Donald Trump's Turnberry Golf Club will not be hosting The Open Championship in the near term after the R&A announced that Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club has been selected to stage the 156th Open in 2028. The 2024 Open will take place at Royal Birkdale, and the tournament will move back to the historic Home of Golf at St Andrews in 2027, but Turnberry's long‑standing bid to re‑enter the Open rotation remains on hold pending resolution of several logistical and financial hurdles. Mark Darbon, the current chief executive of the R&A, explained to Sky Sports that Turnberry presents a "logistical challenge" of a scale that would be difficult to manage for a modern major. He noted that the road, rail and accommodation networks surrounding the Ayrshire coastline are not yet equipped to handle the massive influx of players, media, officials and spectators that a contemporary Open demands.
"We have a good dialogue with the venue and we remain open‑minded," Darbon said, "but until those infrastructure issues are addressed, we cannot commit Turnberry to the schedule." The decision also leaves Muirfield out of the immediate rotation. The Scottish links last hosted The Open in 2013, when Phil Mickelson claimed the Claret Jug. Former R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers had previously warned that Muirfield would not be considered again until it lifted its historic ban on female members. Although the club voted in 2017 to admit women, it still has not been reinstated to the Open rota, despite a public appeal from Rory McIlroy earlier this year.
The nearest opportunity for Muirfield appears to be 2031, after the neighboring Renaissance Club secured the Genesis Scottish Open through 2030. Royal Lytham & St Annes will host the 2028 Open from August 3‑6, marking its first appearance at the championship since 2012, when Ernie Els lifted the Claret Jug for the second time. The course boasts an illustrious roll of champions that includes Bobby Jones, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Sir Bob Charles, Tony Jacklin, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Lehman and David Duval.
Darbon praised the venue as "one of the world's finest links courses" and emphasized its historic significance, noting that the first Open at Lytham was won by the legendary Bobby Jones in 1926. He added that the return of the Open to these storied links will generate enormous enthusiasm among fans and celebrate the deep traditions of golf's original championship.
Tim Walker, chairman of the council at Royal Lytham, expressed pride in being chosen for the 156th Open. He highlighted the club's century‑long association with the tournament and the symbolic timing of the announcement, which coincides with the 100‑year anniversary of Bobby Jones' 1926 victory and the granting of the club's Royal status. Walker said the club looks forward to welcoming the world's best players and a global audience to England's historic golf coast.
The R&A is also moving the Open back to its traditional August slot in 2028 to avoid a clash with the Los Angeles Olympic Games. The 2025 Open, won by Scottie Scheffler at Royal Portrush, will be remembered as his fourth major and first Claret Jug. This year’s Open will be contested at Royal Birkdale from July 16‑19, while Lytham & St Annes will host the AIG Women’s Open from July 29‑August 2, both events televised on Sky Sports.
Turnberry remains a focal point of political and commercial interest. Donald Trump purchased the resort in April 2014 and has reportedly lobbied Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to secure a future Open slot for the Ailsa Course, which last hosted the championship in 2009 when Stewart Cink emerged victorious. The 2009 Open attracted roughly 120,000 spectators over four days, underscoring the venue's capacity to draw crowds despite its remote location. Nevertheless, the R&A has repeatedly voiced concerns that a Turnberry Open would shift attention away from the sport and onto the former U.S.
President. In 2021, the organization cited both logistical and financial constraints, noting that the remote Ayrshire coast would strain transportation and accommodation infrastructure.
The R&A also referenced the 2022 PGA Championship controversy, when the PGA of America withdrew Trump National Golf Club Bedminster’s hosting rights, as evidence of the broader challenges associated with Trump‑owned courses. In a 2025 statement, the R&A clarified that it had no plans to stage any of its championships at Turnberry in the foreseeable future, emphasizing that the focus must remain on the players, the competition, and the course itself. The statement read: "We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself, and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances." Later that year, Eric Trump met with R&A officials to discuss the venue.
While the meeting was described as constructive, the core issue of logistics persisted. Darbon acknowledged that he would "love" to see the Open return to Turnberry, but reiterated that without substantial improvements to road, rail and lodging capacity, the venue remains unsuitable.
He recalled a recent conversation with Eric Trump, noting that the Trump organization now understands the R&A's position and the challenges that must be overcome. The Guardian reported that a government spokesperson had also approached the R&A in 2025, urging the body to consider Turnberry for the 2028 Open. The R&A responded that while it regularly engages with national and local authorities about venue matters, its decisions are independent and based solely on the practicalities of delivering a world‑class championship.
"We have explained the logistical challenges around Turnberry to the government, and they are aware of the position," an R&A spokesperson told Sky Sports. Ticket demand for upcoming Opens continues to surge.
Over one million applications were received for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale, and the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush set an attendance record with 278,000 spectators across four days—the highest figure for any Open outside St Andrews. Darbon reiterated the R&A's stance: "We love the golf course but we have big logistical challenges. The scale of the set‑up requires significant work on road, rail and accommodation infrastructure." Meanwhile, the PGA Tour will shift its focus to Trump National Doral in Miami for the inaugural Cadillac Championship, the fourth Signature Event of the 2026 season, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This event highlights the continued commercial partnership between the Trump brand and professional golf, even as the Open remains out of reach for Turnberry. In summary, Royal Lytham & St Annes has secured the 2028 Open, reaffirming its status as a premier links venue, while Turnberry's aspirations are stalled by unresolved infrastructure and perception issues.
The R&A remains committed to delivering a championship that prioritises the sport, the players, and the fans, and will continue to evaluate potential venues only when they can meet the exacting standards required for golf's most prestigious tournament.