R&A Names Royal Lytham for 156th Open in 2028

The R&A announced Wednesday that Royal Lytham St Annes will host the 156th Open Championship in 2028, marking the 12th time the historic English links course has staged golf's oldest major and its first appearance since Ernie Els claimed victory there in 2012.

The tournament is scheduled for August 3 to 6, a shift from the usual July dates to avoid overlapping with the Los Angeles Olympics that summer. Els, a South African golfer, won his second Claret Jug and fourth major title at the 2012 event after Adam Scott bogeyed the final four holes to finish one stroke behind. Royal Lytham's roster of past champions includes legends such as Bobby Jones, who triumphed in the course's Open debut in 1926; Bobby Locke in 1952; Peter Thomson in 1958; Bob Charles in 1963; Tony Jacklin in 1969; Gary Player in 1974; Seve Ballesteros in 1979 and 1988; Tom Lehman in 1996; and David Duval in 2001.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A, highlighted the venue's legacy in a statement. "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...