The R&A has confirmed that Royal Lytham & St Annes will host the 152nd Open Championship in 2028, marking the 12th time the Lancashire links has staged golf's oldest major. The championship is scheduled for 3-6 August to avoid clashing with the golf competitions at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Royal Lytham last hosted The Open in 2012, when Ernie Els won after Adam Scott's late collapse. The course has undergone significant work in preparation, including remodelling the par-five 11th hole and improving internal roads. The AIG Women's Open will also be held at Royal Lytham from 29 July to 2 August 2025, providing a further test of the venue's capabilities.
Turnberry and Muirfield, two of the most historic courses in the Open rota, will not host the championship in 2028, according to multiple reports. Turnberry last staged The Open in 2009, five years before Donald Trump bought the course. The R&A has cited 'big logistical issues' at Turnberry, according to chief executive Mark Darbon. Darbon said there were concerns about distractions from Trump's presence and infrastructure problems at the Ayrshire resort. Any return to Turnberry will likely have to wait until after Trump's presidency, sources indicated. The R&A met with Trump's son Eric in 2024 to discuss the possibility of Turnberry hosting The Open, but no agreement was reached. Darbon has shown a softening on the Trump issue compared to his predecessor Martin Slumbers, but the political and logistical hurdles remain significant.
This is one of golf's most cherished and historic venues.
The UK government has been involved in discussions about Turnberry's future. According to BBC News, the government has spoken with the R&A about the course hosting The Open. However, the Daily Mail reports that the government subtly lobbied the R&A to assist Trump's ambition to bring The Open to Turnberry, implying political pressure. The nature of these discussions remains unclear, with the R&A declining to comment on the specifics. The government has not confirmed whether it actively lobbied on Trump's behalf.
Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, has not held The Open since 2013, when Phil Mickelson won. The course was removed from the rota after a 2016 vote by members to retain an all-male membership policy, but was reinstated in 2017 after a second vote to admit women. Despite this, Muirfield has not been awarded an Open since. Darbon said 'dialogue was ongoing' regarding Muirfield's future as an Open venue, but no date has been set. The R&A has not indicated when Muirfield might return to the rota.
Dialogue was ongoing.
The upcoming Open venues are already set: Royal Liverpool hosted in 2023, Royal Birkdale will host in 2025, and the Old Course at St Andrews will host in 2027. The 2028 championship at Royal Lytham will be the first at the course since 2012. Darbon praised the venue, saying: 'Royal Lytham & St Annes is widely renowned as one of the world's finest links courses and has witnessed many great championship moments since The Open was first played there in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won. This is 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.' The R&A's decision to bypass Turnberry and Muirfield for 2028 underscores the challenges facing both courses in returning to the rota. For Turnberry, the combination of Trump's ownership, political sensitivities, and infrastructure issues appears to have delayed any comeback. For Muirfield, the R&A's ongoing dialogue suggests a path to reinstatement, but no timeline has been given. The 2028 Open at Royal Lytham will be a celebration of links golf, but the absence of two iconic venues raises questions about the future composition of the Open rota.
Royal Lytham & St Annes is widely renowned as one of the world's finest links courses and has witnessed many great championship moments since The Open was first played there in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won. This is 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.