MAIN Recreation Sports Golf 2012 British Open

In UK shorthand, it's simply The Open — the planet's first golf championship tournament begun in Scotland in 1860.

2012 marks the historic 141st British Open - which takes place at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, from Sunday July 15 to Sunday July 22, 2012.

One of the hottest tickets in the world of the sport, the 2012 British Open features top golf pros who gather in Lancashire to compete for the historic Claret Jug trophy. Tickets for the 2012 British Open go on sale in late 2011 ranging from £600.00 for exclusive access with all the perks, to daily tickets priced from £10 - £30 available at most online ticket sellers.

In the US, the mid-summer golf classic was broadcast on ESPN and ABC Sports, in Canada on TSN, and in the U.K. on BBC, with Australia offering complete coverage on FOX.

British Open 2011 recap

With Tiger Woods out of the running in 2011, a major contender in Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, following his huge win at the 2011 US Open, joined a host of other big names vying for the Open's $1.2 million prize. They included Phil Mickelson, Angel Cabrera, Sergio Poulter, and England's own Ian Poulter. However, it was another Northern Ireland golf master, Darren Clarke, who sailed past all comers to take the 2011 British Open.

Who will it be this year?

On the Web, check out the complete story including player profiles, memorable pictures, stories, video clips, plus related history and trivia on the world's first and foremost golf championship ...

also see -> London Summer Olympics | 2012 PGA Tour Schedule

More about the British Open around the Web:

Open Championship - The official site of the 2011 British Open with ticket information and online purchase, video highlights, a daily photo gallery, player biographies, feature articles and historical timeline.

BBC Sport | Golf - You name it, and the Beeb's got it , including the latest updates and television and video highlights, player interviews, photo galleries and interactive games, British Open history and trivia, official rules, golf lingo, travel guides, and don't miss the tongue-in-cheek A-Zee Guide to the British Open for American Visitors.

The Open Championship - Check out news and scores, top stories, interviews and features from the official PGA site, along with video clips, an in-depth history of the championship, a profile of the course, and more on the claret jug trophy.

The Open Championship - Wikipedia - The complete overview including historical highlights, future dates and venues, photos, related references and resources, and a list of winners from 1860 to the present.

also see in Travel -> St. Andrew's Golf Course