R&A Shifts 2028 Open to Early August for Olympics

The R&A, golf's governing body, announced on Wednesday that the 156th Open Championship will shift to early August in 2028, marking a rare departure from its longstanding July tradition to avoid overlapping with the Los Angeles Olympics. The men's major, typically held in mid-July, will take place from July 30 to August 6 at a yet-to-be-determined venue in the United Kingdom.

The decision affects not only The Open but also two other R&A-administered events that year. The ISPS Handa Senior Open is scheduled for August 7 to 13, followed by the AIG Women's Open from August 14 to 20. All three championships will revert to their usual mid-July slots in 2029, according to the organization.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A, explained the rationale in a statement: "We have worked collaboratively with the relevant bodies and our partners to agree alternative dates for staging our major championships in 2028 to accommodate the Olympic golf competitions. We appreciate the constructive discussions we have had with all of the stakeholders and believe that providing clarity on the dates now will assist with the planning of the global golf calendar in 2028."