The Open Championship generated more than £300m in economic benefit for Scotland after a record-breaking staging at St Andrews, according to a new study.
The 150th edition of the prestigious tournament was played on the Old Course in July last year, with Australian Cameron Smith taking home the Claret Jug with a score of 20 under par.
He took home $14m in prize money but wasn't the only one to cash in on the event.
According to an independent study commissioned by The R&A, VisitScotland and Fife Council, the Open generated more than £300m for Scotland's economy.
Research by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre found that the Championship brought £106m of new money into the Scottish economy.
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With a record 290,000 fans attending the tournament, 62.3 per cent of whom travelled from outside Scotland, the study calculated that Fife alone received more than £60m in new money.
In addition, independent research led by YouGov Sport calculated that £201 million of destination marketing benefit was delivered for Scotland as a result of The 150th Open being broadcast worldwide.
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “The 150th Open was a historic occasion for golf which has generated a substantial economic benefit for Scotland thanks to a record-breaking attendance at St Andrews and tens of millions of fans worldwide who watched the Championship broadcast.
“We enjoyed a hugely memorable week in which we welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to the home of golf for perhaps the most eagerly anticipated Open of all time that certainly lived up to its billing. We would like to thank all of our partners for their support and commitment to staging a world-class event.”
Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said the report confirms the significant benefit The 150th Open brought to our economy.
Ms McKelvie said: “The Scottish Government has a long-standing track record of supporting golf events, including direct support for the annual men’s and women’s Scottish Open. Last year was an unprecedented success for golf events in Scotland, headlined by The 150th Open at St Andrews.”
The Open Championship will return to Scotland in 2024 when it's played at Royal Troon in South Ayrshire.
The seaside town last hosted the Championship in 2016, when Henrik Stenson prevailed in a stunning duel with Phil Mickelson.
Paul Bush OBE, director of events at VisitScotland, said, “2022 marked a momentous year for golf in Scotland with a number of the world’s biggest and most prestigious golf championships returning home to be played over an action packed five weeks.
"Hosting the historic 150th Open last year in St Andrews, a venue synonymous with the greatest names and most memorable moments in golf, once again underlines the quality, scale and capability which Scotland has when it comes to showcasing major events to both domestic and global audiences.
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“Today’s impact figures emphasise the importance of the Championships to both Fife and Scotland, and to the wider post-pandemic recovery with the scale of benefits strengthening another significant chapter in Scotland’s rich golfing history.”
Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council, said: "We were delighted to welcome record-breaking numbers of visitors to Fife in 2022 for The Open. The past three years have been a very difficult time for tourism, and this provided a very welcome boost to our accommodation providers, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses.
"The Open is an ideal way to showcase Fife to an international audience, many of whom are visiting for the first time, and I hope that the positive experiences they had mean that many will come back again either for golf or for a holiday. The economic benefit to the area is clear to see, and we congratulate The R&A and partners on hosting such a successful event."
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