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Facts and figures for the British Open golf championship
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) Facts and figures for the British Open golf championship:
Event: 147th Open Championship.
Dates: July 19-22.
Site: Carnoustie Golf Links.
Length: 7,402 yards.
Par: 71.
The course: Carnoustie opened in 1842 with 10 holes laid out by Allan Robertson. Old Tom Morris expanded it to 18 holes in 1867. It has hosted seven British Opens. While the North Sea is not visible from the course, the links is exposed and susceptible to wind. The final four holes measure 1,679 yards and require 15 shots for par.
Field: 156 players (152 pros, 4 amateurs).
Playoff (if necessary): 4 holes, aggregate score.
Prize money: $10.5 million.
Winner's share: $1,890,000.
Defending champion: Jordan Spieth.
Last year: Jordan Spieth picked up the third leg of the career Grand Slam in a most unlikely fashion. He lost a three-shot lead in the final round at Royal Birkdale and began his comeback with a bogey on the 13th hole, when he took an unplayable lie by dropping the ball on the practice range. He followed with a short birdie on the 14th, a 50-foot eagle putt on the 15th, a 30-foot birdie on the 16th and a 7-foot birdie on the 17th. He closed with a 69 for a three-shot victory over Matt Kuchar. Branden Grace set the major championship scoring record with a 62 in the third round.
Last time at Carnoustie: Padraig Harrington won his first major in a playoff over Sergio Garcia after another calamitous finish. Harrington lost a one-shot lead on the final hole by hitting into Barry Burn twice and making double bogey, only for Garcia to make bogey on the 18th hole. In the four-hole playoff, Harrington make birdie and Garcia made bogey on the opening hole, and the Irishman made a conservative bogey on the last hole for a one-shot victory.
Open champions at Carnoustie: Tommy Armour (1931), Henry Cotton (1937), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1968), Tom Watson (1975), Paul Lawrie (1999), Padraig Harrington (2007).
Tiger Tales: Tiger Woods is playing the British Open for the first time since he missed the cut at St. Andrews in 2015.
Key statistic: Americans in their 20s have won the last five major championships.
Noteworthy: The British Open has been decided by a playoff the last three times it was held at Carnoustie.
Quoteworthy: ''When the wind is blowing, it is the toughest course in Britain. And when it's not blowing, it's probably still the toughest.'' - Sir Michael Bonnallack, former secretary of the R&A.
Television (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 1:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 4:30-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 4:30-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (NBC).
