Could The Open be heading outside of the United Kingdom?
Rory McIlroy has stirred excitement among Irish golf fans by suggesting The Open Championship could be heading outside the United Kingdom for the first time
A celebration of Irish golf recently took place.
Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington thrilled fans at the K Club at the Horizon Irish Open.
McIlroy didn’t just stoke excitement with his golf, but with some comments he made after the first round on the prospect of The Open heading to the Republic of Ireland.
Portmarnock in County Dublin is the course in question, a golf club that allowed women members for the first time in its history in 2021.
“Having a course that’s so close to a major city, so close to a major airport, having a great golf course, I think it would be amazing,” he said. “I think they are seriously looking at it.
“I was looking forward to Portrush but (concerned) in terms of how it would do commercially – there are so many other considerations to hosting a major championship apart from it being a great golf course.”
The Irish Independent has since reported Portmarnock will approach the government to seek support for holding two of golf’s biggest events in the near future.
“The club has had informal contact with The R&A regarding the possibility of hosting the AIG Women’s Open and The Open at Portmarnock in the coming years,” Niall Goulding, the captain of Portmarnock said.
“Without a detailed survey, it is not possible to verify the ability of the property to act as host to a major championship, given the significant infrastructural requirements of such an event.
“The Club has determined that Government support would be critical for a project of this magnitude and, consequently, will now approach the relevant Government authorities to establish their position on providing support for a formal application by Portmarnock to The R&A to host a major championship.”
The County Dublin course recently became eligible to host R&A events after voting to allow nine women to join in December of last year.
Portmarnock has previously hosted the Walker Cup and the Amateur Championship. The club established in 1894 will also host the Women’s Amateur in 2024.
Infrastructure and golf course access could be the stumbling blocks Portmarnock would need to overcome to host The Open, which will head to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2025.
The tournament made a sensational return to County Antrim in 2019 after a 68-year absence.
The R&A declined to comment on the prospect of Portmarnock hosting The Open Championship.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers ruled out the possibility of Portmarnock holding The Open last year, while at this year’s championship, he also ruled out Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
The Open Championship future venues
2024: Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Scotland
2025: Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland
2026: Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
