ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The British Open will return in 2013 to Muirfield, the links course on Scotland's east coast where golf's oldest championship has been played for more than a century.

"We are delighted that the Open is returning to Muirfield, an outstanding championship course that consistently produces a very worthy champion," said David Hill, the Royal and Ancient Club's director of championships.

Muirfield last hosted the British Open in 2002, when Ernie Els won in a four-man playoff and where Tiger Woods shot 81 in the third round, his highest score as professional, to end his bid for a calendar Grand Slam.

It will be the 16th time the British Open is played at Muirfield, although the 11-year gap is the longest since it went without an Open between 1948 and 1959. Muirfield first hosted the Open in 1892.

Jack Nicklaus won his first Claret Jug at Muirfield in 1966. Other champions at Muirfield include Nick Faldo (twice), Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Walter Hagen and Harry Vardon.

In 2002, four players -- Els, Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington -- went into a playoff for the first time. Els and Levet tied over four holes before the South African added a Claret Jug to his two U.S. Open victories.

Turnberry is the venue this July, followed by St. Andrews next year -- 150 years after the first Open -- Sandwich in 2011 and Royal Lytham in 2012.

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