Royal Lytham to host 2028 Open as Trump's Turnberry misses out
The Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028, with US President Donald Trump's Turnberry, and Muirfield, among the courses to miss out. Turnberry last hosted The Open in 2009 - five years before Trump bought the course - while Muirfield has not held the tournament since 2013. Last year R&A officials met with Trump's son Eric to discuss the tournament returning to Turnberry.
At the time R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said there were "big logistical issues" at the venue. Darbon also acknowledged that the UK government had spoken with the R&A about Turnberry hosting The Open. Eric Trump told BBC Sport last year that his father "deserves" to have his course host The Open again - but will probably have left the White House by the time it does.
Asked on Monday about Turnberry and Muirfield's futures as Open venues, he said "dialogue was ongoing". It will be the 12th time The Open has been held at Royal Lytham, which last staged golf's oldest major in 2012. Darbon said: "This is one of golf's most cherished and historic venues.
" The return to Lytham will mark the third time in six years that the north-west coast of England will host the tournament. The Open was held at Royal Liverpool in 2023 and will be hosted by Royal Birkdale in Southport from 16-19 July this year. In 2027 the Old Course in St Andrews will stage the event for a record-extending 31st time.
The Open, the final major of the year, is usually held during the third week of July, but is being pushed back to 3-6 August in 2028 to avoid clashing with the Los Angeles Olympic Games golf competitions, which are being played from 19-29 July. Lytham, near Blackpool, has a pedigree of hosting some of golf's most prestigious tournaments. It has staged 11 Opens, five Women's Opens, two Ryder Cups, five Senior Opens, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.