What’s the difference between a Classic vs a Championship vs a Challenge vs a Cup?
I believe I’ve figured out the difference between an Open vs an Invitational…one’s open to anyone who qualifies, and the other is you have to be invited, even if you do qualify. Unless there’s more?
IMHO, most of it is just semantics. However, “Cups” are usually amateur or team events where the prize is a ceremonial Cup. The Walker Cup is a “friendly” match pitting US amateurs vs. European amateurs. The Ryder Cup is the professional version. “Challenges” are another type of non-official event. The 3-Tour Challenge is one, where a 3-person team is made up of one player from the Men’s Senior tour, one from the Men’s tour, and one from the Ladies tour and they share prize money.
The Walker Cup. And the USGA.
Actually an “Open” means that both amateurs and professionals compete together. The competition is “open” to anyone.
But you still have to qualify for the tournament. You just can’t walk up to the starter on the first day of the U.S. Open with your clubs and say you want to play.
Although, of all the major tournaments, it is the one that you will have some chance of qualifying for since the qualifying tournaments are open to anyone whose handicap is low enough.
To confuse things, the British Open is “The Open Championship”
The PGA is the PGA Championship.