Five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson has welcomed news golf’s oldest Major is returning in 2019 to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
The R & A along with the Northern Ireland Executive and officials from Royal Portrush will host a press conference at 12.30 pm Monday whereby Royal Portrush will be invited to host golf’s oldest Major Championship.
The Claret Jug seen at Royal Portrush for a first time since 1951. (Photo – www.randa.org)
Under the guidelines of the club’s constitution the invitation will be put to the members who will vote on the issue.
However it would seem a mere formality that the invitation will be greeted with overwhelming approval.
It will be only the second time golf’s oldest Major will be staged outside of England and Scotland and in 2019 it will be 68 years since Royal Portrush last hosted The Open in 1951.
And 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 84-year old proud Australian is thrilled to learn the championship is now headed back to Royal Portrush.
“It’s excellent news The Open is returning to Royal Portrush in 2019,” 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.
Five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson made his championship debut in the 1951 Open at Royal Portrush.
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“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 rejoice and I’m delighted to see the Open heading to Royal Portrush in 2019.”
And local Portrush-born Graeme McDowell, who honed his game on the famed Dunluce course, is just as excited.
“I’ve heard the rumour for some time and it now sounds amazing the R & A has confirmed the 2019 Open Championship is heading to Portrush,” said McDowell.
“It was once a pipe dream but it’s now a reality, and it’s just awesome.”
UPDATE – Monday June 16th.
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said, “This is wonderful news, not only for Royal Portrush Golf Club, but for the whole of Northern Ireland.
“The decision to bring The Open back to Northern Ireland is a tremendous vote of confidence in the game here and follows the huge success of the Irish Open in 2012, the first in European Tour history to sell out. The R&A’s decision to invite Portrush to join The Open rota is a ringing endorsement of Northern Ireland and I know we will deliver an event that we can all be proud of.”
And his deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said, “I welcome the official confirmation today by The R&A that The Open will return to Royal Portrush. This announcement will create much anticipation and excitement as the thought of our local golfers challenging for the Claret Jug on home soil is set to become a reality.
“Hosting The Open will leave a lasting imprint on Royal Portrush and I wish everyone involved in the planning and preparation every success and assure them of the full support of the Executive.”
