The R&A has announced Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire, England, as the venue for the 2028 Open Championship. The event will take place August 3-6, shifted from mid-July due to the Olympics. This selection ends speculation that Muirfield would return after years away.
R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon highlighted the course's legacy in a statement. “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,” Darbon said. He added that the venue's return will celebrate golf's traditions and draw fans worldwide. The course last hosted in 2012, when Ernie Els claimed victory for his second Open title. Previous winners there also include Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and David Duval. It ranks 68th on GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World list. Royal Lytham & St Annes has now hosted 11 Opens, with the 1926 edition marking Bobby Jones's triumph. The upcoming championship follows the 2025 Open at Royal Birkdale and the 2026 return to St Andrews' Old Course. Muirfield, which has hosted 16 Opens including Phil Mickelson's 2013 win, was removed from the rota after a 2016 member vote to bar women. The R&A stated at the time, “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members.” The club admitted women in 2019. Rory McIlroy supported Muirfield's potential return earlier this year, saying in Dubai, “Muirfield deserves to be back on the Open rota.” No venues are yet set for 2029 and beyond.
