The British Open will be held at Royal Birkdale in 2017 and Carnoustie the following year, the R&A has announced. No venue has been announced for 2019, the first year that Royal Portrush will return to the rota.
Birkdale last hosted the British Open in 2008 when Pádraig Harrington won his second consecutive Claret Jug after claiming his first at Carnoustie a year earlier.
The 143rd edition of golf’s oldest Major will begin on July 17th at Royal Liverpool with the tournament then moving to St Andrews in 2015 and staying in Scotland at Royal Troon the following year.
The 2017 staging in Southport will begin on July 20th, while the tournament at Carnoustie will start on July 19th the year after.
“We will be delighted to welcome The Open Championship back to Royal Birkdale in 2017,” said club captain Richard Hunt.
“The club has a long and proud history of hosting the Open and some of the game’s greatest players have won here.
“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.”
The Lancashire venue has hosted the British Open 10 times in its history and has been a regular fixture on the rotation since its introduction in 1954.
Carnoustie hosted the tournament for the first time in 24 years in 1999 when Paul Lawrie won a play-off following Jean van de Velde’s three-shot collapse on the final hole.
The difficult conditions saw the course dubbed ‘Carnasty’ by some but those were eased by the time Harrington’s triumph came eight years later and chairman of Carnoustie Golf Links Pat Sawers is delighted to have the Championship back.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming The Open Championship back for an eighth time to the historic links at Carnoustie in 2018 and feel sure the Championship will generate just as much interest and excitement as in previous years,” he 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.”
Five-time Open winner Tom Watson claimed his first and last Championships at Carnoustie in 1975 and Birkdale in 1983 and was present at the R&A’s announcement at the Greenbrier, West Virginia.
“I am delighted to see the Open returning to two great venues in Royal Birkdale and Carnoustie,” he said. “I know both courses are held in high regard by the players and I certainly consider them to be wonderful tests of golf.
“When I first played in the Open at Carnoustie I still had a lot to learn about links golf but I quickly adapted to the challenge of playing in the wind and keeping the ball low. I played well that week and was thrilled to win the play-off.
“Royal Birkdale is also a fine links course and I have always thoroughly enjoyed playing there. I think the players and the fans will be excited to see the top players playing these courses once again.”
