The 150th Open 2022: FAQs

The 150th Open Championship is set to tee off at St. Andrews, with Collin Morikawa defending his title and Tiger Woods back playing on his favourite golf course.

We answer some frequently asked questions about the golf season’s final and most historic major.

When is the tournament being played?

July 14-17, 2022.

Where is it being held?

The championship will take place on the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland.

Who conducts The Open?

The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews). It’s one of the governing bodies of golf worldwide with its head office at St. Andrews.

When was The Open last played here?

In 2015 when Zach Johnson won; 2010 when Louis Oosthuizen won; and in 2005 when Tiger Woods won his second of three Open titles and his second at St. Andrews.

Why is St. Andrews called ‘The Home of Golf’?

The Scots are widely believed to have invented the game of golf we would recognise today. The Old Course is considered to be golf’s birthplace because the sport was first played on the Links at St Andrews in the 15th century.

Who won the 2021 Open Championship?

Collin Morikawa won the 2021 Open at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, England, with a 72-hole total of 15-under 265. Jordan Spieth finished second on his own two strokes back, with Louis Oosthuizen four back in a tie for third with Jon Rahm.

Will Tiger Woods play?

Yes. After a courageous finish at the Masters, Tiger made the cut at the PGA Championship, but withdrew after the third round. He then missed the U.S. Open, but was determined to make it to The Open.

So, St. Andrews is Tiger’s favourite golf course?

Speaking after the Masters, Tiger said he will play at The Open and that St. Andrews was “my favourite course in the world”.

Will Phil Mickelson be playing?

Tiger’s great rival, ‘Lefty’ will be playing despite involvement with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. He earned an exemption as a past champion under the age of 60. He memorably won The Open in 2013 at Muirfield.

Are all LIV golfers playing?

Yes, they are all eligible to compete as long as they have qualified or earned an exemption.

Who is favourite to win in 2022?

Winning the Genesis Scottish Open last week and the Travelers Championship just before that, Xander Schauffele is a good bet. He finished tied second at the 2018 Open. World number one Scottie Scheffler missed the cut at the Scottish last week, but already has four wins this season including the Masters. He finished T-8 at last year’s Open.

Defending champion Collin Morikawa is not in his best form and Jon Rahm is slightly off it too, but Rory McIlroy, winner in 2014, has two wins this season and if he stays accurate off the tee he’ll be hard to beat. He has finished in the top eight in the last three majors.

Jordan Spieth, winner in 2017 and T-10 at the Scottish, is coming back into form and finished fourth at St. Andrews in 2015. Louis Oosthuizen won by seven shots at St. Andrews in 2010 and finished T-3 last year. Look out for U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas.

What’s the golf course conditions like?

The Open is played in classic links golf conditions, with extremely deep bunkers, few trees, undulating greens, rolling fairways and high fescue. The fairways are as hard as they have ever been in the lead up to an Open Championship.

What’s the weather forecast?

The Open is associated with high winds, colder temperatures and rain. The forecast this year is a mix between sunny and overcast with a moderate chance of rain on Thursday and Friday, but warm between 19°C and 21°C.

Over the weekend, it’s expected to get sunnier and warmer with temperatures around 22°C. The wind might pick up a bit on Friday through Saturday, but not expected to be too strong come Sunday.

What are the keys to success at St. Andrews?

Patience is a big thing. Don’t get frustrated, particularly if the weather turns a little wet and windy. Players need to use the ground smartly and read the undulations on and around the greens. So a good short game and sound putting are particularly important. In each of the last eight Opens, the champion has ranked inside the top seven for the week in scrambling.

Off the tee, length isn’t key and the ball will run and run. But avoid wayward shots with deep bunkering and fescue awaiting. From the fairway, good ball strikers will have an advantage especially with the harder than usual ground.

What are the opening round groups to look out for?

Thursday (local times)

07:30 am: Phil Mickelson, Lucas Herbert, Kurt Kitayama

07:52 am: John Daly, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Tringale

08:03 am: Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Seamus Power

08:14 am: Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose

09:58 am: Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele

10:09 am: Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas, Victor Hovland

10:20 am: Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau

13:26 pm: Scottie Scheffler, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton

14:37 pm: Louis Oosthuizen, Harris English, Keita Nakajima

14:49 pm: Tiger Woods, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa

15:10 pm: Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Harold Varner III

What is the format and how many players are in the field?

It’s a four-round, 72-hole stroke-play event, with a cut after 36 holes. There are 156 players in the field. The top 70 make the cut.

If players are tied after 72 holes, how is the winner decided?

The Open has a four-hole aggregate playoff if players are tied at the end of four rounds. If players are still tied then, they play sudden death holes until a winner is determined.

What’s the prize money?

The winner of the 150th Open Championship will receive a record $2.5m (£2.1m) in prize money. The R&A announced that the total prize fund at St Andrews has also increased by 22 per cent to $14m. Second place will get £1.2million. Third £773,000. The amount then decreases all the way to 70th place who would take home £26,750 after making the cut.

What else does the winner get?

The winner of the Open Championship receives 100 world ranking points as well as 600 FedEx Cup points.

What about the trophy?

The winner gets to lift the coveted and world famous Claret Jug, as well as being named ‘The Champion Golfer of the Year’. The claret jug was first awarded in 1873.

What’s the Silver Medal?

The Silver Medal is awarded to the leading amateur at the Open Championship, as long as he completes all 72 holes.

Who has won The Open most times?

Harry Vardon holds the record with six. Four golfers have won the Open five times: James Braid, J.H. Taylor, Peter Thomson and Tom Watson. Walter Hagen and Bobby Locke have four wins. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Gary Player and Bobby Jones are among those with three wins.

Is St. Andrews the most played course on the Open rota?

Yes. This will be the 30th Open at St Andrews. Six more than Prestwick.

What other courses are currently on The Open rota?

Right now there are 10, with five of them Scottish: St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Turnberry and Muirfield. Four are in England: Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal St. George’s and Royal Lytham. The most recent course to join the rota is Northern Ireland‘s Royal Portrush.

Where will the next Open Championships be held?

2023: Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England

2024: Royal Troon, Troon, Scotland

2025: Royal Portrush, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland