Royal Portrush denies Open Championship rumours
Royal Portrush Golf Club has denied tabloid claims that it will stage the 2018 Open Championship.
The Irish Sun reported that the Northern Irish links had secured the event, but club officials have since stated that there is no truth to the claims.
“It’s an absolute no at this point in time,” said tournament committee chairman John Bamber.
Rumours linking the venue to the event have circulated widely over the past few years, largely due to the success of Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell who have all won Major titles over the past three seasons.
The club also successfully staged last year’s Irish Open and proved that it would be able to cope with hosting a Major tournament.
Bamber did acknowledge that the venue hopes to stage the event in the future.
“It is an aspiration that many have,”he told BBC Radio Ulster. “But at the same time there is a phenomenal build-up time to these events, to have the infrastructure, to have the requirements in place. That’s really how these events can come to bear.”
A club insider told NCG: “Nothing confirmed. But when is the Sun ever wrong…”
