Royal Lytham And St Annes Confirmed For Open Return

The English links layout will host its 12th Open Championship in 2028, the R&A has announced

Royal Lytham and St Annes clubhouse and the Claret Jug
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Open will return to Royal Lytham and St Annes for the first time in 16 years, it has been confirmed, with the famous links set to host the 156th edition of the world's oldest golf Major in 2028.

The championship will take place from August 3-6 in two years' time, having moved later in the schedule due to the 2028 Olympics.

Royal Lytham and St Annes also hosts this year's AIG Women's Open, after last staging the Ricoh Women's British Open, as it was known then, in 2018 when Georgia Hall triumphed to win her maiden Major title.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said, “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.

Ernie Els lifting the Claret Jug at Lytham St. Annes in 2012 after winning the Open Championship for a second time

Ernie Els won his second Claret Jug at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“This is one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues and The Open’s return to these famous links will spark huge interest among fans to be part of one of the world’s great sporting events and celebrate the rich traditions of golf’s original Championship.

“We are grateful to the members of Royal Lytham & St Annes and the local authorities for their support in making this happen. We look forward to enjoying another fantastic championship on England’s golf coast in 2028.”

This year's Open takes place at Royal Birkdale, with the 2027 Open, the 155th edition, returning to St Andrews' Old Course.

Past Opens hosted at Royal Lytham and St Annes

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Year

Champion

1926

Bobby Jones (a)

1952

Bobby Locke

1958

Peter Thomson

1963

Bob Charles

1969

Tony Jacklin

1974

Gary Player

1979

Seve Ballesteros

1988

Seve Ballesteros

1996

Tom Lehman

2001

David Duval

2012

Ernie Els

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.

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