any title. At the age of 67, Norman wants to compete in the 150th Open Championship in world-famous St. Andrews.

His last tournament in which he played for world ranking points was ten years ago. The last major he played was even 13 years ago: the Open Championship 2009 in Turnberry. Nevertheless, there is no better time for Greg Norman to play one (last) time, as he assures in an interview with New Corp: “I think I can still do it. It’s the 150th, I’m a former Open champion. I love St. Andrews. If there’s one time I would consider going back and teeing off one last time. Maybe it’s this one.” He said he is currently in the process of filling out the entry form.

It remains questionable whether he will get an exemption

One fact appears to jeopardize his participation: Greg Norman, at 67, is outside the age limit of 60 set by the Open Championship. The probability that the Australian will receive a playing permit from the R&A is therefore rather low. The only alternative for Norman would be to qualify for the Major via an Open qualifying tournament. The aforementioned disputes in which Greg Norman currently finds himself will make his plans even more difficult for the 67-year-old.