Golf

Portrush will be second-highest attended British Open in history

This week will see the biggest attendance outside of St Andrews with 237,750

Television towers at The 148th British Open golf Championship at Portrush. Photograph: Getty Images
Television towers at The 148th British Open golf Championship at Portrush. Photograph: Getty Images
Wed Jul 17 2019 - 11:45

A sell-out capacity crowd at Portrush has ensured the championship will be the second-highest attended British Open in history.

By the end of the week more than 230,000 fans will have come through the gates as the Ireland links hosts the event for the first time since 1951.

With all tickets now sold out, the event has become the biggest outside of St Andrews.

"It is a huge week for golf, an historic week for golf," said R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) chief executive Martin Slumbers.

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“Not only is it a sell-out but I can confirm this week will see the biggest attendance outside of St Andrews with 237,750 spectators, which surpassed the 235,000 we saw at Birkdale in 2017.

“This becomes the second-highest attended Open championship of all time.”