The Open will return to Carnoustie in 2029, with the 157th championship due to be played on the Angus links from July 15 to 22.
It will be the ninth time the championship has been held on Carnoustie’s Championship Course, and the first since Francesco Molinari won in 2018. The Italian joined Tommy Armour, Sir Henry Cotton, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Paul Lawrie and Pádraig Harrington on the list of Champion Golfers to have lifted the Claret Jug there.
Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said the return after more than a decade would let fans “be part of another memorable chapter” in the championship’s history. He said The R&A had worked closely with Carnoustie so that its plans to enhance the venue would also support successful stagings of The Open in future years, and thanked the club’s ownership and management, the Scottish Government and local authorities for their support.
The championship continues The R&A’s partnership with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland, whose investment is intended to drive tourism and deliver economic and social benefits to the country and the host region.
First minister John Swinney said the return was “tremendous news for Scotland”. “The Open generates significant benefits for our economy, supports jobs and tourism and shines a global spotlight on Scotland’s people, places and outstanding golf offering,” he said. Vicki Miller, chief executive of VisitScotland, said it would strengthen Scotland’s programme of major events and its reputation as a world-leading golf destination.
Ross Blackadder, chief operating officer at Carnoustie Golf Links, said everyone associated with the venue was “beyond proud”. He said Carnoustie’s investment in the course, facilities and visitor experience reflected its ambition to keep securing the championship on a regular basis, “ensuring its legacy benefits Carnoustie and the wider region for generations to come”.
Cllr George Meechan, leader of Angus Council, said the council had “worked hard and taken a leap of faith” to deliver the changes needed to secure the return. It will work with The R&A, Carnoustie Golf Links and its partners to make the event work well for local residents and businesses.
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