Royal Portrush

With only days to go until the world’s best golfers descend on Royal Portrush, demand for the opportunity to witness history unfold at The 148th Open is reaching unprecedented levels.

Tickets for the return of golf’s most prestigious major to Northern Ireland after a 68-year hiatus had already sold out in record-breaking fashion for the four Championships days.

But now fans with designs on attending the Practice Days at the Country Antrim course are being advised to purchase their tickets in advance to avoid disappointment at the gate.

Such has been the clamour to see the players continue their preparations, ticket sales are already close to capacity for the Practice Days on Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 17 July.

As a result, these days will now be ‘all-ticket’ with no tickets available for sale on the gate for those who want to walk the stunning Dunluce Links before the battle for the Claret Jug begins.

However, Practice Day tickets for Sunday 14 July and Monday 15 July are still available to purchase both in advance and on the gate for a chance to see your favourite golfers in action.

And the R&A is reminding fans that the only way for them to guarantee entry to the course is to purchase tickets in advance via TheOpen.com.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “We are seeing a real surge in the number of Practice Day tickets being purchased by fans and we now have a limited availability of tickets for both Tuesday and Wednesday.   

“We are urging fans who are thinking of travelling to Royal Portrush without tickets to reconsider and purchase their tickets in advance so that they are guaranteed entry to the course and are not left disappointed at the gate.”

Francesco Molinari will arrive at Royal Portrush as the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year as the Italian bids to defend the crown he won in style at Carnoustie last year.

He will face stiff competition from a field that will include three-time Champion Golfer Tiger Woods, along with hometown favourites Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

The demand from fans wanting to attend The Open’s historic return to Royal Portrush led to Championship Days selling out in record-breaking fashion.

And it is now anticipated that the total attendance for Practice Days at Royal Portrush will surpass previous Championship records.

“The huge demand for tickets clearly demonstrates the desire among fans to be part of this historic occasion and we want to ensure that fans do not miss out on attending the biggest ever sporting event to be held in Northern Ireland,” added Cole-Hamilton.

Prices for Practice Day tickets for The Open, which was last hosted by Royal Portrush back in 1951, start from £15 for adults, while fans aged 16-24 can attend for as little as £10.

Free Practice Day tickets for children under the age of 16 can be booked in advance thanks to the Kids Go Free Initiative. All children must be accompanied by an adult guardian who is also in possession of a valid ticket.

Fans are advised that Practice Day tickets for The 148th Open can only be purchased through The Open’s official channels and verified partners. 

Individuals who use tickets purchased on their behalf by an unofficial supplier or third-party reseller such as Viagogo, Safetickets.net, Stubhub, eBay and Gumtree risk being denied entry.

Visit TheOpen.com/tickets for more information.