Ernie Els has made his stance clear: it’s time for The Open Championship to return to Muirfield. The two-time Open winner is calling on the R&A to bring golf’s oldest major back to one of its most revered venues, which hasn’t hosted the event since 2013.
“I’m not sure why it’s not gone back there,” Els said at the launch of his private golf club in Vilamoura. “It’s been more than ten years. Normally, there’s a ten-year gap between Opens at a particular course. In my view, Muirfield is up there — it’s in my top three.”
The last time The Open visited Muirfield, it delivered a classic. Phil Mickelson stormed from behind with a stunning 66 in the final round to win his first — and still only — Claret Jug, edging out Henrik Stenson by three shots. Yet more than a decade later, the iconic Scottish links remain absent from The Open rota.
R&A Cites’ Infrastructure Concerns’ But Els Isn’t Buying It
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon recently downplayed the possibility of a quick Muirfield return, pointing to concerns about practice facilities and crowd management. But Els, like many fans and players, remains baffled.
Muirfield has long been considered a pillar of Open history, and with 16 Opens hosted there since 1892, its absence is increasingly puzzling.
The logistical critiques mirror what has also been said about another storied Scottish venue — one that’s become even more politically charged.
Trump’s Turnberry Push Intensifies
The conversation around where The Open should return has also reignited talk about Turnberry — the historic Ayrshire course owned by Donald Trump.
Turnberry last hosted The Open in 2009, long before Trump bought the property. And while the course itself remains highly regarded — many argue it’s one of the finest links layouts in the world — it has remained off the rota during Trump’s ownership.
Eric Trump recently told BBC Sport that his father deserves to host The Open at Turnberry. “Nobody has done more for the sport of golf,” he said, praising Trump as a “cheerleader” for the game.
While R&A leadership has continued to cite “logistical concerns,” Eric Trump flatly denied those claims.
“You could host the Open Championship on that course tomorrow,” he insisted. “It’s impeccable, and Turnberry is ready for it… Any challenge can be worked through and solved with smart people.”
No Muirfield or Turnberry Yet
As it stands, the R&A’s Open Championship roadmap runs through Royal Birkdale in 2026 and then back to St Andrews in 2027. Where it heads in 2028 remains unannounced.
Speculation suggests Turnberry will remain in the cold until Donald Trump leaves office, likely in 2029 if elected. As for Muirfield, its fate appears less political but equally stuck in limbo — leaving Els and other traditionalists wondering how long one of the game’s greatest courses will be overlooked.
For now, two of Scotland’s most historic venues remain on the outside looking in. And as voices grow louder — from legends like Els to the Trump camp — the pressure on the R&A to address their exclusion is only intensifying.
