Well, he might take a to the new clubs, balls wouldn’t find The Open

beginnings of the championship, alongside Tom Morris who had moved from St Andrews to Prestwick to become their professional golfer and set out their links and course. As a way of showing it off and what he’d achieved, they put together this event.

“The first one took place in October, 1860. Back then, golf was a winter sport, now The Open takes place in the summer. There were only eight entrants and there was no prize money.

“It was quite hastily put together, and although Tom laid out the course, he was beaten by his great rival, Will Park Senior. Tom did go on to win the belt four times though.”

In those early days before The Open’s iconic Claret Jug was created, the winner walked away with the Championship Belt made from red Moroccan leather, with a silver buckle. The founders created a rule that if the same person won The Open three years in a row, the belt would be theirs to keep. And it wasn’t long before it did indeed go home with a player.

“They set the rule, expecting that no one would be good enough to win three times running,” explained Hannah, “but Tom Morris Jnr did so just 10 years after that very first championship. Tommy was Tom Morris’s son and was really a child prodigy in golf, playing from a very early age.

“He first won The Open when he was 17, so he’s still the youngest winner, and Tom Morris is the oldest winner at 46. Tommy won in 1868, 1869 and 1870, so it was his belt to keep. I can’t imagine how proud Tom Senior must have been to see his own son win the belt. It was

a prize