The R&A confirmed on Monday that Royal Lytham & St Annes will host The Open Championship for the 12th time, with competition set for August 3-6, 2028.
The famous Fylde links course in Lancashire, England last hosted The Open in 2012, when Ernie Els claimed his second Claret Jug after Adam Scott made bogey on his final four holes to finish one shot behind. The return visit will come 16 years later, and notably later in the calendar than usual to avoid clashing with the Olympic golf tournament at the Los Angeles Games that summer.
Royal Lytham has one of the richest histories on The Open rota. Bobby Jones won the first edition held there back in 1926, and the course has since welcomed champions including Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, Tom Lehman, and David Duval. This year’s announcement also coincides with the 100th anniversary of Jones’ historic victory and the granting of the club’s Royal status.
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon described the venue as one of golf’s most cherished and historic, adding that The Open Championship 2028 returning to Royal Lytham would spark huge interest among fans wanting to be part of golf’s original championship.
Notably missing from the 2028 conversation were Turnberry and Muirfield. The R&A has not returned to Turnberry since 2009 due to concerns surrounding its owner Donald Trump, with infrastructure challenges also cited as an ongoing issue. Muirfield, which last hosted in 2013 when Phil Mickelson won, was also passed over.
Before 2028, The Open heads to Royal Birkdale this year before returning to St Andrews in 2027, where a record weekly attendance of 290,000 was set in 2022.
Fans can now register their interest in attending The Open Championship 2028 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
