goif - Woods and Co.: Who and what is important at the British Open
The Aura of Tiger Woods is already detectable prior to the 152nd British Open on the Scottish west coast. Numerous fans accompany the now 48-year-old Superstar from California at the training sessions in Royal Troon Golf Club - starting this Thursday, when the fourth and final Major tournament of the year begins, thousands will once again admire the 15-time Major Champion at the side of the Fairways.
Although Woods participates in only a few select tournaments after numerous surgeries and the severe car accident in February 2021, the long-time number one in the world has not lost an ounce of attraction and charisma. He is no longer considered one of the favorites for the British Open title. Thoughts of an imminent retirement from golf do not cross Woods' mind. "I will play as long as I can and I still feel like I can win this tournament," he said at a press conference in Troon.
The Tournament
The British Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world. In 1860, the Open Championship era began at the Prestwick Golf Club on the Scottish west coast. The only one of the four Major tournaments that does not take place in the USA, it is held annually at various locations throughout the United Kingdom.
The Course
For the tenth time, the British Open will be played at the Royal Troon Golf Club - an hour southwest of Glasgow. The Par-71 Course by the coast is a typical so-called Links Course. Dunes, stormy winds, deep sand bunkers, dense gorse bushes, and extremely hard and wavy fairways demand everything from the golfers. The last nine holes are among the most challenging in the world.
The Prize Money
The British Open is endowed with 17 Million US-Dollars (15.6 Million Euros). The winner receives a check for over 3.1 Million US-Dollars (2.85 Million Euros) and the Claret Jug - a silver wine jug - trophy is presented. The winner may also call himself "Champion Golfer of the Year."
The Top Favorite
Scottie Scheffler: The World No. 1 wants to win the British Open for the first time. The 28-year-old American currently dominates the golf scene. In this season, Scheffler has already won six tournaments on the PGA Tour - including the prestigious Masters in Augusta for the second time. In his 15 season starts, Scheffler has earned over 27 Million US-Dollars in prize money.
German Players
Stephan Jaeger: The current best German golf pro is ranked 46th in the world. After the British Open, the 35-year-old Munich native, who lives in the USA, will represent Germany at the Olympics in Paris. In early April, Jaeger won his first PGA Tour victory in Houston.
Yannik Paul: The 30-year-old from Mannheim won his first tournament on the DP World Tour in Mallorca in 2022. Paul qualified for the British Open because he was among the top 30 players on the European tour's ranking list (Race to Dubai) last year.
Marcel Siem: The 44-year-old veteran from Ratingen loves the big stage. The emotional German, who lives in Mauritius, is always popular with British Open fans. At the end of June, he won the Italian Open for the sixth time on the DP World Tour.
Alex Cejka: The 53-year-old is the defending champion of the Senior British Open and thus eligible to play in Troon. Otherwise, Cejka plays together with Germany's golf idol Bernhard Langer on the PGA Tour Champions in the USA.
- Despite Tiger Woods not being a favorite for the British Open title, his participation in the 152nd edition of the tournament, taking place at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, has already generated significant excitement among fans from around the world, including the United States of America.
- The DP World Tour, an international golf circuit, has numerous players competing in the British Open, including Stefan Jaeger and Yannik Paul from Germany.
- Tiger Woods' participation in select tournaments, following numerous surgeries and a severe car accident in February 2021, has not dimmed his attraction and charisma, as evident in the huge crowds that gather to watch him play at the PGA-Tour events like the British Open.
- Although the British Open is the only one of the four Major tournaments that does not take place in the USA, it attracts a significant number of American golfers, including Tiger Woods, to compete for the prestigious Claret Jug trophy and the substantial $17 million US Dollar prize money.
- The PGA, with its PGA-Tour and international affiliations, has a significant presence in the British Open, with numerous international players vying for the title, including those from Europe's DP World Tour, like Marcel Siem and Alex Cejka.
- With a prize money of $17 million US Dollars, the British Open is one of the richest golf tournaments in the world, alongside other Major tournaments like the US Open, The Masters, and The PGA Championship, which are also a part of the PGA calendar.
