Editing The Open Championship (section)

==Prizes==
Up until 2016, the purse was always stated, and paid, in [[pounds sterling]] (£), but was changed in 2017 to [[US dollars]] ($) in recognition of the fact that it is the most widely adopted currency for prize money in golf.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/golf/831539/Open-2017-why-prize-money-dollars-pounds-sterling-brexit|title=Open 2017: Why is the prize money paid in dollars this year instead of pounds?|date=21 July 2017|work=The Express|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045934/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/golf/831539/Open-2017-why-prize-money-dollars-pounds-sterling-brexit|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Champion's prizes and benefits===
[[File:Henry Cotton 1937.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Henry Cotton (golfer)|Henry Cotton]] holding the [[Claret Jug]] after winning the [[1937 Open Championship|1937 Open]]]]
[[File:Young Tom Morris.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Young Tom Morris]] ({{circa|1873}}) got to keep the original trophy, the [[Challenge Belt|championship belt]], after winning three consecutive Opens (1868 to 1870).]]
The champion receives trophies, the winner's prize money, and several exemptions from world [[Professional golf tours|golf tours]] and tournaments. He is also likely to receive a winner's bonus from his sponsors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/baby-youre-a-rich-man-what-win|title=Baby, You're a Rich Man: What Winning Another Major Means for Rory's Finances|date=22 July 2014|work=Golf Digest|access-date=14 January 2019}}</ref> The prizes and privileges on offer for the champion included:

* [[Claret Jug|The Golf Champion Trophy]] (commonly known as the Claret Jug). The winner keeps the trophy until the next Open, at which point it must be returned, and a replica is provided as a replacement.<ref name="Open Goodies">{{Cite news|url=https://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/07/23/more-claret-jug-all-goodies-open-championship-winner-will-take-home|title=Here are all the goodies the winner of the Open Championship will take home|date=23 July 2017|work=GOLF.com|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=30 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630135829/https://golf.com/news/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="claretjug">{{cite web|url=http://www.theopen.com/Heritage/ClaretJug|title=Claret Jug|work=theopen.com|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608070146/http://www.theopen.com/Heritage/ClaretJug|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The winner's gold medal (originally awarded in 1872 when the Claret Jug was not yet ready, and since awarded to all champions).<ref name="Open Goodies" /><ref name="claretjug"/>
* If the winner is a professional, then the winner's share (18%) of the purse.<ref name="Prize Distribution">{{Cite news|url=https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/07/19/british-open-championship-purse-payout-percentages-distribution-110238/|title=British Open Championship purse payout percentages and distribution|date=19 July 2018|work=Golf News Net|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045841/https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/07/19/british-open-championship-purse-payout-percentages-distribution-110238/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Guaranteed entry to all future Open Championships until the age of 55 (60 prior to 2024), and entry to the next ten Opens, even if over the age of 55.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theopen.com/Players/Exemptions|title=Exemptions|date=14 January 2019|website=The Open|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195127/https://www.theopen.com/Players/Exemptions|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Entry to the next five editions of the [[Masters Tournament]], [[PGA Championship]], and [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]].<ref name="Open Goodies" />
* Five year membership to the [[PGA Tour]] and the [[European Tour]].<ref name="Open Goodies" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/examptioncat/index.html|title=European Tour Order|date=14 January 2019|website=European Tour|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050019/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/examptioncat/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Entry to the next edition of the [[WGC-HSBC Champions]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hsbcgolf.com/qualifying-criteria |title=Qualifying Criteria |date=14 January 2019 |website=WGC-HSBC Champions |access-date=14 January 2019 |archive-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045818/https://www.hsbcgolf.com/qualifying-criteria |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Entry to the next five editions of [[The Players Championship]], and the five invitational tournaments ([[Genesis Invitational]], [[Fort Worth Invitational]], the [[Arnold Palmer Invitational]], the [[RBC Heritage]], and the [[Memorial Tournament]]) on the PGA Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://playersupport.pgatourhq.com/Tour/PLP/playersupportinforegistration.nsf/xsp/.ibmmodres/domino/OpenAttachment/Tour/PLP/playersupportinforegistration.nsf/C727DB7A7733806285257CC50066F582/pgAttachments/2015-16%20PGA%20TOUR%20Handbook%20&%20Regulations%20-%20Final.pdf|title=2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations|date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412192428/https://playersupport.pgatourhq.com/Tour/PLP/playersupportinforegistration.nsf/xsp/.ibmmodres/domino/OpenAttachment/Tour/PLP/playersupportinforegistration.nsf/C727DB7A7733806285257CC50066F582/pgAttachments/2015-16%20PGA%20TOUR%20Handbook%20%26%20Regulations%20-%20Final.pdf|archive-date=12 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Automatic invitations to three of the five [[Senior major golf championships|senior majors]] once they turn 50; they receive a one-year invitation to the [[U.S. Senior Open]] and a lifetime invitation to the [[Senior PGA Championship]] and [[Senior Open Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://champs.usga.org/EntryForms/senioropen_2014.pdf|title=2014 U.S. Senior Open Entry Form|publisher=USGA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808180437/https://champs.usga.org/EntryForms/senioropen_2014.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pga.org/sites/default/files/assets/library/Media/mg-sr-pga.pdf|title=79th Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship|website=PGA|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821131134/https://www.pga.org/sites/default/files/assets/library/Media/mg-sr-pga.pdf|archive-date=21 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.europeantour.com/mm/Document/Static/Static/34/17/63/2018SOCEntryFormFinal_English.pdf|title=Senior Open Entry Form|date=14 January 2019|website=European Tour|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045852/http://www.europeantour.com/mm/Document/Static/Static/34/17/63/2018SOCEntryFormFinal_English.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[FedEx Cup]], [[Race to dubai|Race to Dubai]], [[Ryder Cup]]/[[Presidents Cup]], and [[Official World Golf Ranking]] points.<ref name="Open Goodies" />

From 1860 to 1870, the winner received the challenge belt. When this was awarded to [[Young Tom Morris]] permanently for winning three consecutive tournaments, it was replaced by the gold medal (1872 onwards), and the Claret Jug (1873 onwards).<ref name="claretjug" />

===Other prizes and benefits, based upon finishing position===

There are several benefits from being placed highly in the Open. These are:

* The runners up each receive a silver salver.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/jul/20/the-open-day-five-live|title=The Open 2015: fourth round – as it happened|date=13 July 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=30 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630135827/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/jul/20/the-open-day-five-live|url-status=live}}</ref>
*If the player is a professional, then a share of the purse. There is a distribution curve for those who make the cut, with 1st place getting 18%, 2nd 10.4%, 3rd 6.7%, 4th 5.2%, and 5th 4.2%. The percentage continues to fall by placing with 21st getting 1% and 37th 0.5%. Professionals who miss the cut received between US$7,375 and US$4,950.<ref name="Prize Distribution" />
* The top 10 players, including ties, get entry to the next edition of The Open Championship.<ref name=":0" />
* The top 4 players, including ties, get entry to the next edition of the [[Masters Tournament]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.augusta.com/masters/qualifications|title=Qualifications for Masters Invitation|date=3 January 2018|work=Augusta Chronicle|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=15 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115221743/http://www.augusta.com/masters/qualifications|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[FedEx Cup]], [[Race to dubai|Race to Dubai]], [[Ryder Cup]]/[[Presidents Cup]], and [[Official World Golf Ranking]] points.<ref name="Open Goodies" />

===Amateur medals===

Since [[1949 Open Championship|1949]] the leading [[amateur]] completing the final round receives a silver medal. Since 1972, any other amateur who competes in the final round receives a bronze medal.<ref name="claretjug" /> Amateurs do not receive prize money.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/golf/the-open/news/14866/9918656/open-championship-how-is-prize-money-distributed-if-amateur-paul-dunne-wins|title=Open Championship: How is prize money distributed if amateur Paul Dunne wins?|date=20 July 2015|work=Sky Sports|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116045956/https://www.skysports.com/golf/the-open/news/14866/9918656/open-championship-how-is-prize-money-distributed-if-amateur-paul-dunne-wins|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain and Ireland) awards===
The [[Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain and Ireland)|Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain and Ireland)]] also mark the achievements of their own members in The Open.

* Ryle Memorial Medal – awarded since 1901 to the winner if he is a PGA member.<ref name=gmtrophies>{{cite magazine |last1=Easdale |first1=Roderick |title=Did You Know There Are Seven Open Championship Trophies to Be Won? |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/tour/open-championship/open-history-and-records/seven-open-championship-trophies-75150 |magazine=Golf Monthly |access-date=27 July 2021 |date=14 July 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630135829/https://www.golfmonthly.com/tour/open-championship/open-history-and-records/seven-open-championship-trophies-75150 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pga.info/media/3536/Ryle%20Memorial%20Medal.pdf|title=Ryle Memorial Medal|publisher=[[Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain & Ireland)|Professional Golfers' Association]]|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215113904/http://www.pga.info/media/3536/Ryle%20Memorial%20Medal.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Braid Taylor Memorial Medal – awarded since 1966 to the highest finishing PGA member.<ref name=gmtrophies/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pga.info/media/3539/Braid%20Taylor%20Memorial%20Medal.pdf|title=Braid Taylor Memorial Medal|publisher=Professional Golfers' Association|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215111051/http://www.pga.info/media/3539/Braid%20Taylor%20Memorial%20Medal.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Tooting Bec Cup]] – awarded since 1924 to the PGA member who records the lowest single round during the championship.<ref name=gmtrophies/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pga.info/media/3537/Tooting%20Bec%20Cup.pdf|title=Tooting Bec Cup|publisher=Professional Golfers' Association|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215100259/http://www.pga.info/media/3537/Tooting%20Bec%20Cup.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Braid Taylor Memorial Medal and the Tooting Bec Cup are restricted to members born in, or with a parent or parents born in, the [[United Kingdom]] or [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref name="Open Goodies" />