Time is fast running out for local people and golf fans to secure their place at Royal St George’s next year for one of the most exciting days in the sporting calendar – ‘Moving Day’ at The Open.
Demand for The 149th Open continues to scale unprecedented new heights, with limited availability left for Saturday tickets to watch the world’s best players contest for the Claret Jug.
With tickets for Championship Sunday already sold out, this is the last chance for those who want a piece of the weekend action at golf’s oldest and most prestigious major.
Next year’s Championship is already the fastest selling to date, following priority access sales to members of The One Club in July, while weekly and weekend bundles have also sold out.
Excitement for the return of the Claret Jug to the South East was such that the record for the highest selling day of advanced tickets in Open history was smashed in under seven hours.
And tickets are being snapped up for the remaining Championship days, meaning anyone with designs on attending The 149th Open had better act quickly to avoid missing out.
Founded in 1887 by Dr William Laidlaw Purves to be a rival to St Andrews in the south of England, Royal St George’s has previously hosted the fight for the Claret Jug on 14 occasions.
Not only that, it became the first venue outside of Scotland to hold The Open when John Henry Taylor was crowned Champion Golfer of the Year in 1894 on the Kent coastline.
While other courses outside of Scotland have since gone on to host golf’s original major championship, Royal St George’s remains the most frequently visited of them all.
Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke sealed his maiden major title the last time The Open visited in 2011, fulfilling a childhood ambition to triumph on his 20th appearance.
But it will be another man from the island of Ireland who will defend the title of Champion Golfer in Sandwich after Shane Lowry clinched his first Claret Jug at The 148th Open at Royal Portrush.
68 years after The Open was last contested outside of mainland Great Britain, Lowry revelled in the partisan crowd as he topped the leaderboard on Sunday with a dominant six-shot victory.
His stunning triumph on the County Antrim coast came after he produced one of the great major rounds on the Saturday, shooting a sensational eight-under 63 to set a new course record.
Every putt was roared home as Lowry moved clear of the rest of the field – and Royal St George’s promises another thrilling Moving Day for those lucky enough to be in attendance.
Tommy Fleetwood was Lowry’s nearest challenger at Portrush, shooting an impressive five-under 66 on the Saturday to give himself a chance of overhauling the County Offaly native.
But he was unable to reproduce his best on Sunday as he was forced to settle for second, ensuring the voodoo hanging over English golfers at The Open remained untouched for another year.
More than half a century has passed since an Englishman was last crowned Champion Golfer on English soil, with Tony Jacklin holding the honour after his win at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Fleetwood will be among the home golfers looking to end that unwanted streak next year, although they face stiff competition from the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.
So with all the components in place for another memorable week of golf at Royal St George’s, make sure you don’t miss out on the drama of The 149th Open and book your ticket today.
(Press release issued by The R&A for The 149th Open at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich)
Posted on 26 September 2019