Future sites of the British Open

Future sites of the British Open It was confirmed on Tuesday that, for the first time in 70 years, the claret jug will return to Royal Portrush. In honor of the announcement -- and as a reminder -- here are the future venues of the British Open. Royal Troon has been site of the Open eight times, most recently in 2004 when underdog Todd Hamilton defeated Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson for the claret jug. Royal Troon ranked 36th on the latest Golf Digest's Top 100 Courses outside the US list. It's next championship in 2017 will mark the 10th time the Open has been at Royal Birkdale. Past champions include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Johnny Miller. It last hosted in 2008, with Padrig Harrington emerging as the winner. Royal Birkdale has held the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, Women's Open and the Curtis Cup. It ranks 20th on Golf Digest's Top 100 outside the US list. Perhaps best remembered as the scene of Jean van de Velde's collapse in 1999,Carnoustie is far from a one-hit wonder. Ben Hogan captured his only claret jug on the Carnoustie grounds, and the course counts Gary Player, Tom Watson, Tommy Armour and Henry Cotton amongst its winners. With diabolical greens, tight fairways and cavernous bunkers, Carnoustie is often cited as one of the hardest courses in the world. Carnoustie ranks 16th on Golf Digest's Top 100 Outside the US list. Royal Portrush has the claim as the only venue not on the island of Great Britain to hold the Open. In 1951, Max Faulkner bested Antonio Cerda to win the tournament. Because the dates coincided with the PGA Championship, a great number of American players were unable to compete. While the course currently ranks 13th on the Golf Digest Top 100 Courses Outside the US list, a number of changes and alterations are being made to Royal Portrush in preparation for the 2019 Open. The Home of Golf is the de facto base for the Open, hosting the tournament a record 29 times. The Old Course at St. Andrews is marked in the Open rotation to hold the event every five years. Site of the 2015 Open, St. Andrews boasts a "who's who" of golf greats as its winners, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones, Seve Ballesteros, James Braid and Nick Faldo. It ranks third on Golf Digest's Top 100 Courses Outside the US.