Where is the 2024 Open Championship being played? Know all about the venue

The 152nd Open Championship begins this week. On Thursday, the golf world will turn its eyes to Scotland for the fourth and final Major of the season. It is going to be played at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. Here's what you need to know about the golf course.

The course was founded all the way back in 1878. Royal Troon Golf Club was at that time a course consisting of six holes that filled some vacant farmland. It would eventually expand to a full 18 holes thanks to designer Willie Fernie, who was also the Royal Troon's first golf professional, serving the Club in that capacity for 37 years.

This is the first time Royal Troon has hosted the Open since 2016. The last time it was held here, the golfing world was witness to a gripping duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson, with Stenson claiming victory by 3 strokes. In total, The Open has been held at Royal Troon 10 times with the following winners:

• 1923: Arthur Havers
• 1950: Bobby Locke
• 1962: Arnold Palmer
• 1973: Tom Weiskopf
• 1982: Tom Watson
• 1989: Mark Calcavecchia
• 1997: Justin Leonard
• 2004: Todd Hamilton
• 2016: Henrik Stenson

Stenson's win over Mickelson in 2016 set the course record at 20 under par. The two of them set the single-round Open record by shooting a 63 each. Mickelson did so in the first round, while Stenson earned the win by shooting his 63 in the fourth round.

The very first time this tournament was held at Royal Troon was in 1923. The club is also the only one in Great Britain to have been accorded Royal status during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. This occurred in 1978.

Royal Troon had hosted women's events before, but it did not allow women to join as members until 2016. Then in 2020, the Women's Open Championship was held at the Royal Troon Golf Club.

The course has also hosted these events:

• Senior Open Championship (once)
• Amateur Championship (five times)
• British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship (four times)
• Scottish Amateur (six times)
• Scottish Ladies' Amateur (five times)

It is one of the oldest active golf courses that serve as venues for professional golf.

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When is the Open Championship?

Several golfers, including Tony Finau, Tiger Woods, and Justin Thomas, are already at the club for previews and will have press conferences beginning today.

Max Homa takes some practice at Royal Troon for the Open Championship

The tournament officially starts on July 18 and it will last through the 21st. Play will begin at 6:30 am GMT+1 and go on as late as 4:15 pm GMT+1. The region's lengthy sunlight (ranging from about 4:40 am to almost 10 pm) allows for tee times to be staggered like this.