The Championship Committee
of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club have announced that Royal St George's in
Sandwich, Kent is to host the Open Championship in 2003.
This year's Open is at St Andrews (July 20-23), next year it goes to Royal Lytham
and in 2002 the setting for the tournament is Muirfield.
"We are delighted that the Open championship will be returning to Royal St George's,''
said Peter Dawson, secretary of the Royal and Ancient Club which runs the event.
"The links have been strengthened
by the addition of several new championship tees and by the remodelling of the
14th hole. It will provide an excellent test of golf and produce a worthy champion.''
Gerald Watts, secretary
of Royal St George's said, "This will be the thirteenth time we will have
hosted the Open Championship and we are very much looking forward to it returning
to the south of England, and particularly to the fact it is returning to St George's
where there was such an outstanding Championship in 1993"
In 1993, Nick Faldo and
Payne Stewart equalled the lowest rounds in the Open by shooting 63's, while
Ernie Els became the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s. Victory, though,
went to Greg Norman.
Norman, whose only other
Major triumph came at Turnberry in 1986, scored 66, 68, 69 and then closed with
a 64 which playing partner Bernhard Langer described as the greatest golf he
had ever witnessed.
Previous winners at St George's
include Sandy Lyle, Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton, Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon and
JH Taylor.
