Trump’s Turnberry Snub Deepens as Royal Lytham Seals 2028 Open Championship

The R&A has spoken, and the message is clear: tradition, history, and logistical certainty have triumphed over political star power. In a decision that sends ripples through the golfing world, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club has been officially named as the host venue for The 156th Open Championship in 2028. The announcement, made earlier this week, effectively confirms that Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort will remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

For the legion of golf fans who have long salivated over the prospect of The Open returning to the Ailsa Course—arguably one of the most dramatic and photogenic links in the world—this is a bitter pill to swallow. For the R&A, however, it is a pragmatic, risk-averse choice that prioritises the integrity of the championship over the allure of a controversial asset.

The Royal Lytham Renaissance: A Classic Returns to the Rota

Royal Lytham & St Annes is no stranger to the spotlight. The Lancashire links has hosted The Open eleven times, most recently in 2012 when Ernie Els produced a Sunday masterclass to snatch the Claret Jug from Adam Scott’s grasp. That day, a 65-year-old Els walked the final fairway with a calmness that defied the pressure, and the course’s reputation for punishing wayward drives was cemented in modern memory.

But why 2028? The R&A’s rota is a delicate ecosystem. With Royal Portrush securing 2025, Royal Birkdale taking 2026, and St Andrews hosting the historic 2027 edition, the governing body needed a venue that could deliver a stern test without the geopolitical baggage. Lytham fits the bill perfectly.

• Bunker Complex: Lytham boasts over 200 bunkers, many of them deep, revetted pits that punish even the slightest deviation from the fairway.
• Climatic Challenge: Unlike Turnberry’s often placid Ayrshire coast, Lytham is exposed to the full fury of the Irish Sea, ensuring that wind—not just the course—will be a primary defence.
• Logistical Efficiency: The club has a proven track record of staging major events, with excellent transport links, ample parking, and a community that embraces the championship.

Expert Analysis: “Lytham is a player’s course,” says former European Tour professional and course architect Tom Mackenzie. “It doesn’t rely on ocean views or dramatic cliffs. It relies on angles, wind, and the most strategic bunkering in the UK. The R&A knows that in 2028, they will get a champion who has earned it, not one who simply survived a putting contest.”

The Turnberry Problem: Why Trump’s Jewel Remains in the Rough

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Turnberry is a masterpiece. The Ailsa Course, with its iconic lighthouse, the ruins of Turnberry Castle, and the breathtaking views of Ailsa Craig, is universally ranked among the top five courses in the world. It hosted The Open four times, with the 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus standing as arguably the greatest major championship ever played.

However, the course’s ownership is the problem. Since Donald Trump purchased the resort in 2014, the R&A has faced an increasingly uncomfortable dilemma. The 2020 cancellation of The Open due to COVID-19 temporarily masked the issue, but the subsequent political climate—including the January 6th Capitol riot and ongoing legal battles—has made a return to Turnberry an untenable proposition for the R&A’s leadership.

Key factors keeping Turnberry off the rota:

• Reputational Risk: The R&A is a non-profit, apolitical organisation. Hosting an Open at a property owned by a polarising former U.S. president would invite protests, media scrutiny, and potential sponsorship conflicts.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Despite Trump’s reported £200 million investment, the resort lacks the permanent spectator infrastructure required for a modern Open. Temporary stands and hospitality suites are expensive and disruptive.
• Security Concerns: A Trump-owned venue would require a significant security uplift, potentially costing millions and diverting resources from police forces already stretched thin.

Prediction: Unless there is a dramatic shift in the political landscape or a sale of the property, Turnberry will not host The Open before 2035 at the earliest. The R&A has quietly moved on. The question now is whether the course will ever host a major again, or if it will join the ranks of beautiful, tragic venues that history forgot.

What This Means for the 2028 Championship Field

Royal Lytham is a links course that demands precision over power. The 2028 champion will need to be a master of the long iron, a wizard with the wedge, and a magician with the putter. The course’s par-70 layout, with only two par-5s (the 6th and the 11th), places a premium on scoring on the par-4s. This is not a bomber’s paradise; it is a chess match played at 40 miles per hour.

Players to watch for 2028:

• Rory McIlroy: The Northern Irishman loves a links test. He won The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and finished second at Lytham in 2012 as an amateur. By 2028, he will be 39 years old—an age where experience and course management become lethal weapons.
• Ludvig Åberg: The young Swede has the game for links golf: a crisp iron game, a calm temperament, and a putting stroke that works on any surface. If he continues his trajectory, he could be the 2028 favourite.
• Tommy Fleetwood: The Englishman has never won a major, but he thrives on home soil. His runner-up finish at The Open in 2019 (at Royal Portrush) showed he has the guts. Lytham, with its gruelling finish, would suit his gritty style.

Bold Prediction: The 2028 Open will be won by a player ranked outside the world top 50. Lytham has a history of producing surprise champions—think David Duval (2001) or even Tony Jacklin (1969). The course levels the playing field, and a crafty veteran or a fearless rookie could easily steal the show.

The Bigger Picture: Tradition vs. Commerce in the Modern Era

The decision to bypass Turnberry and embrace Lytham is a statement about the soul of The Open. In an era where Saudi money is flooding the game via LIV Golf, and where courses are being lengthened and softened to accommodate modern power, the R&A is doubling down on the old ways. Royal Lytham is a throwback. It has no ocean views. Its clubhouse is a Victorian red-brick building that looks more like a school than a luxury resort. But it has history, and it has teeth.

Critics will argue that the R&A is missing a commercial opportunity. Turnberry, with its Trump-branded glamour and American TV appeal, would have drawn massive global viewership. The resort’s hotel could have housed the world’s media in five-star comfort. But the R&A’s response is clear: The Open is not a product to be sold to the highest bidder. It is a championship that belongs to the people of the British Isles and to the traditions of the game.

Expert Analysis: “The R&A has learned from the mistakes of other sports,” says sports marketing professor Dr. Sarah Jenkins. “Look at what happened to the PGA of America when they took the PGA Championship to Trump National in Bedminster. The backlash was immediate and damaging. The R&A is protecting its brand equity. Lytham is a safe pair of hands.”

Conclusion: A Victory for the Purists, A Loss for the Spectacle

As the golf world looks ahead to 2028, the focus will rightly be on the action at Royal Lytham. The bunkers will be raked, the rough will be grown, and the Claret Jug will be polished. For the players, it will be a brutal, beautiful test. For the fans, it will be a return to a venue that rewards intelligence over brute force.

But the shadow of Turnberry will linger. Every time the wind howls across the Lancashire coast, someone will whisper about what might have been: the sunset over the Ailsa Course, the roar of the gallery on the 18th tee, the chance to see history written on a canvas of green and blue. That dream is on hold, perhaps forever.

Final Thought: The R&A has made its choice. Royal Lytham will host The 156th Open, and it will be a championship to remember. But if you want to see Turnberry’s castle and lighthouse in a major championship context, you may need to wait for a different era—or a different owner. For now, the Claret Jug stays in the hands of the traditionalists, and that, in this volatile age, might be exactly the right call.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.

Image: CC licensed via www.nps.gov