Royal and Ancient chiefs have confirmed Royal Portrush will host the second highest attended Open Championship in history.
A bumper crowd of 237,750 will converge on the famous Dunluce Links, a total only surpassed by the 239,000 who watched Tiger Woods win his fourth major at St Andrews in 2000.
This week’s attendance surpasses the 235,000 who attended Royal Birkdale two years ago and the 237,000 mark set at St Andrews in 2015.
R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers also confirmed that a record-breaking 61,000 fans have attended practice days as The Open returns to Portrush for the first time in 68 years.
The last time the championship was held outside Scotland and England was in 1951 when Max Faulkner lifted the Claret Jug on the storied North Coast course.
“This is a huge week not just for The Open but for the golf as well,” said Slumbers.
“We are making history with a record attendance for a Championship staged outside of St Andrews and the levels of excitement among fans have been phenomenal.
“I said last year that big time sport needs big time crowds and we certainly have that at Royal Portrush as we stage the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Northern Ireland.
“We would like to thank all the fans for their passion and enthusiasm as we look forward to finding out who will lift the Claret Jug on Sunday. The Open would not be the success it is without the spectators.”
Overall, 30,000 fans under the age of 25 are attending The Open, including 21,000 children under the age of 16 who attend free of charge thanks to the Kids Go Free initiative.
THE OPEN’S BIGGEST ATTENDANCES
2000 - St Andrews, Scotland: 239,000
2019 - Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland: 237,750
2015 - St Andrews, Scotland: 237,000
2017 - Royal Birkdale, England: 235,000
2006 - Royal Liverpool, England: 230,000
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