By winning the Belt three straight times, Young Tom was entitled under the conditions of the competition to keep it, so there was no prize to play for in 1871, and hence no Open. Prestwick remained in the Open's rotation until 1925, hosting the championship 24 times in all, which is second only to the Old Course.

When was the open last played at Prestwick?

Prestwick went on to host 24 Open Championships with the last being held in 1925 when Jim Barnes from the US secured the first prize of £75. Only the Old Course at St Andrews has hosted more Open Championships than Prestwick.

Why is the open not at St Andrews?

In 2020, the Open Championship was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The R&A also confirmed that Royal St George's, which would have hosted the championship in 2020, would be the host venue in 2021, effectively retaining the Old Course at St Andrews as the venue for the 150th Open.