Organisers of the 149th Open Championship is optimistic that the event will be able to accommodate limited fans at the Royal St George’s.

After the cancellation of last year’s edition in Kent, golf fans and particularly British golf fans, are excited about having one of the four Majors back in action.

The best golfers in the world will tee off from 15-18 July at the magnificent Royal St George’s Golf Club, with R&A CEO Martin Slumbers saying the organisers are confident that some fans will be able to attend.

‘The situation with the Covid-19 pandemic continues to improve in the UK and the rapid roll-out of the vaccine programme gives us growing confidence that we will be able to welcome a significant number of fans to the Championship as part of a reduced-capacity model,’ Slumbers said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

‘The pandemic has certainly not gone away, however, and is still extracting a terrible human cost in some parts of the world. Our thoughts and best wishes continue to be with all those affected.

‘We are working hard with the government, public-health authorities and our health-and-safety advisers to ensure that we comply fully with all emerging guidelines. Our absolute priority is to ensure we can stage The Open safely for all involved.’

Fans have not yet been able to attend any European Tour events since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, while in the USA limited spectators were present at last month’s Masters and have attended several PGA Tour events.

‘Our end goal remains to stage a fantastic Open at Royal St George’s and give our fans and players something to be genuinely thrilled about this summer. It has been too long since we have been able to see the world’s best men’s golfers competing on one of our greatest links courses and I’m sure you are looking forward as eagerly as I am to what will be a truly memorable sporting occasion,’ Slumbers added.