After an unusually lengthy process, the R&A has awarded the 2028 British Open to Royal Lytham & St Annes, bypassing again two premier venues in Scotland. This English layout where Ernie Els prevailed in 2012 is not far from this year’s venue Royal Birkdale. Located on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, it is the northernmost of the English Open venues. The Open was first played at Royal Lytham in 1926, when Bobby Jones won the championship. But the footprint of the property and other logistical concerns had made its return questionable. It will host the Women’s Open later this summer. In going to Royal Lytham, the R&A is skipping other possible candidates in Muirfield and Trump Turnberry, both looking to return after long absences. Muirfield has not hosted the Open since Phil Mickelson’s victory in 2013, a year after Els won at Royal Lytham. The Open has been played at Turnberry just four times, the last Stewart Cink’s playoff win over Tom Watson in 2009.…