There is a very strong possibility the 2019 Open Championship could be heading to the Royal Portrush course in Northern Ireland in what would be a first occasion in 68 years.
Royal Portrush previously hosted the 1951 Open and sadly still the only occasion golf’s oldest Major has been held outside of Scotland and England.
However the troubles in Northern Ireland along with the shortage of accommodation put paid to taking the Championship back across the Irish Sea.
But with the political situation now stable and given the overwhelming success of the 2012 Irish Open rumors are extremely ripe the R & A will allocate the 2019 and the 148th Open Championship to Royal Portrush.
Officials from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R & A) have been visiting Royal Portrush in recent times to further inspect the superb links course.
The famed Royal Portrush Golf Club rumoured to be allocated the 2019 Open Cham.pionship
The R & A had also been present as interested observers at Royal Portrush in 2012 to monitor the European Tour’s move to stage the Irish Open on the famed Dunluce Course.
In June this year the R & A will be present for the staging of the 2014 British Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.
Among those who competed in the 1951 Open was Australian great Peter Thomson, who was making his championship debut in finishing sixth, and who would go onto capture five Claret Jugs.
And the now 84-year old is excited to learn the championship could be headed back to Royal Portrush.
Five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson made his championship debut in the 1951 Open at Royal Portrush.
“It’s excellent news if the return of The Open to Royal Portrush in 2019 is true,” he said from his Melbourne home.
“To my reasoning there is nothing that should stand in the way of Royal Portrush hosting the event in this day and age.
“Although my memory of that time is faint, it is a classical links courses. I do remember playing two rounds with Joe Carr and I enjoyed the experience.
“So while it would have been good for the region to host the tournament more than just the once but then with accommodation being at a premium, and the Irish situation as it was, the R & A had to take all of that into consideration.
“But I will rejoice and delighted to see the Open return there.”
Also thrilled at the thought of competing in an Open at Royal Portrush is born and bred, Portrush resident Graeme McDowell.
“I’ve heard that rumour and it’s getting stronger, and it sounds amazing that the 2019 Open Championship could be heading to Portrush,” said McDowell.
“It was once a pipedream but it’s now starting to feel less than a pipedream and more now of being a potential reality.
“I would love for it to happen and it would just be awesome”.
American Keegan Bradley contested the 2012 Irish Open as then PGA Champion and he’s thrilled at the thought contesting an Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
“Royal Portrush is an amazing golf course, an amazing golf town but then if the Open does head there in 2019 it will be interesting to see how they handle 100,000 to 150,000 fans,” said Bradley.
“But there’s no problem with the course holding up with that many people, and it’s one of the best golf courses I’ve ever played.
“There was a buzz back then in 2012 the R & A were considering taking the Open back there, and it would be real cool if they took the decision because of the golf course, the history and the town.”
