London, Feb 19: Royal Birkdale is to host the British Open for the ninth time in 2008, the championship's website has said.
The Lancashire course in north-west England last staged the event in 1998, when it was won by American Mark O'Meara.
''Royal Birkdale is a venue which, in addition to setting a rigorous examination of the abilities of all golfers, also has a first-class infrastructure which is capable of coping with large numbers of spectators,'' David Hill, the royal and ancient golf club's director of championships, said in a statement Monday.
''Almost 200,000 people watched Mark O'meara winning in 1998 and we are delighted that the golfing public in Lancashire and the surrounding areas will again be given the opportunity of viewing 156 of the world's leading players in 2008.''


Bureau Report