PGA Tour winner calls for Turnberry to host Open again

As the dust continues to settle on The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, speculation is mounting as to where the championship will go in the coming years.

We already know that Royal Portrush will host next year, with Royal Birkdale lined up for 2026.

Beyond that, however, there’s nothing confirmed.

The rumour mill continues to speculate that Muirfield will be taken off the naughty step in time to host in 2027, with the future of Royal Lytham & St Annes – last used in 2012 – also unclear.

One place that looks unlikely to get the nod anytime soon is Turnberry.

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The Ayrshire resort was struck from the R&A’s list of championship venues in 2021 following the US Capitol riots in January 2021, in which former US president Donald Trump – the resort’s owner since 2014 – was widely implicated.

Ahead of last year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, the R&A’s outgoing chief executive Martin Slumbers reiterated the governing body’s position on taking the event back there, saying: “Until we’re confident that any coverage at Turnberry would be about golf, about the golf course and about the championship, we will not return any of our championships there.”

However, pressure has been mounting on championship chiefs to bring Turnberry back into the fold. Gary Player spoke up in its defence last summer, with new general manager Nic Oldham recently taking the surprise step of going public with a plea to the R&A.

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Last week, John Daly called it the best course in Scotland and now, another high-profile pro has given it his endorsement.

Three-time PGA Tour winner Scott McCarron played the Ailsa course over the weekend after missing the cut in the Senior Open at Carnoustie, and it’s fair to say it made a significant impression on him.

“Had a great day playing ⁦@TrumpTurnberry,” wrote the 59-year-old American. “One of the best golf courses in Scotland. R&A needs to get this back in Open rotation.”

When – indeed, if – that will happen, only time will tell.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content