Fancy dress rules as record crowds attend ‘very special’ Open Championship at Royal Birkdale

Jul 23, 2017

FANCY dress ruled as record crowd numbers attended this week’s Open at Royal Birkdale.

The aggregate attendance of 235,000 also makes the 146th shootout for the Claret Jug the third most attended in history – and biggest ever in England.

These golf fans got in the spirit with some loud trousers… and even a skirt

Some players are short game wizards but these guys took it to a new level

St Andrews still holds the top two spots after 239,000 and 237,000 made the pilgrimage to the home of golf in 2000 and 2015 respectively.

And Birkdale knocked Royal Liverpool’s crowd of 230,000 down into fourth on the list.

Record advance ticket sales made this year’s Open the fastest -selling in history and included were more than 15,000 youth tickets.

Some 30,000 fans under the age of 25 were in attendance.

And all six of the hospitality packages on offer sold out.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A said: “A record-breaking crowd has enjoyed a week of thrilling golf and we thank every single person who has visited Royal Birkdale over the last eight days for making this a very special championship.”