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The Open Championship of Golf, the oldest of the 4 Majors.  The British Open is played in various locations throughout the British Iles, the most famous of these courses in St. Andrews .  This year the Open Championship will be played on the Ailsa Course at Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland.  On July 16-19, 2009 Padraig Harrington will defend his title and attempt to win the open for the third time in as many years.

This is the fourth time that Turnberry has hosted the championship and seen many great past champions like; Tom Watson (1977), Greg Norman (1986) and most recently Nick price (1994).  Turnberry will prove to be very challenging course for the 2009 championship and should prove to create an interesting variety shots.  The par 70 course is over 7200 yards and runs along the coast in a links fashion and then turns inland and creates some different challenges on the back 9.  On July 16^th the first tee time will be at 7am and will start the 2009 Open Championship.  

The First Open was played in 1860 over 3 rounds on a 12 hole course.  Each club in Briton was allowed to send no more than 3 professionals.  Qualifying for the Open is a little more difficult than qualifying at your local club these days.  The winners of the first open played for a Belt and there was no prize money to win.  The modern era of the Open has the best in the golfing world competing for the Claret Jug and the prize money of £4.2 million or $8.3 million U.S. dollars.

The Claret Jug is for most players is the ultimate prize in the golfing.  The Claret Jug was first introduced in 1873 replacing the initial prize, a ‘Belt’.  Although introduced in 1873 the first Champion listed on the Jug was the Champion in 1872.  The reason for this is that the Jug was commissioned in 1872 and was not completed in time to be awarded to the 1872 champion.

Padraig Harrington will be joined by all of today’s top golfers as he works his magic for a third consecutive title.  Some of the past champions that will be joining Padraig are; Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and David Duval who has just re-emerged with some quality playing at the 2009 U.S. Open.

This year the Claret Jug will have some interesting side stories.  Padraig will be trying for his third straight Open title just like Tiger two years ago when Padraig won his first Major championship and stopped Tiger from reaching his third straight Claret Jug.  Although the drama has yet to unfold it should prove to be exciting to watch Padraig and his most worthy competitors contend for the Claret Jug once again.