The R & A has virtually ruled out the likelihood of Royal Portrush returning as an Open Championship venue.

In the now annual pre-Open press conference, Peter Dawson said that while delighted to note the overwhelming success of the recent Irish Open, the County Antrim links gem will not be seeing The Open returning in the foreseeable future.

“It’s a favourite of mine.  Wonderful golf course, wonderful challenge,” said Dawson.

Peter Dawson, CEO of the R & A.

“And it’s great to see how successful the Irish Open was and particularly the enthusiasm from the spectators in that part of the world.  If you were at the Irish Open and compare it with what we’re doing here, we’re talking 20,000 grandstand seats, and here I doubt they had 2,000 at the Irish Open.  You’re talking about a tented village here I would estimate ten or more times the size it was at the Irish Open.

“And the crowd size at the Irish Open, whilst it was very good, was only as good as perhaps the lowest crowd we expect at an Open venue, i.e., Turnberry.

“Where would you have the 72nd hole?  Where would you put the big grandstand complex?

“The practice ground would need a lot of work at Portrush in my own estimation.  And as I say, we don’t have a finishing hole that would have the grandstands around it.  So we’re not really ‑‑ there would be much work to do for an Open to go to Portrush.

“But we have been there before.  It’s always been to an extent on our radar.  And our Championship Committee will, I’m sure, continue to evaluate it.

“But don’t expect anything imminent, that’s for sure.”