Muirfield to host Open in 2013

Muirfield in Scotland will host the 2013 Open, it was announced today.

David Hill, the Royal and Ancient Club's Director of Championships, said: "We are delighted that The Open is returning to Muirfield, an outstanding championship course that consistently produces a very worthy champion."

Turnberry is the venue this July, followed by St Andrews next year - 150 years after the first Open - Sandwich in 2011 and Royal Lytham in 2012.

On its last staging of the championship in 2002 four players - Ernie Els, Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington - went into a play-off for the first time.

Els and Levet tied over four holes before the South African added a Claret Jug to his two US Open victories.

Fifteen Opens in all have been held there, with Nick Faldo winning two of his three titles on the course and Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Lee Trevino among the other champions there.