• European Tour

Irish Open heading to Royal Portrush

ESPN staff
January 5, 2012
A view of the par 4, 13th hole 'Skerries' © Getty Images
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Royal Portrush will take what it hopes will be the first step towards bringing the Open back to Northern Ireland by playing host to the Irish Open in June.

The resurgence in Northern Irish golf, highlighted by the major wins of Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, has seen calls for the Open to be returned to Portrush. The venue is the only course outside of mainland Britain to play host to the Open, in 1951, and following his win at Royal St George's, Clarke championed the cause of the venue.

There are claims that the infrastructure is not suitable to host an event of the size of the Open, but that will be put to the test - albeit on a lesser scale - when the Irish Open is switched from the K Club.

The move sees Royal Portrush play host to the Irish Open for the first time since 1947.

Clarke and McDowell both welcomed the return of the Irish Open to Portrush.

"Fantastic news on the Irish Open 2012 coming to Royal Portrush," McDowell wrote on Twitter. "Always been a dream of mine to play a top event in my home town."

Clarke, who worked for hours on his game at Portrush ahead of his Open win, said: "Royal Portrush will be awesome for the Irish Open this year... it's as good a test as we play anywhere! Brilliant news. Big crowds please!!!"

East Londonderry assembly member John Dallat feels this could pave the way for the return of the Open. He said: "Anything is now possible. Confidence at that level has now been bestowed on the club, so why not?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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