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The 2018 Open Championship wasn’t just memorable for Francesco Molinari, who bagged his maiden major in thrilling circumstances at Carnoustie

It was good for the country, too.

Very good, in fact. 

New figures released over the weekend showed that the 147th edition of golf’s oldest professional tournament delivered a £120million benefit to Scotland.

The Open attracted a record 172,000 fans in July this year and delivered an economic impact of £69m according to a study by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre. 

Scotland also benefited from £51m in destination marketing activity thanks to The Open being broadcast on television to more than 600m households in 193 countries worldwide.

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The study – which was commissioned by golf’s governing body The R&A, VisitScotland and Angus Council – also concluded that the Angus area alone received a £21m injection of new money from The Open.

Almost half of the spectators who attended The Open (49.8%) travelled from outwith Scotland, while the overwhelming majority of Scottish fans (84.8%) came from outside Angus. The research found 62% of non-Angus residents indicated they would return to the region for a break within 12 months.

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The tournament was being played at Carnoustie for the first time since 2007 and this year’s attendance surpassed the 157,000 total set in 1999.

A key aim of The R&A is to attract a younger audience to the Championship, and more than 20,000 spectators under the age of 25 attended this year. 

The 147Th Open At Carnoustie Won By Francesco Molinari

Welcoming the findings, Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of The R&A, said: “The Open has a proven track record of generating substantial economic benefit for the host country in which it is staged thanks to the tens of thousands of spectators who attend each year.

“The return of The Open to Carnoustie has been a great success. We enjoyed a memorable week in which we welcomed a record number of fans to one of golf’s great championship venues to witness Francesco Molinari create history by becoming the first Italian to lift the iconic Claret Jug.”

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The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, added: “The Open Championship is synonymous with Scotland as the Home of Golf, and this year’s Open at Carnoustie once again showcased Scotland internationally as the perfect stage for major events.

“The figures released today also demonstrate the economic benefits of hosting major events and I’m pleased The 147th Open generated significant income for both the local Angus area and for the wider Scottish economy.

“We look forward to bringing The Open back to Scotland in 2021 when it returns to St Andrews, and of course we will welcome the world to Gleneagles next September for the Solheim Cup.”

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