Advanced tickets for next year's Open Championship at Royal St George's have sold at an unprecedented rate.

Members of The Open Club were granted priority access to tickets from Monday morning ahead The 149th Open.

Such was the demand that it marked the highest selling day of advanced tickets in Open history, surpassing the record set for this year's contest at Royal Portrush in under seven hours.

Over 20% were sold in 48 hours of release for this year's event in Northern Ireland, where 215,000 spectators are expected later this month.

The battle for the Claret Jug is scheduled to return to Sandwich for the 15th time between July 12 and 19 in 2020.

• The Open Championship: Kent's Steven Tiley falls agonisingly short in final qualifying

The Open last visited Kent in 2011 when Darren Clarke sealed his first major triumph to claim the title of Champion Golfer.

Canterbury golf club professional Richard Wallis is due to be among those competing in qualifying for Royal St George's after earning an automatic spot with his runners-up finish at the Titleist/Footjoy PGA Professional Championship in June.

Kent golf fans can still buy tickets by signing up to The One Club.

Read more: All the latest Kent sport news