Royal Troon chosen to host The Open Championship in 2023

Royal Troon will host the 152nd Open Championship in 2023, tournament organiser the R&A has announced.

The tournament will return to the Ayrshire course 100 years after Troon was first host.

It will be the 10th time The Open has been played there and the first occasion since Henrik Stenson lifted the Claret Jug in 2016.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “Royal Troon is one of the world’s greatest championships links.

“It has produced many memorable moments throughout the history of The Open including the dramatic duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson that captivated millions of fans around the world in 2016.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating another milestone in the cherished history of The Open when we mark the 100th anniversary of the Championship first being played at Royal Troon.

“It will be fascinating to see who will emerge from the world-class field to lift the Claret Jug in 2023.”

This year’s championship will be held at Royal St George’s in Kent before the spotlight falls on St Andrew’s in 2021 and Royal Liverpool the following year.

Slumbers admitted that the size of the crowds which each of the 10 courses on the Open rota can accommodate has become an increasingly important factor.
That could be bad news for the likes of Muirfield and Turnberry, with Muirfield attracting 142,306 spectators in 2013 and Turnberry’s remote location traditionally resulting in even lower figures.

“We want The Open to be one of the world’s greatest sporting events,” Slumbers added. “Big time sport needs big time crowds.

“The previous record at (this year’s venue) Royal St George’s was 183,000 and we will exceed 200,000 in July.”