English golf course Royal Birkdale and Scottish course Carnoustie will host the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Open Championship, event organiser the Royal & Ancient (R&A) has confirmed.
Royal Birkdale will host the Open for the 10th time from July 20-23, 2017. The Southport course last staged the event in 2008 when Ireland’s Padraig Harrington won by four shots from Ian Poulter.
“The club has a long and proud history of hosting The Open and some of the game's greatest players have won here,” Royal Birkdale captain Richard Hunt said. “We regard it as a privilege to host the Championship and look forward to seeing the world's top players facing the challenges of Royal Birkdale once again.”
Carnoustie will stage the Championship for the eighth time from July 19-22, 2018. The course, which is located in the Angus region of Scotland, last played host to the Open in 2007 where Harrington was also victorious after beating Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a play-off.
Pat Sawers, chairman of Carnoustie Golf Links, said: “We believe the fact the R&A has invited us to stage the 2018 Championship will provide a big boost to golf in the local area and will have a beneficial effect on our on-going efforts to attract more local youngsters into the game.”
The announcement comes shortly after the R&A also confirmed Northern Irish course Royal Portrush as a future host venue for the Open. Although a date for a future Northern Irish edition of the Championship has not been set, today’s announcements mean the earliest it can be held in the country will be 2019, depending on the progress of infrastructure work.
The 143rd edition of golf’s oldest major will be played at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake from July 17-20. Phil Mickelson is the reigning champion, with the American having won the 2013 Open at Muirfield in Scotland.
