Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. Though the official name is the Open Championship, many American golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open.

In Golf Digest’s latest issue, Ian Pattinson, a former chairman of the R&A, writes a letter pleading with Americans to refer the championship by its proper name, arguing “The expression ‘British Open’ is not historically, geographically or politically accurate.” Whether you agree with him or not, Pattinson offers an informative history of golf’s oldest major, making his column a great read ahead of this week’s major.