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Over 130,000 attended when Portrush hosted the Irish Open in 2012. ©Russell Pritchard/Presseye

Royal Portrush confirmed as Open Championship host

Decision to bring one of golf’s four Majors to Antrim is “a ringing endorsement of Northern Ireland,” Peter Robinson says.

ROYAL PORTRUSH GOLF Club in County Antrim has been invited to host The Open Championship, one of golf’s four showpiece Majors.

The prestigious tournament is expected to return to Northern Ireland in 2019, although that date is still to be confirmed.

Portrush hosted the Open in 1951, which remains the only time in the tournament’s history that it was played outside of England and Scotland.

Today’s announcement was welcomed as “a ringing endorsement of Northern Ireland” by First Minister Peter Robinson while deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the event would leave “a lasting imprint on Royal Portrush.”

It is expected to be largest sporting event ever held in Northern Ireland, golf body The R&A said in a statement.

Royal Portrush has been invited to stage The Open by The R&A and the County Antrim club’s members will now be asked to ratify the proposal to enable preparations to begin for what is expected to be the largest sporting event ever to be held in Northern Ireland.

Portrush — the home course of former US Open champion Graeme McDowell — staged the 2012 Irish Open in what was widely regarded as a test run to see if its infrastructure and facilities could handle The Open.

The tournament was the first sell-out in European Tour history with over 130,000 spectators attending, and was praised as a resounding success.

Kaymer canters to emphatic US Open win

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    Mute John Jobs
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:23 PM

    Great to see a major coming to Ireland

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    Mute Pat Nolan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:28 PM

    Noran Iron

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:04 PM

    Pat,

    The GUI like the IRFU covers the whole island. no room for politics ;)

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:17 PM

    One of the finest courses here. Great for Portrush.

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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:45 PM

    There.

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    Mute Pat Nolan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:14 PM

    Tell that to Rory McIllory

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:24 PM

    Pat, tell what to Rory

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:22 PM

    Check their web site
    Royal Portrush Golf Club
    Dunluce Road
    Portrush
    Antrim BT56 8JQ
    United Kingdom ( not NI)

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    Mute William O'Shea
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:17 PM

    Congratulations Portrush. And yes about time given the immense golfing talent coming out of N. Ireland.

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:32 PM

    Great to see it. Anything that boosts tourism on the island is to be welcomed. Hopefully we’ll get an Irish winner too!!

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    Mute Pat Nolan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:33 PM

    At least it won’t be a shinner

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:36 PM

    I can’t see where I said it would. Why bring politics into it? Bit childish of you.

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:07 PM

    Is it the only course to have held both the Irish open and the Open championship ?

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:13 PM

    The answer is above.

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    Mute Fergus Garvey
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:14 PM

    That’s a stupid question which doesn’t merit much of a response…

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    Mute Diarmuid Lenihan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:08 PM

    Yes

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:32 PM

    Thanks Diarmuid. .. For that simple and straight answer … better than the gobs.. hite above you …. great course and location

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    Mute Fergus Garvey
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:44 PM

    I’m not the ‘gobs..hite’ who didn’t read the article before commenting on it

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    Mute Eric Cantona
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:19 PM

    Visit Northern Ireland *check under yer car before leaving*

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:31 PM

    How wonderfully original.

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    Mute Eric Cantona
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:36 PM

    The problem is nothing has changed, NI is still a very unwelcoming place to visit

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:40 PM

    I travel extensively in the north and never have I encountered any bother. I’ve been ignored by some people when they’ve heard my accent, but by and large, I find the people in the north to be as welcoming as any anywhere I’ve been. You shouldn’t stereotype a place through your own ignorance.

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    Mute Eric Cantona
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:26 PM

    I formed my opinion thru experience, I’ve visited NI extensively, I stayed last weekend in fact

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    Mute Terry Tibbs
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:08 PM

    About time.

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    Mute John Craven
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:45 PM

    Great golf course but plenty of work to be done to prepare the facility for this event. The tented village reached capacity during the Irish open and with twice the crowds for a British open I’m interested to see where they plan to accommodate the crowds. Won’t find a better links anywhere though

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:25 PM

    they have already worked out a plan to increase the capacity

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    Mute Conor
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Great news

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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:53 PM

    This can only be good for Northern Ireland tourism.

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    Mute Roland 303
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    Jun 17th 2014, 6:07 AM

    Not only

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    Mute Alan Kelly
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:19 PM

    Great to see it being given it’s proper title “The Open Championship”. About time this event was brought to Ireland. Amateur R&A events have been held here before and it’s only right this event returns. Now, what chance of Portmarnock being included by 2029?

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    Mute Pat Nolan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:27 PM

    If we rejoin Great Britain Portmarnock might have a chance.

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    Mute ad0wQVcN
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:29 PM

    Dont see why anyone would take issue with someone calling it the British Open when there lots of other open championships in a variety of different locations throughout the year.

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    Mute Alan Kelly
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:30 PM

    It’s not the British Open.

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Portmarnock wouldn’t be in the top 20 courses in Ireland! Sure everybody knows that if Lahinch, Ballybunion or Waterville were on the east coast – you wouldn’t hear of Portmarnock !!

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    Mute Glen Hoddle
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:29 PM

    Everybody?

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    Mute another Glen.....
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:46 PM

    If!

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 3:40 PM

    Yep ! Of Course ! All !

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    Mute Philip King
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    Jun 16th 2014, 3:57 PM

    @flash

    This year, Portmarnock replaced Royal County Down as Ireland’s number 1 course in the rankings with Adare Manor retaining its status as the top parkland course.
    1 Portmarnock
    2 Royal County Down
    3 Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
    4 Waterville
    5 Lahinch (Old)
    6 Ballybunion (Old)
    7 Tralee
    8 Co Louth (Baltray)
    9 The European Club
    10 Adare Manor

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    Mute Glen Hoddle
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:00 PM

    If Belfast were on the south coast, would Ian Paisley still be a par three – or would the Renault 5 still require fiscal maintenance and a pocket full of bumbles?

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:21 PM

    Wined & Dined better there. Need ear plugs with aircraft overhead. Flat as a pancake ! And it’s inside the Pale !

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:29 PM

    it’s called “The Open” as it was the first major. and it annoys the yanks as it implies that it’s the best major.

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    Mute Glen Hoddle
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:30 PM

    *its

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:49 PM

    yeah flash if they were on the east coast you would’t have as many idiot members.

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:58 PM

    Glen. It’s is a contraction for it is or it has. Its is a possessive pronoun meaning,more or less, of it or belonging to it.

    “it is” the open”. “it is” the best major. so your wrong.

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:03 PM

    Google “top 100 golf courses in the world” – 21st Ballybunion: 35th Lahinch: 44th Portmarnock & 61st Waterville . I believe Lahinch won Golf Links of the year 2013 (IGTOA)!

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    Mute Philip King
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:06 PM

    Read my comment again.

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:08 PM

    And you mine Sunshine !!

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Bit rich calling me an idiot when you follow Willie ODea & smoke gange !!

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:11 PM

    @iluvkief!

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    Mute iluvkief
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    Jun 16th 2014, 6:11 PM

    ganja and golf= Bliss. willie is the man

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Jun 16th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Too small to be a man and too big to be a monkey!

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    Mute Kieran Canavan
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    Jun 16th 2014, 2:01 PM

    Congrats to royal bayrelax

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 16th 2014, 5:07 PM

    -its- is correct
    -it’s- is not

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    Mute another Glen.....
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    Jun 16th 2014, 9:10 PM

    Yes ‘its’ is right…..

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    Mute Angelo McLaughlin
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    Jun 16th 2014, 4:37 PM

    Cow pasture

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    Mute Johnny Comelately
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:36 PM

    Great

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    Mute Johnny Comelately
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    Jun 16th 2014, 1:34 PM

    Gr

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