R&A defends Open ticket price increase ahead of St Andrews in 2027

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 10, 2026, 2:06 PM

Last updated Oct 10, 2026

R&A defends Open ticket price increase ahead of St Andrews in 2027

Summary

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club has announced a ticket price hike for The Open, with final round tickets at St Andrews reaching £190 in 2027. R&A chief Mark Darbon attributed the increase to a significant rise in event staging costs, which have surged by about 25% over the past five years. Despite the higher prices, demand remains strong, with over one million applications for tickets this year. Children under 16 will continue to receive free admission, while discounted tickets are available for younger spectators aged 16 to 24, indicating a focus on fostering future interest in the sport. Darbon emphasized that without these price adjustments, the event's quality could diminish.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Final round tickets for The Open in 2027 will cost £190.
•Event staging costs have risen by approximately 25% in recent years.
•Over one million ticket applications were received for this year's Open.
•Free admission remains for children under 16; discounts for those aged 16 to 24.
•Record attendance of over 306,000 at Royal Birkdale this year.

Latest Updates

2:06 PMYahoo Sports — The Open Ticket Hike Is A Fair Call For A Historic Event

What they're saying

"
R&A chief Mark Darbon defends rising Open ticket prices with hard cost data. More than a million applications prove fans still want in.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Golf