BRITISH OPEN

one of the world's major men's golf tournaments, held annually (with a few exceptions) since 1860 at different courses in the British Isles. It is open to professional and amateur contestants (hence the name). Since 1892 the Open has been 72 holes of stroke play. (The player with the lowest number of strokes is the winner.) Eligibility for the tournament is determined by a qualifying round, with a few players exempted on the basis of past performance.