R&A Sets Muirfield to Host 2028 ISPS Handa Senior Open

The R&A has confirmed that Muirfield will host the ISPS Handa Senior Open in 2028, marking the historic Scottish links' first championship assignment since the 2022 AIG Women's Open. The event is scheduled for August 10-13 and will be only the second time the Senior Open has been played there since it debuted at the venue in 2007.

What did the R&A say about the announcement?

Senior Open championship director Edward Kitson called the course "one of the best in the country" and said organizers are looking forward to seeing "the legends of the game" compete there again. The R&A's chief championships officer, Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, added that Muirfield "remains an important venue" for the organization's championships.

Could the Open Championship follow the Senior Open back to Muirfield?

Muirfield has staged the Open 16 times, more than all but a handful of courses on the rotation, but has sat out since 2013 amid a dispute over female membership and, more recently, logistical hurdles. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said in 2025 that the club still needs to address its practice ground and surrounding infrastructure before it could host a modern Open.

"We love the golf course at Muirfield," Darbon said, while noting the work still required.

A Senior Open booking is not a commitment to bring back the Claret Jug, but it keeps Muirfield in the conversation.

Several leading players, including Rory McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre, have publicly supported an Open return to the course. One scheduling obstacle remains: the Scottish Open is currently played at the neighboring Renaissance Club the week before the Open, meaning either that date or venue would need to shift before Muirfield could reclaim a slot.

What else has Muirfield hosted?