2025 Open at Royal Portrush to set new major championship attendance record

The Open Championship 2025 is set to witness a significant audience. The R&A has revealed that the Major could have around 278,000 people in attendance, making it the most-attended edition outside the ones held at St Andrews.

The 153rd edition is scheduled for July at the Royal Portrush. The R&A's Chief Executive, Mark Darbon, said:

“The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and we will do everything we can to make this year’s Championship at Royal Portrush an outstanding and memorable occasion for everyone involved from fans to players and the millions watching on TV and digital platforms worldwide."

The year's final Major is one of the oldest golf tournaments. It was established in 1860. Unlike the Masters, which takes place at Augusta National, The Open Championship's venue varies.

Last year, it was held at Royal Troon, where Xander Schauffele won by two strokes over Billy Horschel and Justin Rose. In 2022, the tournament was held at St Andrews, where Cameron Smith emerged victorious by one stroke over Cameron Young.

A look at the venues of The Open Championship over the years

The first edition of The Open Championship was held in 1860 in Prestwick. The first 12 editions of the Major were held in Prestwick, and the next at St Andrews. Over the years, the tournament was held at Royal Liverpool, Troon, St Andrews, and other notable golf courses.

Here is a list of the venues of The Open Championship over the years:

Prestwick: 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872, 1875, 1878, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1893, 1898, 1903, 1908, 1914, 1925
St Andrews: 1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1946, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2022
Musselburgh: 1874, 1877, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1889
Muirfield: 1892, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1980, 1987, 1992, 2002, 2013
Royal Troon: 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2016, 2024
Carnoustie: 1931, 1937, 1953, 1968, 1975, 1999, 2007, 2018
Turnberry: 1977, 1986, 1994, 2009
Royal St George's: 1894, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2011, 2021
Royal Liverpool: 1897, 1902, 1907, 1913, 1924, 1930, 1936, 1947, 1956, 1967, 2006, 2014, 2023
Royal Cinque Ports: 1909, 1920
Royal Lytham & St Annes: 1926, 1952, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1988, 1996, 2001, 2012
Prince's: 1932
Royal Birkdale: 1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, 2008, 2017
Royal Portrush: 1951, 2019

About the author

Ankita Yadav is an NFL and Golf writer at Sportskeeda with over three years of experience in journalism (and counting). With a Master’s degree in Chemistry, she somehow swapped test tubes for touchdowns and tee shots—and hasn’t looked back since.

She’s previously covered the world of entertainment with OtakuKart and TV Season & Spoilers and worked as an editor at ComingSoon. Her stories have racked up nearly nine million reads, and she’s had the chance to interview top athletes like professional golfer Yuvraj Singh Sandhu.

Based in Bhopal, Ankita proudly supports the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, and is a fan of Nelly Korda. When she’s not writing, she’s probably at a live music show, watching a movie, out on a long drive, or in the kitchen cooking up something that tastes better than it looks.

Know More

Edited by Aayush Kapoor