Record crowds could see The Open make a return by 2013

Jul 26 2006 Wirral News

A RECORD 230,000 people attended last week's Open - boosting hopes that the Championship could return to Royal Liverpool as soon as 2013.

Organisers The Royal and Ancient revealed that this year's competition had attracted the largest ever crowd for an English Open.

Figures were only surpassed by the 2000 Open in St Andrews, the home of the Championship.

But such was the success of this year's event - the 11th time Royal Liverpool has hosted TheOpen - it looks likelytoreturn in less than a decade..

Earlier in the week, the chief executive of the R&A, Peter Dawson, insisted that there was no reason why The Open should not make a return to Wirral.

He said: "We are announcing about five years ahead, but we have been impressed by the course and, not least, by Wirral Council and Merseyside Police.

"Some of the things which I thought might be problems, such as the car parks being so faraway, turned out not to be.

"We don't bind future committees, but we have seen absolutely nothing that would prevent us coming back - certainly before another 39 years have elapsed.

"In our view, it was a wonderful Open played on a course that was long overdue to host The Open. I think it will go down as one of the best we've ever staged." But the earliest possible opportunity would be 2013, as the next four venues - Carnoustie, Birkdale, Turnberry and St Andrews - have already been decided.

Winner Tiger Woods, who picked up £720,000 for his efforts, also praised the course as "one of the greatest Championships ever".

David Hill, director of the Championship, said: "As things stand, everything looks positive. The players loved the course and we received a welcome from everyone in Wirral and Merseyside, which is second to none."

Nearly 60,000 people travelled to Hoylake via train during the week, while 11,200 cars used the Park & Ride car parks on Friday alone. It was also unique for such a major sporting event to offer a dedicated cycle park.

Stephen Maddox, chief executive of Wirral Council, said: "No big issues have arisen and I think if it came back again we would put the same or very similar plans into operation.

"A lot of hard work has gone into bringing the Open back here and making it the huge success it has clearly been."

Royal Liverpool also received plaudits from the world's press. Many were impressed at the complex buts flexible organisation that adapted throughout the week.

Journalist Paul Kelso, who works for aUK national title, said: "We thought we'd just be reporting on traffic chaos and an overcrowded course. It's coped fantastically well. It was just incredible. It's genuinely been brilliantly- run. ."