BIG savings on season ticket prices for this year’s Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's at Sandwich are available until the end of January.

A ticket covering all eight days of the Open, from first practice on Sunday, July 13, to the end of the championship on Sunday, July 20, will cost only £125 if bought before January 31.

That is a saving of almost 50 per cent on the daily admission rates and a £30 reduction on the full price of a season ticket. “It is our aim to keep the Open competitive in relation to what other major sporting events charge for admission,” said David Hill, Championship Secretary of the R&A.

“The Open still represents excellent value for money and we believe that our ticket prices have been structured to allow everyone the chance of seeing all of the world’s top golfers in action.”

From January 31 until April 30, a season ticket will still be discounted at £140 and after that will cost £155.

However, in maintaining the R&A’s policy of preventing the Open becoming all ticket, spectators will still be able to purchase tickets on the day at the paygates.

The daily adult admission rate for championship days has been slightly increased to £40, the first rise since 2001.

But the policy introduced in 1997 to allow youngsters under the age of 16 free entry to the course, will continue. In addition, there will be substantially reduced rates for senior citizens and youths aged between 16 and 21.

* Ticket applications should be directed to: Ticket Office, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JD. Telephone 01334 460010.