THE demand from golf fans wanting to attend The Open at Royal Portrush has led to record-breaking ticket sales with the Championship set to be a sell-out for the first time.
After the original bank of tickets sold in record time last year, golf's ruling authority, the R&A extended the capacity to allow 3,750 more spectators on each of the four championship days.
Golf fans have now snapped up the 15,000 additional tickets for the event, which is being held from July 18-21, in just three days.
The release of the extra tickets came just hours after Tiger Woods' Masters victory, with the volume of online traffic causing the online sales site for crash for several hours.
A total of 43,750 fans will descend upon the Co Antrim course each day.
The event is set to be one of the biggest sporting events hosted in Northern Ireland with visitors from across the world expected to descend to the famous north coast links.
It will also be the first time The Open has been held in the north since 1951.
R&A chief executive Johnnie Cole-Hamilton said: "The huge demand for the additional Championship Day tickets clearly reflects the desire among fans to be part of this historic occasion and the biggest ever sporting event to be held in Northern Ireland.
"We really appreciate the passion and enthusiasm for The Open shown by fans in Northern Ireland and beyond.
"The Open is only a matter of weeks away now and we are looking forward to welcoming tens of thousands of fans to Royal Portrush to enjoy an outstanding Championship and watch the world’s best players compete for the famous Claret Jug."
