Royal Lytham & St Annes is getting The Open Championship back.

The R&A confirmed on Monday that the Lancashire links course will host the 156th Open Championship in 2028 after a 16-year gap. Three venues were considered, but only one was chosen. There is also one detail many fans may not know yet.

The tournament will not be played on its usual mid-July dates. Instead, it will take place from August 3 to 6. The reason is that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Men’s Golf ends on July 22, so The Open was moved later to avoid a clash.

Sky Sports News brought up the news on X.

"I've got some breaking news, and the Open in 2028 will be held at Royal Lytham St Anne's," Sky Sports News reported. "It's the first time the Open has been held at Lytham for 16 years, the last time it was won by Ernie Els back in 2012."

The 2012 tournament was not easy. Ernie Els beat Adam Scott by one shot to win his second Claret Jug. Only eight players finished under par for the week, and Els still found a way to win.

R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon explained why bringing Lytham back was the right choice.

"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.

This will be the 12th time the course hosts The Open. Seve Ballesteros won there, and Tony Jacklin, Gary Player, and David Duval also won at the same venue.

Royal Lytham & St Annes' Major Transformation That Sealed the 2028 Open Championship Bid

Turnberry was a serious option.

R&A officials even thought about the possibility a year ago, but transport problems around the South Ayrshire course were the main issue, and that is why the bid failed. 

Muirfield had a different issue. It is too close to the Renaissance Club, which hosts the Scottish Open the week before The Open. Because of that, it was not a practical choice.

Lytham had better reasons to be selected. It has new roads, a redesigned 11th hole, improved practice areas, and new dunes that make the fairways tighter. Its 160-plus bunkers are still as difficult as ever.

Royal Birkdale will host in 2026, St Andrews in 2027, and then it will be Lytham’s turn.

Follow Club Golf for more.

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kalp Thaker