The Open Championship at Royal Portrush Sees Unprecedented Demand as Over One Million Ticket Ballot Requests Flood In

Royal Portrush is set to host The Open Championship for the second time in six years, and anticipation for the event has reached fever pitch. With over one million ticket ballot requests, the 153rd edition of golf’s oldest major, scheduled for July next year, is already shaping up to be a landmark event.

The Championship's return to Northern Ireland follows the overwhelmingly successful 2019 tournament, where the event made its first appearance at Royal Portrush since 1951. That year, 237,750 fans descended on the stunning Antrim coast to witness Irishman Shane Lowry’s unforgettable triumph, cementing his name in the annals of golf history as he claimed the coveted Claret Jug.

The demand for tickets this time around has been nothing short of extraordinary. The R&A, the governing body responsible for organising The Open, has been inundated with requests since the ballot opened.

With every one of the Championship’s eight days, including practice rounds, now oversubscribed, it is clear that fans are eager to relive the magic of 2019.

Some lucky fans were notified of their successful ballot entries in August, with the remaining hopefuls due to receive confirmation in September.

The unprecedented interest in this year’s Championship has not only reaffirmed Royal Portrush’s status as one of the premier venues in golf but has also sparked conversations about the possibility of The Open returning to Ireland in the near future, with Dublin being mooted as a potential host city.

Shane Lowry’s emphatic victory on the Dunluce Course remains one of the most cherished moments in Irish sporting history, and it is clear that the appetite for top-tier golf in the region has only grown since then. As Royal Portrush prepares to welcome the world’s best golfers once again, the stage is set for another chapter in the rich history of The Open Championship.

Photo Credit - R & A