Kent golf fans got the news that they were hoping for at the weekend – they will be able to attend next month’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s.

In an announcement from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club issued on Saturday morning, on each of the four days up to thirty-two thousand fans will be admitted to the famous Sandwich links to witness who follows in the footsteps of Darren Clarke – the winner of the last Championship held in the county in 2011.

But if you haven’t already got tickets for the 149^th Championship, it was also announced that no further tickets would be on sale…

In the statement, fans were told, “we are pleased to confirm that following discussions with the government, public health authorities and our health and safety advisers, The 149^th Open at Royal St George’s will be included in Phase 3 of the UK Government’s Events Research Programme…” 

“This means that all ticket holders who have already secured tickets can be accommodated this summer’s Championship and will therefore be valid.”

It goes onto state the conditions that all ticket holders will have to follow. “As a result of being included in the Events Research Programme and welcoming a large number of fans to Royal St George’s to enjoy The Open in July, all individuals will need to meet four requirements prior to their attendance:

1. Provide proof at the entry gates of full (two dose) vaccination at least 14 days before attendance via the NHS App or NHS.UK or by letter which can be ordered from 119, or proof of a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours of attendance via the NHS App or NHS.UK. 
2. Download The Open Tickets App to your smartphone to access your tickets and be ready to show your ticket on your own device at the entry gates. Where you have bought tickets for other attendees, you will need to transfer them to each of those individuals. You will receive an email with instructions on how to access (and transfer on) your tickets in the coming weeks. 
3. Consent to attend and take part in the UK Government’s Events Research Programme
4. Complete three further pre-attendance COVID-19 protocols within The Open Tickets App:

                   i. Reading a Code of Conduct

                   ii. Watching a safety information video.

                   iii. Answering a short health questionnaire on the day of your attendance to confirm that you do not have symptoms of COVID-19”.

The news that over 100,000 sports fans are heading to Kent for the four days of the competition (July 15^th – 18^th) is a massive boost for the economy that has been devasted by the pandemic as well as meaning that the attendance of the four days will probably prove to be the highest watched sport in the UK since before the pandemic began.