The R&A have confirmed that the 2028 Open Championship will be staged at Royal Lytham & St Annes, rejecting Rory McIlroy's proposal for Muirfield. The Northern Irish golfer had advocated for the Scottish course, which last hosted the tournament in 2013, when McIlroy famously missed the cut and described it as potentially the lowest point of his professional career.
McIlroy's Muirfield Support
McIlroy, a Masters champion, backed Muirfield for the 2028 Open in January. He stated that Muirfield deserves to return to the Open rota, noting that the club had rectified previous issues, including a ban on female members that was lifted in 2017. He also highlighted the course's quality and commercial viability, suggesting that the area around North Berwick could be one of the more commercially viable Open locations.
R&A's Decision
Despite McIlroy's wishes, the R&A opted for Royal Lytham & St Annes, which will also host the Women's Open in July and August 2026. R&A CEO Mark Darbon explained that Royal Lytham is renowned as one of the world's finest links courses and has a rich history, including Bobby Jones' victory in 1926. He expressed gratitude to the club and local authorities for their support.
Muirfield's Hurdles
Darbon confirmed ongoing dialogue with Muirfield but noted that several infrastructural challenges, such as the practice ground and on-course points, must be overcome to facilitate a modern Open Championship. Poor attendance figures and the previous membership controversy have also been factors in the course's absence from the rota.
McIlroy had anticipated the decision, remarking that the Women's Open at Lytham often precedes the men's event. The 2028 Open will mark the tournament's return to Royal Lytham & St Annes, which has hosted the championship 11 times, most recently in 2012 when Ernie Els won.
