Open Golf Tournaments
Encyclopedia
The descriptor "Open" is used in a number of sports, and especially in golf
, to describe a tournament that is “open” (in theory to allcomers) rather than being closed (i.e. one that is restricted to a particular group). Thus an Amateur
tournament (e.g. the U.S. Amateur) is not open because it is, by definition, closed to professional golfers. In golf the first precise usage of the adjective “Open” was in 1861 when the Prestwick Golf Club
opened its Medal competition (launched the previous year for professionals only) to amateurs as well and ever since The Open Championship
, as it was called, has been open to all. Any golfer can, in theory, play in The Open either by invitation or by various forms of qualification. In practice the event is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world’s leading amateurs also play (by invitation or qualification).
Over time the descriptor "Open" has been extended to include the premier national tournaments of many countries (starting with the U.S. Open
in 1895) and also (mainly in the United States) to some other tournaments (e.g. the Buick Open
).
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, to describe a tournament that is “open” (in theory to allcomers) rather than being closed (i.e. one that is restricted to a particular group). Thus an Amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
tournament (e.g. the U.S. Amateur) is not open because it is, by definition, closed to professional golfers. In golf the first precise usage of the adjective “Open” was in 1861 when the Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick Golf Club
Prestwick Golf Club is located in the town of Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is approximately southwest of Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. Prestwick is a classic links golf course, being built on the rolling sandy land that "links" the beach and the land further inland...
opened its Medal competition (launched the previous year for professionals only) to amateurs as well and ever since The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
, as it was called, has been open to all. Any golfer can, in theory, play in The Open either by invitation or by various forms of qualification. In practice the event is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world’s leading amateurs also play (by invitation or qualification).
Over time the descriptor "Open" has been extended to include the premier national tournaments of many countries (starting with the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
in 1895) and also (mainly in the United States) to some other tournaments (e.g. the Buick Open
Buick Open
The Buick Open was a PGA Tour golf tournament from 1958 to 2009. In 2007, the tournament was held at the end of June, a change from its traditional spot between The Open Championship and the PGA Championship...
).
PGA Tour
- United Kingdom – The Open ChampionshipThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
- United States – U.S. OpenU.S. Open (golf)The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
- Canada – Canadian Open
PGA European Tour
- United Kingdom The Open ChampionshipThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
- China OpenVolvo China OpenThe Volvo China Open is a men's golf tournament that has been held annually in China since 1995. The event is organised by the China Golf Association and has been co-sanctioned by the European Tour since 2003....
- Hong Kong OpenHong Kong Open (golf)The Hong Kong Open is a golf tournament which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour. It was founded in 1959 and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since 2001...
- South African Open
- Malaysian Open
- Indonesia Open
- Madeira Island OpenMadeira Island OpenThe Madeira Islands Open is a men's professional golf tournament on the European Tour, played on the Madeira Islands in Portugal. It was founded in 1993 and is often the first event of the season played in Europe, after the season has spent the northern winter in Asia, Australasia and South Africa...
- Portuguese OpenPortuguese OpenThe Portuguese Open, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Estoril Open de Portugal, is an annual tournament on men's golf's European Tour. It has been played since 1953, with a few skipped years, and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since 1973...
- Asian OpenBMW Asian OpenThe BMW Asian Open was a men's professional golf tournament that was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour. The event was founded in 2001, as part of the European Tour's drive to expand into Asia, and China in particular....
- Spanish Open
- Italian OpenItalian Open (golf)The BMW Italian Open, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is the Italian national open golf championship for men. It was founded in 1925 and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since the tour's first season in 1972....
- Irish OpenIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
- Wales Open
- French OpenOpen de FranceThe Open de France is a European Tour golf tournament. Inaugurated in 1906 it is the oldest national open in Continental Europe and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since the tour's inception in 1972....
- European OpenEuropean Open (golf)The European Open was a European Tour golf tournament. Founded in 1978, up to 1994 it was played at various courses in England, including Sunningdale and Walton Heath, except for the 1979 event, which was held at Turnberry in Scotland...
- Scottish OpenScottish Open (golf)The Scottish Open, which has been sponsored by Barclays Capital since 2002, is one of the richer golf tournaments on the European Tour. It is currently played at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness in the North of Scotland...
- Dutch Open
- Russian Open
Others
- Africa OpenAfrica OpenThe Africa Open is a golf tournament on the Sunshine Tour that was first contested in February 2008, over the Gary Player designed championship course at the Fish River Sun Country Club, near Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa....
- Australian OpenAustralian Open (golf)The Australian Open is one of the principal annual golf tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and also the OneAsia Tour since its formation in 2009. The event was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year...
- Brunei OpenBrunei OpenThe Brunei Open is an Asian Tour golf tournament. The 2005 staging was Brunei's first ever professional golf tournament, and it was won by Terry Pilkadaris of Australia. The event is held at the Jack Nicklaus designed course at the Empire Hotel and Country Club. In 2010 the prize fund was...
- Canadian Women's OpenCanadian Women's OpenThe CN Canadian Women's Open is a women's professional golf tournament managed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It has been Canada's national championship tournament since 1973, and is an official event on the LPGA Tour.-History:...
- Japan Open
- Kazakhstan OpenKazakhstan OpenThe Kazakhstan Open is a men's professional golf tournament on the Challenge Tour, the official developmental tour of the PGA European Tour. First played in 2005, it was held at the Nurtau Golf Club in Almaty, Kazakhstan for the first four editions before moving to the Zhailjau Golf Resort, also in...
- Kenya OpenKenya OpenThe Kenya Open is a golf tournament in Kenya and has been an event on the European based Challenge Tour schedule since 1991. It was founded in 1967, and has been held at Muthaiga Golf Club near Nairobi every year except 1968 and between 2004 and 2008, when the tournament was held at Karen Country...
- Korea OpenKorea OpenThe Kolon Korea Open, as it is currently known for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional golf tournament that has been held annually in South Korea since 1958....
- Mexican OpenMexican OpenThe Mexican Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf is the national open golf tournament of Mexico. It was first played in 1944 at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. It was an event on the Tour de las Americas between 2003 and 2006, being co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour from 2004...
- New Zealand Women's OpenNew Zealand Women's OpenThe New Zealand Women's Open is a women's professional golf tournament on the ALPG Tour. It was founded in 2009 and became an event on the Ladies European Tour the following year.-Winners:...
- New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
- Pakistan OpenPakistan OpenThe Pakistan Open is a golf tournament organised by the Pakistan Golf Federation that was first played in 1967. In 2006 and 2007 was part of the Asian Tour schedule....
- Philippine OpenPhilippine Open (golf)The Philippine Open is one of the world's longest running men's golf tournaments. First held in 1913, it is also Asia's oldest golf tournament and Asia's oldest national golf open...
- Singapore OpenSingapore Open (golf)The Singapore Open is a golf tournament in Singapore that has been sanctioned by the Asian Tour from that tour's inception in 1995 and by the European Tour since 2009. It was founded in 1961 and was staged annually until 2001, when it was won by Thaworn Wiratchant. It was then cancelled for lack of...
- South African Open
- Zambia OpenZambia OpenThe Zambia Open is a men's professional golf tournament played in Zambia, that has been part of the Sunshine Tour since 1996, and was co-sanctioned by the European based Challenge Tour from 2001 to 2004...