PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 20: Scottie Scheffler of the United States tees off on the 14th hole during the final round of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Open Championship will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028 bringing one of golf’s most prestigious championships back to the famous Fylde links for the first time since 2012. The announcement from The R&A for the 156th Open Championship will mark the 12th time Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted The Open.
The 156th Open will be contested from July 30 to August 6, 2028, which is slightly later than usual to avoid scheduling conflicts with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. The 154th Open, which will be hosted by Royal Birkdale, is scheduled for July 12 to July 19, 2026.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, stated, “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.” Jones won the first Open Championship hosted by Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1926, marking 100 years since the club has hosted The Open Championship. In those intervening 100 years, the roll of champions crowned at Royal Lytham & St Annes includes some of golf’s all time great superstars including Tony Jacklin, Gary Player, and Seve Ballesteros. In 2012, Ernie Els claimed his second Claret Jug at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the last time the club has hosted The Open Championship.
The 2028 return to Royal Lytham & St Annes will place England’s golf coast back at the center of the sport. Known for it’s demanding bunkering, strategic angles, and traditional links conditions, Royal Lytham & St Annes is one of The Open rota’s most exacting venues.
Despite it’s proximity to the coast however, views of the sea from the course are obstructed by trees, housing, and railway track. As a result, the course had been plagued by space issues, a major requirement for hosting a modern major championship, as practice facilities, hospitality venues, and media and player hospitality all have to be located and built. Changes being made at Royal Lytham & St Annes include the modification of the 11th hole to create space for a new practice area, as well as modifications to the course’s road system.
Prior to The R&A’s announcement, other contenders for the 2028 rota slot included Turnberry on the western coast of Scotland and Muirfield, located on the shore of Gullane Bay east of Edinburgh, Scotland. However, The R&A had previously indicated that both Turnberry and Muirfield pose infrastructure and logistical challenges for hosting a modern Open Championship.
The R&A has announced future venues for The Open Championship through 2028. Royal Birkdale will host in 2026, The Old Course at St Andrews will host in 2027, and Royal Lytham & St Annes will host in 2028.