The 2011 Open Golf Championship will be played at Royal St Georges Course from the July 11th - 17th.

The British Open is the world's oldest golf championship, dating back to 1860 at Prestwick, when eight players challenged for the title links three rounds of the 12-hole course. When the Championship began, the winner was presented with the Challenge Belt, now the Claret Jug or the proper name, The Golf Champion Trophy, is presented to each year's winner of The Open Championship.

Tiger Woods will not be part of The Open, the hurt his knee at the Masters back in April and has not been able to get back to playing. The last time The Open was hosted at St. Georges Woods finished in a tied for fourth, two strokes behind the winner Ben Curtis, so he has never won at St. Georges before.

British Open trophy called the "Claret Jug

When the Championship began, the winner was presented with the Challenge Belt, now the Claret Jug or the proper name, The Golf Champion Trophy, is presented to each year's winner of The Open Championship.

The trophy awarded to the winner of The Open Championship is officially known as the Championship Cup, but it is much more commonly called the "Claret Jug" because, well, it's a Claret Jug.

Claret is a dry red wine produced in the famous French winemaking region of Bordeaux. The British Open trophy was made in the style of silver jugs used to serve claret at 19th Century gatherings.

But the winner of The Open Championship hasn't always received the Claret Jug as the trophy. The first handful of winners were awarded a belt. That's right, a belt. Or "Challenge Belt," as it was designated at the time.

The first Open Championship was played in 1860 at Prestwick (now called Royal Prestwick, it's in Troon, Scotland, just down the road from Royal Troon), and that year also marked the first awarding of the belt.

The belt was made of a wide, red Morocco leather and was adorned with silver buckles and emblems.

1873 winner - Tom Kidd - was the first to be awarded the Claret Jug.

That original Claret Jug from 1873 has permanently resided at the R&A since 1927. The trophy that is presented to the British Open winner each year is a copy of the original, which the winner gets to keep for a year before returning it to the R&A to be passed on to the next champion.

Bet now on 2011 British Open. Below you can check the 2011 British Open odd, see 2011 British Open tips and find great Britsh Open Golf Bonuses and golf sports betting articles relating to 2011 British Open betting.

2011 British Open Results

Louis Oosthuizen has just finished dominating the Open Championship at St. Andrew's. Oosthuizen shot -16 en route to winning by seven shots over Lee Westwood. It was the second largest margin of victory since World War II.

Stewart Cink is British Open 2009 Turnberry Winner

Stewart Cink is the 2009 British Open winner, snatching the title from the hands of Tom Watson in a four-hole play off after they tied on a two-under-par total of 278.

Click Here for British Open Results

Golf Betting Online. If you are looking to bet on golf, then you will find what you are looking for at Island Casino. We offer you the most up-to-date golf betting lines. Island Casino and Sportsbook offers all types of online golf gamblinging and betting to its customers. Betting on golf has never been easier, whether you want to bet a matchup or weekend bet. Bet on golf futures and golf proposition bets too.