St. Andrews’ Old Course to host the 2027 Open Championship

The home of golf has its next Open Championship on the calendar.

The IR&A announced Thursday that the 155th Open Championship will be played at St. Andrews’ Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 15-18, 2027. That year will also mark an important anniversary for the old golfer, as it will be. 100 years since rookie Bobby Jones won the 1927 Open at St. Andrews, won by 6 and defended his title from last year at Royal. Lytham and St Annes.

2027 will be the 31st appearance of The Open at St. Andrews again for the first time since 2022, when Cameron Smith started the day fourth behind fellow leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland but shot a final round of 64 to take a one-up lead over Cameron Young.

Thursday’s news was also the first announcement made by Mark Darbon, the R&A’s new chief executive.

“I’m looking forward to The Open returning to St. Andrews always for fans and players,” said Darbon in the release. “There is something incredibly special about the Open being played on the Old Course and many great champions have walked the course since it was first played here in 1873. St. Andrews is the home of golf and creates a unique atmosphere for fans and players as well as providing a spectacular spectacle on television and digital to millions of viewers around the world. It promises to be another historic event at one of the greatest and most historic sporting venues and we will do everything we can to make it a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

This announcement also means that Tiger Woods may get another chance at St. Andrews. When he played there in 2022 — and had an emotional farewell en route to the uncut cut — Woods thought it might be his last Open at the place he’s long called his favorite golf course in the world.

Woods, who has won three Opens – including two at St. Andrews – will be 51 when the 2027 Open arrives.

“I’m very sad,” Woods said after his 2022 round. “I’ve been coming here since 1995, and I think what’s next, 2030? I don’t know if I’ll be able to play then. So for me it felt like this would be my last British Open here at St. Andrews. And the fans, applause and warmth, it was an unbelievable feeling.”

While most US Open and PGA Championship spots are drawn years in advance, the R&A only announces the next few Open spots in advance.

This year’s Open will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland, and 2026 is scheduled for Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Shane Lowry won at Portrush in 2019, while Jordan Spieth won the last Open at Birkdale, where he edged out Matt Kuchar to win the claret jug in 2017.