148th Open Championship

When: Thursday through July 21 Site: Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland Length: 7,344 yards Par: 71 The course: The club dates to a nine-hole course in 1888, expanding to 18 holes a year later. Harry Colt designed the Dunluce Links in 1929. Royal Portrush in 1951 hosted the only British Open not held in Scotland or England. To allow for the size of the championship, two holes from the Valley Links were used to create a new seventh and eighth holes on the Dunluce Links, while the previous 17th and 18th holes are now the site of the tented village.

Field: 156 players Playoff (if necessary): 3 holes, aggregate score

Prize money: $10.75 million Winner: $1.94 million

Defending champion: Francesco Molinari Last year: Molinari became the first Italian to win a major when he closed with a 2-under 69, playing the final 37 holes without a bogey at Carnoustie. A birdie on the final hole gave him a two-shot victory. Tiger Woods briefly had the lead on Sunday. Jordan Spieth had a share of the 54-hole lead and didn’t make a birdie in the final round. Seven players had a share of the lead at some point Sunday; six were still tied on the back nine.

Last time at Royal Portrush: In 1951, Max Faulkner built a six-shot lead through 54 holes and held on with a 74 for a two-shot victory over Antonio Cerda in the only British Open not held in Scotland or England.

Key statistic: Americans have a chance to sweep the majors for the first time since 1982.

TV (PDT): 10:30 p.m. Wednesday-10 a.m. Thursday, Golf Channel; 10:30 p.m. Thursday-10 a.m. Friday, Golf Channel; 2 a.m.-4 a.m. Saturday, Golf Channel; 4a.m.noon !38 ; 1a.m.-4 a.m. Sunday, Golf Channel, 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. !38.