HOPES have been raised that a golfing Major could return to East Lothian within a matter of years.

The Open has not been contested at Muirfield since 2013 when it was won by American Phil Mickelson.

Since then, it has been held at seven different venues, including Royal Troon, where Xander Schauffele was crowned champion last month (July).

At the competition in Ayrshire, Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, confirmed there were plans for the tournament to return to East Lothian.

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He said: “Absolutely, we’re going back to Muirfield.”

Stuart McEwen, secretary of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, was happy with the announcement and said: “We would love to host another Open.

“We are, obviously, in open dialogue with the R&A about a future Open here but it is really in the hands of them.

“They plan the championship and we are co-operating with them and finding out through them what the requirements are.

“These things take a bit of time to plan out.

“We will go at whatever pace is required but certainly we are very keen to host another Open.”

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Muirfield has held The Open on 16 occasions since 1892, including in 1992 (when it was won by Nick Faldo), 2002 (when Ernie Els was crowned champion) and, most recently, in 2013.

However, it was removed from the list of potential host venues in 2016 when not enough members backed scrapping the club’s men-only policy.

In 2019, 12 women, along with three men, were invited to take up membership after taking part in the club’s traditional process, which is the same for all members.

Following the change, the county course hosted the AIG Women’s Open in 2022.

Already, it has been confirmed that Royal Portrush will host The Open next year with Southport’s Royal Birkdale to host the championship in 2026.

East Lothian is already home to the Genesis Scottish Open, which will be played at The Renaissance Club until at least 2026.

Mr McEwen said it would be up to the R&A and DP World Tour to decide the events' futures and whether that could impact on the timing of The Open returning to East Lothian.