Yahoo News Trump Turnberry Open Championship plea as bosses want golf major to return in 2027
Bosses at Trump Turnberry have today issued a plea to the R&A to bring back the Open to the Ayrshire resort in three years’ time.
The luxury five-star hotel and golf resort hasn’t hosted the Open Championship since 2009, when USA’s Stewart Cink defeated the legendary Tom Watson in a four-hole play-off to clinch the Claret Jug.
But in 2021, the governing body slammed the door on the Open coming back to Turnberry, saying it would “not return” until the R&A were “convinced” that the “focus will be on the championship, the players and the course.”
At the time their statement was viewed as criticism of billionaire owner and former US President, Donald Trump, who has owned Turnberry since 2014.
But now top brass at the resort are hoping the R&A change their previous stance.
Nic Oldham, general manager at Trump Turnberry said it would be “great” if the R&A ‘considered’ returning the Open to Turnberry.
His plea comes on the anniversary of one of the most famous contests at the Ailsa course.
Tuesday, July 9, marks 47 years since the unforgettable Open dubbed the ‘Duel in the Sun,’ between Americans Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
In the end Watson held his nerve and made the birdie he needed to seal a one-shot win and lift the Claret Jug in 1977.
The 1977 classic was the first of four Open Championships at Turnberry, with further victories coming from Greg Norman in 1986, Nick Price in 1994 and Stewart Cink in 2009.
This year’s tournament is being staged later this month, a few miles north at Royal Troon.
But hope remains that future Open Championships may return to Turnberry.
Nic Oldham said: “There is no doubt the Ailsa remains one of the world’s most iconic layouts, and it remains a rite of passage for many golfers who want to tread in the footsteps of those who have graced our four Open Championships – which have been some of the most thrilling in the tournament’s history.”
In 2016, renowned architect Martin Ebert completed an extensive redesign of the Ailsa, which bosses believe has elevated the course to new heights.
Nic Oldham said: “We continue to invest in the course and Martin Ebert’s redesign raised the bar even higher. There has never been a better time to play the Ailsa and it would be great if the R&A would consider returning the Open to Turnberry, perhaps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ in 2027.”
In both 2017/18 and 2019/20, the Ailsa course was ranked No.1 in Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland rankings, while in Golf.com’s most recent 2023/24 list, the Ayrshire classic was listed as the 18th best course in the world - ahead of other Open venues such as Royal St George’s, Royal Liverpool, Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St Annes and Carnoustie.
Nic Oldham added: “While we always want to look to the future, celebrating our history and heritage remains so important to our way of life at Turnberry.
“Being the stage of perhaps golf’s most enduring contest between two of the sport’s finest players has been a great source of pride for the resort, and to this day the Duel in the Sun serves as a reminder of the quality, class and sportsmanship that we value across the business.”
The R&A has been contacted for a response.
Trump Turnberry, meanwhile, is also celebrating a historical landmark for its second 18-hole championship course, the ‘King Robert the Bruce’, named after the legendary king who was born in Turnberry Castle.
Formerly known as the Kintyre course, the layout was transformed by Ebert and reopened to the public in 2017. The King Robert the Bruce has earned critical acclaim since its debut and is widely considered one of Scotland’s best links layouts.
Like the Ailsa, the par-71 design is blessed with picturesque coastal views, with a four-hole run around the turn known for being particularly scenic and challenging in equal measure.
To celebrate the birthdate of Robert the Bruce, the venue is holding a three-man Stableford competition on the course.
Teams can still register for £240 per group for the event, which will be played on Thursday, July 11 – marking the anniversary of the day the king was born in 1274.
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