The R&A confirmed on 3 November 2026 that Muirfield, in East Lothian, Scotland, will host the ISPS HANDA Senior Open from 10 to 13 August 2028. It will be the 41st edition of Europe's only senior major and the championship's second visit to this historic links. This is a venue announcement; no result or player field for 2028 has been announced.
A return after 21 years
Muirfield last staged the Senior Open in 2007, when Tom Watson won by a single stroke to claim his third title. Watson had also won The Open at the same course 27 years earlier. According to The R&A, he is the only golfer to have won both The Open and the Senior Open at two of the same venues, Muirfield and Turnberry.
Links golf gives this decision sporting substance beyond nostalgia. Wind, ball flight, firm fairway bounces and sloping greens place a premium on course management, shot selection and short-game control. Players' familiarity with the venue may help, but conditions can change the challenge throughout a championship.
Why this venue matters
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers has been based at Muirfield since 1891, when the club moved from Musselburgh and an 18-hole layout by Old Tom Morris was established. The course has hosted The Open 16 times, The Amateur Championship 11 times, the 1973 Ryder Cup and the 2022 AIG Women's Open. Hosting a senior major again adds to a long record across men's, women's and amateur golf.
Significance beyond Scotland
The championship is co-sanctioned by the Staysure Legends Tour and PGA TOUR Champions. Results count toward both tours' season-long standings, including the Schwab Cup, so the occasion is a competitive international event rather than an exhibition.
VisitScotland anticipates benefits for local businesses and tourism in East Lothian. Those expectations should not be confused with measured economic results: the announcement did not disclose attendance projections, prize money or an entry list.
The dates and venue are now confirmed, but the 2028 championship remains a future event. Detailed entry and spectator information will follow from its organisers.
