Last year’s Open had ‘biggest ever impact’

• The 2015 Open boosted Scottish economy by £140m
• It was the ‘biggest ever impact’ of a tournament in UK&I
• R&A hope to replicate St Andrews success at Royal Troon

Last year’s Open Championship at St Andrews had ‘the biggest ever impact of a golf tournament in the UK or Ireland’ after the Scottish economy was boosted by £140m.

A study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University divided that into £88m spent by tourists visiting the nation for the tournament and £52m in marketing benefit to a global audience.

That £88m was almost double the direct windfall brought in by the previous Open Championship at St Andrews, which generated £47.5m, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon delighted by the findings.

“Hosting such events is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Scotland” – Nicola Sturgeon

“It is always a special homecoming for players and spectators alike when the Open returns to the Old Course,” said Sturgeon, who heavily supported the bidding for the 2019 Solheim Cup before it was eventually awarded to Gleneagles. “They have the opportunity to experience not only one of the finest courses in the world, but also take in such a stunning setting on the Fife coast.

“Hosting such events is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Scotland internationally as the perfect stage for events as well as generating spend for local businesses, restaurants and hotels, and the wider Scottish economy.”

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The study said 93,000 people attended at Open with total spectator admissions at 237,024. It also revealed that more than a quarter of spectators came from overseas.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers was also impressed with the findings about last year’s tournament, which was won by Zach Johnson in the first Monday finish since Seve Ballesteros lifted the Claret Jug for a third time in 1988.

“The R&A brings the Open to Scotland more often than to any other part of the United Kingdom and we are delighted that a long association with VisitScotland produces measurable and sustained benefits for the Scottish economy.

“The Open is one of the world’s greatest sporting events and we look forward to staging another successful championship in Scotland this year when the Open returns to Royal Troon.”

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