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We’ll start with the bad news. If you’re hoping to get tickets for the 2025 Open, you’ll need to think of another way.

The 153rd edition of golf’s oldest major is a sell-out.

• Locals hit out at St Andrews Links Trust over golf course access

• Nick Faldo: Golf got ‘carried away by its popularity’ – now it’s time for the stars to fix it

The R&A introduced a ticketing ballot for the landmark 2022 Open at St Andrews, and the governing body has decided to keep it in place since.

During the balloting period, fans can apply for up to four tickets for each day of the tournament, with the lucky recipients drawn entirely at random – though you can boost your chances by doing things like adding a practice day to your application.

And it was announced via The Open’s social media channels that general admission tickets for next year’s tournament, which will be held at Royal Portrush for the second time in six years, have been “snapped up in record time”.

“Anticipation is soaring as Royal Portrush prepares to host The Open again in July 2025,” the post read.

“General admission tickets for all eight days have been snapped up in record time through the Ticket Ballot, marking it the fastest sell-out in Open ballot history.”

Anticipation is soaring as Royal Portrush prepares to host The Open again in July 2025.

General admission tickets for all eight days have been snapped up in record time through the Ticket Ballot, marking it the fastest sell-out in Open ballot history. pic.twitter.com/Fu65OsHJoI

— The Open (@TheOpen) October 1, 2024

“Over 1 million tickets were applied for and for the first time since introducing the ballot, demand for every one of the eight days led to them being oversubscribed,” The R&A told bunkered.

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The good news is there are other ways for fans to get tickets as Portrush prepares to host the historic tournament for a third time.

The R&A added that they “still have hospitality inventory available” and they foresee “a significant uplift on the 2019 attendance”.