Who Runs The Open Championship?

We answer the popular question in this piece.

Who Runs The Open Championship?

The Open Championship, the oldest Major Championship in golf, is run by the R&A, one of the worldwide governing bodies of golf.

On May 14th 1754, a group of 22 noblemen and gentleman of Fife, known as the Society of St Andrews Golfers, presented a Silver Club to be played for annually over the links course. The club was named, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews 80 years later, when King William IV became its patron.

Historically the R&A was also known as the The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and from the late 19th century it developed into a governing authority for the game.

Related: 5 perks of winning The Open Championship

According to the R&A website; "Between 1897 and 2003 it developed three distinct areas of responsibility, namely the administration of the Rules of Golf in conjunction with the USGA, the running of The Open and other key golfing events, and the development of the game in existing and emerging golfing nations.

"A major reorganisation in 2004, however, saw the Club devolve responsibility for these functions to a newly-formed group of companies, known as The R&A."

The R&A is based in St Andrews.

Together with the USGA, the R&A governs the sport of golf worldwide. Despite covering different areas, both bodies commit to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards.

In terms of other events the R&A run, below is a list;

• The Open Championship
• Women's British Open 
• The Amateur Championship
• The Women's Amateur Championship
• Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship
• Boys Amateur Championship
• The Girls' British Open Amateur Championship
• Boys Home Internationals
• Girls' Home Internationals
• Ladies' Home International
• Senior Open Championship
• Walker Cup
• Curtis Cup
• Junior Open Championship
• St Andrews Trophy
• Vagliano Trophy
• Jacques Léglise Trophy
• Junior Vagliano Trophy

For more Open Championship news, check out the Golf Monthly website.