Donald Trump’s efforts to bring The Open back to Turnberry have been thwarted again after the 2028 tournament was awarded to Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Such was the trans-Atlantic push to return the championship to the famed Ayrshire links, the UK government had subtly lobbied the R&A to assist the US president’s ambition to stage the oldest major.
However, those prospects were always understood to be slim, partially because of the R&A’s concerns around the distractions of his presence, having bought the course in 2014, and more fundamentally due to infrastructure concerns.
The tournament will instead return to Royal Lytham in Lancashire for a 12th time and a first since 2012. Two of Seve Ballesteros’s three Open wins came at the course in 1979 and 1988.
Along with a snub for Turnberry, the choice means Muirfield will also have to wait to end its exile, despite backing from the likes of Rory McIlroy.
Donald Trump purchased Turnberry – the course he is seen playing here – back in 2014
The US President is a keen golfer and has reports have previously claimed that his handicap once reached as low as 2.8
R&A chief Mark Darbon has shown a conspicuous softening on the Trump issue compared to his predecessor, Martin Slumbers, but it now appears any return to Turnberry will have to fall post-presidency.
Darbon said: ‘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 won.
‘This is one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues and The Open’s return to these famous links will spark huge interest among fans to be part of one of the world’s great sporting events and celebrate the rich traditions of golf’s original championship.’
