Meet the 10 courses in the Open Championship rota

The Open Championship annually visits some of the finest links courses in the world. This collection of courses — colloquially known as the Open Championship rota — has played host to some of the biggest moments in major championship history, and is well-known to golf fans across the globe.

The R&A says there isn’t an “official” Open Championship rota, but since 1933 only 10 courses have hosted the Open Championship. It’s safe to say those 10 courses make up the rota — official or not.

Here are the 10 courses in the Open Championship rota.

St. Andrews (Old Course)

Location: Fife, Scotland
Open Championships hosted: 30
Most recent winner: Cameron Smith, 2022
His first-place prize: $2,500,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 3

Muirfield

Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Open Championships hosted: 16
Most recent winner: Phil Mickelson, 2013
His first-place prize: $945,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 12

Royal St. George’s

Location: Sandwich, England
Open Championships hosted: 15
Most recent winner: Collin Morikawa, 2021
His first-place prize: $2,070,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 33

Royal Liverpool

Location: Hoylake, England
Open Championships hosted: 13
Most recent winner: Brian Harman, 2023
His first-place prize: $3,000,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 93

Royal Lytham and St. Annes

Location: Lytham St. Annes, England
Open Championships hosted: 11
Most recent winner: Ernie Els, 2012
His first-place prize: $900,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 74

Royal Birkdale

Location: Southport, England
Open Championships hosted: 10
Most recent winner: Jordan Spieth, 2017
His first-place prize: $1,845,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 42

Royal Troon (Old)

Location: Troon, Scotland
Open Championships hosted: 9
Most recent winner: Henrik Stenson, 2016
His first-place prize: $1,175,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 66

Carnoustie

Location: Carnoustie, Scotland
Open Championships hosted: 8
Most recent winner: Francesco Molinari, 2018
His first-place prize: $1,890,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 40

Turnberry (Ailsa)

Location: Turnberry, Scotland
Open Championships hosted: 4
Most recent winner: Stewart Cink, 2009
His first-place prize: $1,221,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 18

Royal Portrush

Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland
Open Championships hosted: 2
Most recent winner: Shane Lowry, 2019
His first-place prize: $1,935,000
GOLF’s Top 100 in the World ranking: 16

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

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