Royal Liverpool to host 2006 Open

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake in England will stage the 2006 British Open, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) have announced.

It will be the 11th time that Royal Liverpool has staged the world's oldest major but the first time since 1967.

Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo won the title the last time it was played over the Royal Liverpool links before infrastructure and transport problems meant the club was withdrawn from the list of Open venues.

However, an agreement was reached with the R&A two years ago which led to the club making the necessary changes to meet the standards required of Open venues, including the purchase of an extra 10 acres of land for a new practice ground.

"Royal Liverpool is a club with a long and distinguished history and we are delighted that we are now able to bring the Open back to this wonderful course," R&A secretary Peter Dawson said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Many people have contributed to the agreements that underpin today's announcement and it is right that Royal Liverpool, which is justly regarded as one of Britain's outstanding links, will again be put to the test by the world's top golfers."

Royal Liverpool, which was founded in 1869, will host the 2006 British Open from July 20 to 23 2006. Bobby Jones won the Open when it was staged at Royal Liverpool in 1930 on his way to a unique grand slam.

South Africa's Ernie Els will defend his British Open title at Royal St George's next year, before the championship moves to Royal Troon in 2004 and St Andrews in 2005.

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