R&A Confirms Hoylake And Troon For Future Opens, Further Postponing A Turnberry Decision

While the Hoylake (aka Royal Liverpool) and Troon had already been awarded Open Championships in 2022 and 2023, they were to be pushed back a year by the R&A’s 2020 Open cancellation. There was some thought we might see a trade to keep Troon on track to celebrate the centennial of its first Open in 2023, a big part of the February announcement.

But it appears no trade was made and each course will now slide back a year. So now 101 years later we’ll celebrate Arthur Havers’ game story-killing win over Walter Hagen and Macdonald Smith.

Moving Troon to 2024 also makes any talk of a return to Trump Turnberry moot until at least 2026 given their proximity. But ‘26 seems like a potential St. Andrews year or, if the R&A is in the mood for anniversaries, 100 years since Bobby Jones won at Lytham and St. Annes.

The move also gives the R&A another year to find a media hotel better than the haunted and haunting Adamton Country “House”. Have you ever seen a grander entrance?

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Anyhoo…

VENUES CONFIRMED FOR THE OPEN IN 2023 AND 2024

7 December 2020, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A today confirmed that The 151st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool from 16-23 July 2023 and The 152nd Open will be played at Royal Troon from 14-21 July 2024.

The Championships have been rescheduled following the cancellation of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Open will be played at the famous Kent links from 11-18 July 2021.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We have been working closely with Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon and the relevant local agencies to reschedule the Championships.

“We are grateful to everyone involved at the clubs and at our partner organisations for supporting our plans and showing flexibility to adapt their own schedules. We can now look forward to seeing the world’s best players competing at these outstanding links courses in 2023 and 2024.”

Michael Johnson, Captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club, said, “Without doubt the golfing world greatly anticipates the return of The Open after the hiatus of 2020 and Royal Liverpool Golf Club is delighted to fit into the revised schedule alongside our friends at Royal Troon. We must thank The R&A for its continued support and look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to Hoylake in 2023.”

Desmond Bancewicz, Captain of Royal Troon Golf Club, said, “Following the most unusual circumstances this year, affecting all our lives, Royal Troon Golf Club looks forward with eager anticipation in hosting The Open in 2024 for a 10th time and sends their very best wishes to The R&A and Royal St George's Golf Club for 2021.”

This will be the 13th time the Championship has been staged at Royal Liverpool and the first since Rory McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug there in 2014.

The Open will return to Royal Troon for the 10th time following Henrik Stenson’s memorable final round duel with Phil Mickelson before claiming victory in 2016.

Future venues: