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
