The Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028 for the first time in 16 years, but the futures of Muirfield and Turnberry remains uncertain.
The R&A announced on Monday that the historic links course, located just outside Blackpool, would host its 12th Open and first since 2012, when Ernie Els lifted the Claret Jug following a late collapse from Adam Scott.
The Open will be played at Royal Birkdale this year and the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2027 but R&A chief executive Mark Darbon was unable to offer assurances on whether Muirfield, which last hosted in 2013, or Turnberry, which last hosted in 2009, would return to the rotation.
The Turnberry course on the Ayrshire coastline is widely regarded as one of the finest in the world but it not hosted The Open since it was acquired by US president Donald Trump in 2014. Reports last summer suggested the idea of The Open returning to Turnberry was floated to Trump in an attempt to improve relations between the UK and US, and R&A officials met with Trump’s son Eric last year to discuss the possibility.
But Turnberry’s absence from The Open rotation continues to be down to logistical reasons, rather than political, which may not change until local infrastructure improves.
“As you know, in the same way that there are with many of our venues, there are some things that we need to overcome to facilitate a modern Open Championship,” Darbon said. “Turnberry is still in our thinking – we really like the golf course and we know that there are some logistical challenges primarily off the course (in terms of) road, rail and accommodation infrastructure.”
Darbon said Royal Lytham and St Annes was “one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues and The Open’s return to these famous links will spark huge interest among fans to be part of one of the world’s great sporting events and celebrate the rich traditions of golf’s original Championship”.
He also said attendance at The Open will surpass 300,000 for the first time when Royal Birkdale hosts the event this summer. The previous record was 290,000 at St Andrews in 2022, but this summer’s projection will smash the previous best at the Southport links, which was 235,000 nine years ago.
