British Open to return to Old Course at St. Andrews for 29th time in 2015

The British Open will return to the Home of Golf in 2015 when the 144th Championship is played at St. Andrews from 16-19 July. It will be the 29th time that golf’s oldest major has been held over the Old Course.

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen won by seven shots with a 16-under par total of 272 when the Open was last held at St. Andrews in 2010.

“We are delighted to announce that the Open will be returning to St. Andrews and the historic Old Course in 2015,” said R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson. “St. Andrews has proved time and again that it is perfectly equipped to host the Open and I am certain we will yet again see a worthy winner lift the Claret Jug.

“Players, spectators and officials alike will welcome a return to the game’s spiritual home and I fully expect that we will witness another thrilling Championship.”

In the course of its 28 Opens, St. Andrews has often produced champions who are the best of their generation. Tiger Woods won by eight and five shots in 2000 and 2005 respectively, joining past winners that include J. H. Taylor (1895, 1900), James Braid (1905, 10), Bobby Jones (1927), Peter Thomson (1955), Bobby Locke (1957), Jack Nicklaus (1970, 78), Seve Ballesteros (1984) and Sir Nick Faldo (1990).

Other memorable moments include Nicklaus waving an emotional farewell from the Swilcan Bridge in 2005 as he ended his remarkable career.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Open Championship back to the links,” said Euan Loudon, chief executive of the St. Andrews Links Trust. “There is always a special sense of anticipation when the Open is played on the Old Course and it promises to be no different in 2015.

“Almost every great champion in the game has played here and there is no more fitting celebration of the rich heritage of the Home of Golf than hosting golf’s oldest major championship.”

Independent research, commissioned jointly by the R&A and EventScotland, found that the 2010 Open Championship delivered a combined $150 million benefit to Scotland, with $65 million entering the local economy.