The Open’s St Andrews Return Tees Up £100M Economic Boost

The return of the Open Championship to the "home of golf'' this week will be worth more than £100 million to the Scottish economy.

Around 200,000 fans are expected to visit St Andrews for the practice days and the tournament itself, watching the world's best golfers in action.

VisitScotland hopes images of Scotland beamed around the globe will bring more golf fans and tourists to the country to play the game on some of the world's most famous courses.

Golf tourism is said to be worth £220 million annually to Scotland, with the hosting of The Open viewed as the "jewel in the crown''.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: "Excitement has been building for months as we prepare to welcome hundreds of thousands of spectators, the world's greatest golfers and global media back to St Andrews for The Open.

"These visitors, whether here for the day or for longer, help contribute to Scotland's economy by staying in hotels, using restaurants, drinking in bars or shopping in retail outlets.

"Scotland is the undisputed home of golf, and The Open is the jewel in the crown of what is a truly unmissable summer for the sport.

"From the Ryder Cup last year to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club last weekend, the world continues to marvel at Scotland's stunning beauty and our unbeatable reputation for hosting the biggest and best events in the game.

"The Open will once again show that there is no finer place for a golf break than the country that gave golf to the world.''