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Royal Lytham to Host 2028 Open, Marking Jones Centennial

4/28/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

R&A Hosts Open

The R&A announced that Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club will host the 2028 Open Championship on August 3-6, 2028.
Mark Darbon said the dates avoid the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and that the event marks the club’s first Open since 2012 and the centenary of Bobby Jones’s 1926 win.
Golf Digest ranks the course 48th worldwide as the R&A discusses a future Open return with Muirfield.

Summary

R&A Prioritises Capacity

The AIG Women’s Open will be at Royal Lytham & St Annes from July 29-August 2, 2028, ending a day before the men’s Open starts August 3.
The R&A received over one million ticket applications for the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale, while 280,000 spectators attended the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush and St Andrews set a weekly record of 290,000 in 2022.
Mark Darbon said the R&A now prioritises larger venues, making capacity decisive for future rotations.

History

Historical Context

After Bobby Jones won his first Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1926, the R&A began expanding the venue rota to cope with growing crowds—overcrowding at the 1925 Prestwick Open led to adding new courses such as Carnoustie and Lytham. Today, the club’s 11-time host status and its large capacity keep it central to the R&A’s rotation strategy.

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R&A Hosts Open

The R&A announced that Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club will host the 2028 Open Championship on August 3-6, 2028.
Mark Darbon said the dates avoid the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and that the event marks the club’s first Open since 2012 and the centenary of Bobby Jones’s 1926 win.
Golf Digest ranks the course 48th worldwide as the R&A discusses a future Open return with Muirfield.

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