For the first time in its history, prize money for this year's British Open will exceed £2 million. So, the winner of the claret jug at Carnoustie on July 15th to 18th, will receive a tidy cheque for £350,000 with proportionate increases in the other prizes.

The winner's cheque is actually up 16.67 per cent on the £300,000 which Mark O'Meara received at Royal Birkdale last year. And though the prize-fund for this year had already been published, the Royal and Ancient decided on an increase because of a unexpected boost to their income.