Open Championship Faces Financial Difficulties

The Open Championship is feeling the same pain as everyone else

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has confirmed that hospitality take-up is 15-20 per cent down for this year’s event at Turnberry, with the Royal Bank of Scotland understood to be leading the retreat as it struggles to slash its sponsorship budget while meeting the terms of lucrative contracts signed off by former chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin.

But it’s not all bad news. Remember that ESPN recently inked an eight year, $200 million deal with the Royal and Ancient for Open Championship broadcast rights.