ST. ANDREW’S, Scotland -- Royal Birkdale will host the British Open for the ninth time in 2008.
The Royal and Ancient golf club made the announcement Monday.
Mark O’Meara beat Brian Watts in a four-hole playoff at the 1998 Open, the last time the course in northwest England hosted the event.
Peter Thomson won the first British Open played at Birkdale in 1954 and also won the title there in 1965.
The list of British Open winners at Royal Birkdale also includes Arnold Palmer (1961), Lee Trevino (1971), Johnny Miller (1976), Tom Watson (1983) and Ian Baker-Finch in 1991.
This year’s Open is at Troon, Scotland; 2005 is at St. Andrew’s; 2006 at Royal Liverpool, England and 2007 at Carnoustie, Scotland.
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RA Announces Royal Birkdale as 2008 Host
Published February 16, 2004 05:00 PM