There were 1.3 million ticket applications received by the R&A ahead of the historic 150th Open Championship in St. Andrews. As if that number weren’t staggering, the R&A announced Tuesday that 290,000 general admission tickets will be distributed for the grand slam, which would knock the previous attendance record away at a major championship. Extend.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “The 150th Open in St Andrews will be a significant occasion for golf and this is clearly reflected in the exceptional need of fans to become a part of golf. be part of this historic match of the Championship. “We greatly appreciate their passion and enthusiasm for The Open and are delighted that we will be setting a new attendance record, far exceeding the previous best record in 2000.”
The 290,000 fans expected to attend the 2022 Open will be 51,000 more than the event’s previous high, up 21% from the 239,000 spectators in attendance throughout the week as Tiger Woods lifted his first Claret Jug in 2000.
Speaking of Woods, the 15-time major champion confirmed his spot in the field for the 150th Open after finishing the bout earlier this month at masters. “I’m looking forward to St. Andrews, which is close and dear to my heart, and I’ve won two Opens there,” Woods told Sky Sports. “It’s golf’s hometown, it’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I’ll be there for it.”
The wave of public interest is a welcome sight for the R&A, which canceled the 2020 Open amid the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed a limited audience last year at Royal St. . George’s.
Fans under the age of 25 make up 20% of the general admission ticket, and there will be 20,000 children and young adults under 16 with free admission. With four days of practice expected to draw a total of 80,000 spectators, the excitement surrounding the 150th Open will run through mid-July.
