Carnoustie, Scotland: The 147th Open at Carnoustie will be the best-attended to date at the renowned Angus venue.
This week’s attendance has already surpassed the previous record of 157,000, set when Scotland’s Paul Lawrie defeated Jean van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a dramatic play-off to lift the Claret Jug in 1999.
This year has been one of the fastest-selling Championships to be staged in Scotland, outside St Andrews, as fans of The Open have eagerly snapped up tickets to watch the world’s best golfers in their quest to be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We know that there has been real excitement among fans about The Open returning to Carnoustie’s great links and the record number of spectators at the Championship here underlines its reputation as one of the world’s great sporting events.
“Attending The Open is a memorable experience, full of iconic moments and we look forward to welcoming fans from all around the world for this global celebration of golf.”
Almost 4,000 spectators have already taken advantage of free accommodation for young people and a low-cost rate for adults at The Open Camping Village, with Friday and Saturday nights fully booked since May.
High levels of demand led to Weekend Bundle Ticket and Twilight Ticket categories being sold out in March, some four months ahead of the Championship. Hospitality packages have also proven to be very popular among fans with all six packages having sold out.
For under-25s, The Open is more accessible than ever with Youth Tickets available for as little as £40 for Championship days. Children under the age of 16 can attend free of charge under The Open’s ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative.