# Open golf tournament

An open golf tournament usually refers to a golf tournament in which all golfers are eligible to play regardless of their professional or amateur status. Often there will be certain restrictions, commonly based on ability. Some amateur-only tournaments are also described as open, although by definition professional golfers are excluded.

## History

The descriptor open is used in a number of sports, and especially in golf, to describe a tournament that is "open" — in theory to all — rather than being closed, i.e. one that is restricted to a particular group. Thus, an amateur tournament, e.g. the U.S. Amateur, is not by definition "open", because it is closed to professional golfers; however many are titled as such since they are open to all amateurs, e.g. the English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy. The first precise usage of the adjective “open” in golf was in 1861 when the Prestwick Golf Club "opened" its Medal competition (launched the previous year for professionals only) to amateurs as well; ever since, The Open Championship has been open to all. Any golfer can, in theory, play in The Open either by invitation or by various forms of qualification. In practice, the event is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world’s leading amateurs also play, by invitation or qualification.
Over time the descriptor "open" has been extended to include the premier national tournaments of many countries (starting with the U.S. Open in 1895) and also (mainly in the United States) to some other tournaments, e.g. the Buick Open.

## Principal national "Opens"

This is a list of the national Opens that have featured on the principal tours.
Legend :
* Currently played on the respective tour
* Formerly included on the respective tour

### Men's tournaments

National Opens :
| Tour | Tour |
| North America ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Bahamas Open |
| | Canadian Open |
| | Costa Rica Open |
| | Dominican Republic Open |
| | Guatemala Open |
| | Honduras Open |
| | Mexican Open |
| | Panama Open |
| | Puerto Rico Open |
| | U.S. Open |
| Europe ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | The Open Championship |
| | Austrian Open |
| | Belgian Open |
| | Cyprus Open |
| | Czech Open |
| | Danish Open |
| | Dutch Open |
| | English Open |
| | Finnish Open |
| | French Open |
| | German Open |
| | Irish Open |
| | Italian Open |
| | Jersey Open |
| | Luxembourg Open |
| | Northern Ireland Open |
| | Norwegian Open |
| | Polish Open |
| | Portuguese Open |
| | Russian Open |
| | Scottish Open |
| | Slovenian Open |
| | Spanish Open |
| | Swiss Open |
| | Turkish Open |
| | Wales Open |
| Asia ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Azerbaijan Open |
| | Bangladesh Open |
| | Brunei Open |
| | Cambodian Open |
| | China Open |
| | Hong Kong Open |
| | Indian Open |
| | Indonesia Open |
| | Japan Open |
| | Jordan Open |
| | Kazakhstan Open |
| | Korea Open |
| | Macau Open |
| | Malaysian Open |
| | Myanmar Open |
| | Oman Open |
| | Pakistan Open |
| | Philippine Open |
| | Saudi Open |
| | Singapore Open |
| | Taiwan Open |
| | Thailand Open |
| | Vietnam Open |
| Oceania ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Australian Open |
| | Fiji Open |
| | Guam Open |
| | New Zealand Open |
| | Papua New Guinea Open |
| | Tahiti Open |
| Africa ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Botswana Open |
| | Egyptian Open |
| | Ivory Coast Open |
| | Kenya Open |
| | Mauritius Open |
| | Moroccan Open |
| | Namibia Open |
| | Nigerian Open |
| | South African Open |
| | Swaziland Open |
| | Tunisian Open |
| | Zambia Open |
| | Zimbabwe Open |
| South America ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Argentine Open |
| | Brazil Open |
| | Chile Open |
| | Colombian Open |
| | Ecuador Open |
| | Peru Open |
| | Venezuela Open |

### Women's tournaments

National Ladies Opens :
| Tour | Tour |
| North America ||||||||||
| | U.S. Women's Open |
| | Canadian Women's Open |
| Europe ||||||||||
| | Women's British Open |
| | Austrian Ladies Open |
| | Belgian Ladies Open |
| | Czech Ladies Open |
| | Danish Ladies Open |
| | Dutch Ladies Open |
| | Ladies English Open |
| | Ladies French Open |
| | Ladies German Open |
| | Ladies Guernsey Open |
| | Ladies Irish Open |
| | Ladies Italian Open |
| | Northern Ireland Ladies Open |
| | Ladies Portuguese Open |
| | Ladies Scottish Open |
| | Ladies Slovak Open |
| | Ladies Spanish Open |
| | Ladies Swiss Open |
| | Women's Welsh Open |
| Asia ||||||||||
| | Brunei Ladies Open |
| | China Ladies Open |
| | Hong Kong Ladies Open |
| | Women's Indian Open |
| | Indonesia Ladies Open |
| | Japan Women's Open |
| | Korea Women's Open |
| | Macau Ladies Open |
| | Malaysia Ladies Open |
| | Philippines Ladies Open |
| | Singapore Ladies Open |
| | Taiwan Ladies Open |
| | Thailand Ladies Open |
| Australasia ||||||||||
| | Women's Australian Open |
| | New Zealand Women's Open |
| MENA ||||||||||
| | Jordan Mixed Open |
| | Qatar Ladies Open |
| | Turkish Ladies Open |
| Africa ||||||||||
| | Kenya Ladies Open |
| | South African Women's Open |
| | Zambia Ladies Open |