The most coveted trophy in the game of golf and one of the most iconic in all of sport will be contested for in July as the world’s greatest players aim to lift the Open’s famous Claret Jug – exclusively live on BBC Sport.
The 142nd edition takes place at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, which is hosting the tournament for the first time in just over a decade.
The East Lothian course hosted the first of its 15 previous Opens in 1892, which was won by Harold Hilton, one of only three amateurs to have lifted the Claret Jug.
Muirfield’s illustrious history includes it being the source of the earliest written rules of golf, dating from 1744.
Its list of previous champions here reads like a who’s who of golf, with winners including Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Harry Vardon.
In 2002, the last time the Open was held at the course, Ernie Els was victorious and the popular South African is of course the defending champion after his dramatic win at Royal Lytham and St Annes last year.
Els remarkable victory at Lytham 12 months ago was somewhat unexpected, after her benefitted from a late collapse by Adam Scott to win the famous trophy for the second time in his career.
His previous Open victory came in 2002, which, coincidentally, was the last time Muirfield hosted the Major, and The Big Easy will be among a clutch of fancied players aiming to challenge clear favourite Tiger Woods.
The world number one has three Open titles to his name, but the last of those was won in 2006, and his previous Major triumph came five years ago at the US Open.
With the links course likely to provide an outstanding test of the golfers’ abilities, especially if the weather conditions are anything less than favourable, picking a winner this year could prove even more difficult than normal.
One man certain to attract plenty of attention is Justin Rose, who won his first Major last month in the US Open in Pennsylvania, and who came to fame in this tournament in 1998 when he was still an amateur.
The likes of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy will also be among those fancied to shine, and become the first British winner at Muirfield since Nick Faldo in 1992.
Muirfield is widely regarded as one of the finest and most historic courses in the world.
Renowned for its fairness and its challenging layout of two nines running clockwise and counter-clockwise, Muirfield is one of the great Open Championship venues.
The pantheon of Muirfield champions is second to none: the likes of Harry Vardon, James Braid, Ted Ray, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els have lifted the Claret Jug in East Lothian.
As it prepares to host The Open Championship for the 16th time, Muirfield has undergone some changes here and there to ensure it remains as challenging as ever to the world’s leading players.
Some 158 yards have been added to the length of the course, mainly through new tees on the 2nd, 4th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes.
Elsewhere some tightening of bunkers around the greens has been carried out to place a premium on accuracy of approach play.
Muirfield is still very much the same course that has tested the greats over the years and will be set up to present a stiff challenge once again this year.
Follow all the tension and excitement of the 142nd Open Championship across BBC TV, radio and online from July 18-21. Full viewing guide below.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE PLAYERS TEE TIMES
LIVE LEADERBOARD COURSE GUIDE
BBC Sport will screen comprehensive and exclusive coverage the 142nd Open Championship from Muirfield.
Hazel Irvine presents all the action on BBC One and BBC Two across all four days of the tournament.
The commentary team will be led once again by veteran Peter Alliss, Ken Brown, Andrew Cotter and Mark James.
Joining the regular BBC team this year will be former European and PGA Tour professional Frank Nobilo.
The New Zealander, who finished tied fourth at the Masters in 1996, has been a regular commentator for the Golf Channel in the US since 2003 and will make his BBC debut at Muirfield.
On-course reports and updates will come from Philip Parkin, Maureen Madill and former Wentworth PGA champion Scott Drummond.
Interviews with the players and behind-the-scenes features will be provided by Dan Walker, Russell Fuller and Rishi Persad, with BBC News presenter and keen golfer Naga Munchetty joining the reporting team this year.
In the build-up to the tournament, BBC Two will broadcast official reviews of four memorable Open Championships of years gone by.
BBC Sport’s coverage begins on Wednesday, July 17 on BBC Two with a half-hour preview programme at 11.20pm.
There will be interviews with the big names hoping to get their hands on the Claret Jug, as well as a chance to relive some of the best moments from previous championships, plus the challenges of the Muirfield course will also be examined.
Live coverage of the 2013 Open Championship begins on BBC Two at 9.00am on the opening two days of the tournament with 11 hours of continuous live coverage.
For those who have missed any of the key moments during the , a selection of the day’s highlights will air during the final hour of BBC Two’s live coverage from approximately 7.00pm.
Plus, for the first time since 2007, a regular nightly 45-minute highlights programme rounding up each day’s action will be broadcast on BBC Two after midnight.
BBC One takes over the majority of the live action over the weekend, starting at 10.00am on Saturday and 11.00am on Sunday, with a 10-minute break for the news around lunchtime on both days.
Live TV coverage will also be available to watch in high-definition on BBC One HD and BBC Two HD.
In addition to extensive TV coverage, the BBC will also have complete coverage through its vast array of digital platforms.
Graphical leaderboards and live statistics will made available via the BBC Sport website on PCs, mobiles and tablets, as well as via the BBC Sport mobile app and connected TVs, plus through your TV set via BBC Red Button on all platforms.
A three-hole feed focussing on holes 7, 8 and 9 will also be available to view on all digital platforms and via BBC Red Button HD.
Online via bbc.co.uk/sport, live streaming of BBC TV’s coverage can also be found, as well as live text commentary, latest news, interviews, video and analysis from BBC reporters at the course.
BBC Radio 5 live will also have full coverage across all four days of the Open, presented by John Inverdale.
Friday 19th July Day 2 LIVE – 9.00am-8.00pm BBC Two Day 2 Highlights – 1.05am-1.50am BBC Two Saturday 20th July Day 3 LIVE – 10.00am-12.00pm BBC One Day 3 LIVE – 12.10pm-6.10pm BBC One Day 3 LIVE – 6.10pm-7.40pm BBC Two Day 3 Highlights – 12.20am-1.05am BBC Two Sunday 21st July Day 4 LIVE – 11.00am-12.30pm BBC One Day 4 LIVE – 12.40pm-7.00pm BBC One Day 4 Highlights – 12.00am-12.45am BBC Two