Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - The British Open Championship kicked off Thursday at Royal Birkdale, one of 14 courses that have hosted the Open Championship. All 14 are links courses, as so ordered by the Championship Committee.

In 1922, the Championship Committee made a declaration that read in part, "The Open shall henceforth be played only on links courses, to provide a true test for the skilled players."

Some more interesting British Open site facts:

OF COURSE...

The 14 courses that have hosted the Open Championship are spread all over the map - one in Northern Ireland, six in England and seven in Scotland. They include: Carnoustie, Muirfield, Musselburgh, Prestwick, Prince's, Royal Birkdale, Royal Cinque Ports, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Royal Portrush, Royal St. George's, Royal Troon, St. Andrews and Turnberry.

Nine venues within that group have hosted an Open since 2000 or are scheduled to host the event before 2012. Those nine are: Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Royal St. Georges, Royal Troon, St. Andrews, Turnberry and Royal Birkdale, which is this year's host course.

Two courses - St. Andrews (27 Opens) and Prestwick (24 Opens) - have hosted more Opens than the rest. The difference is that Prestwick is no longer in the rotation, having hosted its last Open in 1925.

THE ONE AND ONLY...

The Old Course at St. Andrews has been host to many memorable Open Championship moments. Also known as the Home of Golf, the course has a legendary list of winners that includes Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Woods won his first and second Claret Jugs at St. Andrews. Coincidentally, given his well-known quest to surpass Nicklaus' record for major championships titles, Woods claimed his second British Open title in 2005 - when Nicklaus said goodbye to the Open Championship forever.

Nicklaus, an 18-time major championship winner, won twice at St. Andrews, in 1970 and 1978. The Golden Bear capped his long goodbye to the championship with a tear-jerking pause on the famed Swilken Bridge that crosses the burn on the 18th hole.

Two days later, Woods closed out a stellar five-shot win. Not bad, but it didn't match his eight-shot win from 2000.

The venerable course will again host the British Open in 2010.

WATSON NOT PICKY

In 1975, the year Woods was born, fellow American Tom Watson claimed his first British Open Championship. Watson won five Claret Jugs in all, which ties him for second-most all time, and he didn't finish there. He has won three Senior British Open Championships as well.

For all his British Open titles, Watson did not have a favorite course in the rota. He won five Open Championships between 1975 and 1983, and did so on five different courses - Carnoustie, Turnberry, Muirfield, Royal Troon and Royal Birkdale.

Watson has doubled up since participating in the Senior Open, winning a second time at Turnberry in 2003 and at Muirfield last year. He will compete this week at Birkdale, where he won his fifth British Open in 1983.

COMING UP...

The venue for the next four British Opens has been set.

Turnberry will host next year for the first time since 1994, and then the Open returns to St. Andrews in 2010. Royal St. George's will return in 2011 after just hosting in 2003, and Royal Lytham & St. Annes will host in 2012 after the Open was last played there in 2001.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH OCHOA?

Since winning the Sybase Classic in mid-May, Lorena Ochoa has struggled on and off the course. A devout family person, Ochoa has had two close relatives die since that win.

The pain from those losses has carried over onto the course. Prior to her win at the Sybase, Ochoa carded 10-of-34 rounds in the 70s. However, in the three events since that win, the Mexican has stumbled to 8-of-12 rounds in the 70s, including four straight in her last start.

Ochoa, who could pick and choose where she plays, generally does play on a frequent basis. That said, she has played just three of the last eight events.

Ochoa is expected to return next week at the Evian Masters. The following week she will defend her title at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale Golf Club.

MINI-TIDBIT

- Michelle Wie is back in action this week, and needs a good week at the LPGA State Farm Classic. If Wie finishes among the top five players not already qualified, she will get into the Women's British Open in two weeks. She got off to a solid start with a five-under 67 on Thursday.