Have the players inadvertently revealed when The Open will return to St Andrews?

One of the talks of the Auld Grey Toon during the 150th playing of The Open is when golf’s oldest major will next return to St Andrews and its wonderful Old Course.

The Home of Golf – which is hosting for the 30th time this year – originally held The Open every three years, but as more courses joined the rota that was often extended.

But since 1990, The Open has returned every five years, on years ending 0 and 5, though that was switched up so it could hold this milestone edition.

With Hoylake hosting in 2023, Troon in 2024, and Portrush in 2025 – and Lytham expected to get 2026 to mark 100 years since the first time the Claret Jug headed to the Lancashire links – the whispers have been circulating.

And it seems we will have to wait until 2030, if Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm are to be believed.

After an emotional walk down the 18th on Friday, Woods, who had comfortably missed the cut, was asked about whether or not he will return to St Andrews for another Open. “I think the next one comes around in 2030, and I don’t know if I will be physically able to play by then,” the 15-time major champion explained.

Rahm, meanwhile, was also asked about Woods. He said: “From what I heard, it will be in 2030, which is eight years from now, which is probably a few years too long.”

If true, it will be the third longest break from St Andrews in Open history, behind the 11-year gap from 1910 to 1921, which incorporated the first World War, and the nine-year wait from 1946 to 1955.

Visit our dedicated Open website for more from golf’s oldest major

The R&A has announced details of how you can get tickets for the historic 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in 2023. Click here to find out more.

Alex Perry

Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.