Donald Trump's Turnberry Golf Club will not be the venue for the upcoming Open Championship, as the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club has been appointed to host the 156th Open in 2028. This decision follows the 2027 Open, which will return to its historic home at St Andrews, and the 2026 edition that is set to be played at Royal Birkdale. While Turnberry has long campaigned for a place in the Open rotation, the R&A has indicated that significant logistical and financial hurdles must be resolved before the Scottish resort can be reconsidered.
The R&A's chief executive, Mark Darbon, explained to Sky Sports that Turnberry presents a "logistical challenge" of a scale that is difficult to reconcile with the modern expectations of a major championship. He noted that the infrastructure surrounding the course – including road, rail and accommodation networks – would need substantial upgrades to support the tens of thousands of spectators, media personnel, and support staff that a contemporary Open attracts.
"We have a good dialogue with the venue and we remain open‑minded," Darbon said, "but until those challenges are addressed, Turnberry will not be part of the near‑future rota." Muirfield, another historic Scottish links that last hosted the Open in 2013 when Phil Mickelson captured the Claret Jug, is also absent from the R&A's short‑term plans. The club's exclusion dates back to a 2016 statement by former R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, who said the venue would not be considered until it lifted its ban on female members. Although the club voted in 2017 to admit women, the R&A has yet to re‑insert Muirfield into the rotation, despite public appeals from players such as Rory McIlroy. The nearest opportunity for Muirfield appears to be 2031, after the neighboring Renaissance Club secures the Genesis Scottish Open through 2030.
Royal Lytham & St Annes will host the 2028 Open from August 3‑6, marking its first appearance since 2012, when Ernie Els won his second Claret Jug there. The course boasts a distinguished 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 highlighted its storied history dating back to the inaugural 1926 Open, when Bobby Jones triumphed on the same fairways.
He added that the return to Lytham will generate immense excitement among fans eager to experience the tradition and drama of golf's original championship. Tim Walker, chairman of the council at Royal Lytham & St Annes, expressed pride in being selected for the 156th Open. He reflected on the club’s centennial celebration of Bobby Jones’s 1926 victory and the granting of Royal status, noting that the announcement coincides with a historic milestone for the venue.
Walker looked forward to welcoming the world’s elite players and a global audience to the English coastline for what he described as "one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues." 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 at Royal Portrush was won by Scottie Scheffler, who claimed his fourth major and first Claret Jug.
This year’s Open will be staged at Royal Birkdale from July 16‑19, while Lytham & St Annes will simultaneously host the AIG Women’s Open from July 29‑August 2, both events broadcast live on Sky Sports. President Donald Trump, who purchased Turnberry in April 2014, has repeatedly advocated for the resort’s inclusion in the Open rotation. He has reportedly appealed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to secure the venue’s selection.
Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has hosted the Open four times, most recently in 2009 when Stewart Cink emerged victorious. Despite the course’s reputation as one of the premier links in the British Isles, the R&A remains concerned that the remote Ayrshire location would divert attention away from the competition itself and onto political headlines surrounding the U.S. president’s ownership. In 2021, the R&A publicly stated 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 course, and the championship, rather than on external political narratives.
This stance was reinforced after the PGA of America withdrew Trump National Golf Club Bedminster’s right to host the 2022 PGA Championship. In 2025, Eric Trump met with R&A officials to discuss Turnberry’s prospects. While the conversation was described as constructive, the fundamental issue of logistics persisted. Darbon reiterated that unless the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure are significantly improved, the R&A cannot justify returning the Open to Turnberry.
He noted that the organization maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Trump golf group, acknowledging their understanding of the challenges. The Guardian reported that a government spokesperson also approached the R&A in 2025, urging the inclusion of Turnberry for the 2028 Open. The R&A clarified that venue decisions are independent of political influence, though they regularly consult with local and national authorities about infrastructure and transport matters.
Ticket demand for the Open continues to soar. Over one million applications were received for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale, and the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush set a record with 278,000 spectators across four days – the highest attendance for an Open outside St Andrews. Darbon emphasized that the R&A’s position on Turnberry is clear: the course is beloved, but the logistical challenges are substantial and must be addressed before any future inclusion.
Meanwhile, the PGA Tour will travel 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 tournament underscores the ongoing relationship between Trump‑owned courses and professional golf, even as the Open remains out of reach for Turnberry. In summary, while Turnberry remains a dream venue for many fans and a personal aspiration of President Trump, the R&A’s priority is to ensure that the Open Championship remains focused on the sport, the players, and the historic courses that can accommodate the massive scale of modern major‑golf logistics. Royal Lytham & St Annes will take center stage in 2028, offering a celebrated links experience that aligns with the R&A’s logistical capabilities and commitment to preserving the heritage of the Open.