The Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club has been chosen to host the 156th Open Championship in 2028, surpassing Donald Trump's Turnberry Golf Club, which has been seeking a spot in the Open rotation for years. The decision was made due to logistical challenges associated with hosting the event at Turnberry. The Open Championship will return to Royal Lytham for the first time since 2012, when Ernie Els won the famous Claret Jug for a second time.
Royal Lytham & St Annes is renowned for being one of the world's finest links courses and has a rich history of hosting the Open, with legendary winners including Bobby Jones, Seve Ballesteros, and Tom Lehman. The R&A Chief Executive, Mark Darbon, stated that while Turnberry is a great golf course, it poses significant logistical challenges, including issues with road, rail, and accommodation infrastructure. Muirfield, another prominent golf club, has also been omitted from the R&A's immediate plans due to its previous ban on female members, despite lifting the ban in 2017. The Open's return to Royal Lytham in 2028 is expected to generate huge interest among fans, with the event scheduled to take place from August 3 to August 6.
The R&A has also announced that the Open Championship will be moved back to August in 2028 to avoid clashing with the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.