Overview
- The R&A, which announced the decision Monday, set the 2028 Open for August 3–6 at Royal Lytham & St Annes to steer clear of the Los Angeles Olympic golf schedule.
- Turnberry was passed over because local road, rail and accommodation limits fall short of modern Open needs, even after talks with Eric Trump kept lines of communication open.
- Muirfield stays off the near‑term rota as the neighboring Renaissance Club holds the Scottish Open through 2030, which, along with practice‑facility constraints, pushes any return to at least 2031.
- Royal Lytham has reworked its infrastructure to meet today’s demands, including a straightened 601‑yard 11th, a new practice area and improved internal roads, and it will stage the AIG Women’s Open from July 29 to August 2 this year.
- For Royal Birkdale 2026, the R&A may bring Sunday tee times forward to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup final, with more than 300,000 spectators projected across the week.