GOLF fever is set to sweep across Troon in three years as the sport’s most celebrated tournament returns.
Royal Troon golf club are set to host golf’s most famous event for the 10th time in its history in 2023 to tie in with a landmark anniversary,
The club said in a tweet last Tuesday: “We are thrilled to be hosting The 152nd Open and look forward to celebrating 100 years since The Open was first played at Royal Troon in 1923."
The South Ayrshire links last hosted the event in 2016 when Henrik Stenson defeated former winner Phil Mickelson to win the Claret Jug for the first time.
It was a titanic tussle between two giants of the game, which reminded many of Turnberry’s 1977 Duel in the Sun which saw Tom Watson outgun fellow legend Jack Nicklaus.
Other celebrated winners at the course have included Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf in 1973 and Watson, who took the fourth of his five titles at Royal Troon in 1982 and also won at Turnberry.
The first Championship to be played there was won by Arthur Havers in 1923 and one century on, another golfer will be crowned the champion golfer for the year.
However, Troon’s gain is Carrick’s loss.
Turnberry looks not to be in the running to host the Championship in the near future with its remoteness a factor.
R & A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers is on record as saying that they were after high-capacity crowds to “maximise revenue” and the road system and lack of accommodation make Turnberry a difficult proposition.
This will be a hammer blow to US President Donald Trump, who owns the course and hotel and has invested considerable money in them.
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