Rory McIlroy: R&A 'seriously' considering Open in Ireland

Could The Open be held in Ireland for the first time? Photo: Getty Images/Andrew Redington

Rory McIlroy says the R&A is «seriously considering» making Portmarnock the first course outside the UK to host the Open.

‌The world number two. The influence helped cement ties with Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, and host the first Open in 68 years in 2019, and McIlroy believes the famous Dublin layout could have similar success.

‌ “I think they're serious looking for that would be great,” McIlroy said after his opening 69 left him four behind leader Shubhankar Sharma in the Irish Open at the K Club.

‌‌ “I was looking forward to Portrush but was concerned in terms of how it would work commercially; In addition to a great golf course, there are many other factors that need to be considered when hosting a major championship.

“There have to be a lot of things that make sense, but to have a course so close to a major city, so close to a major airport, have a great golf course… Honestly, I think it would be amazing.”

‌The R&A declined to comment when contacted by Telegraph Sport, but this is not necessarily a negative for the 129-year-old links, located on a sandy peninsula in a village 10 miles north of the capital of the Republic of Ireland. .

▶️ Enjoy a serene journey through our 18th hole to get you in the mood for a weekend of golf…#IrishGolf | #LinksGolf pic.twitter.com/EexoonhXTA

— Portmarnock Golf Club (@PGC1894) August 26, 2023

‌And it's not true that last year Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “It's a great course, but are we considering it for The Open? No, not now.”

“This could be R&A, playing from the same playbook as Portrush. In 2012, Slumbers' predecessor, Peter Dawson, was adamant that the Ulster crown jewel would not be able to stage a major due to infrastructure issues — the same reason Slumbers had proposed in 2022.

‌“There will be a lot of work. what needs to be done is for the Open to go to Portrush,” Dawson said. Seven years later, Shane Lowry was 18th for County Antrim, lifting the claret jug in front of the second-largest crowd at the Open.

“Layout changes, public investment from Stormont and pressure from local major winners McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke helped change the R&A's thinking and, commercially, it was such a triumph that the championship would return within two years.»

‌That gave Portmarnock hope, as did Tiger's recommendation. Woods. «It's one of the nicest links I've ever played on,» he said.

Of course, the geography wasn't going to deter the St Andrews management. The R&A's insistence that the tournament be called «The Open» rather than «The British Open» is not simply an indication that it is the oldest of the four majors.

‌The Walker Cup was played in Portmarnock. in 1991, and four years ago the R&A resumed the amateur championship. But at that time he no longer had the right to host the Open. In 2016, the R&A decided that any club that did not allow women to join would be expelled from its main roster.

It's @WalkerCup week… which brings us back to the fantastic memories of holding this event 32 years ago!

Some familiar faces in this talented line-up from the UK and Ireland including…@padraig_h 🇮🇪 @mcginleygolf 🇮 🇪@AndrewColtart 🏴 Football Football # WalkerCup | @RandA pic.twitter.com/ieQUTJs7ik

— Portmarnock Golf Club (@PGC1894) August 28, 2023

“However, the Dublin connections belligerently adhered to the rule that “the club shall consist of members and associate members, who shall be duly elected gentlemen.” Following the 2021 vote, the men's-only status was scrapped, although the membership only elected its first women last December.

‌The path is now clearly clear and McIlroy's announcements will inevitably raise expectations. to crazy levels. Paul McGinley, a Dublin resident who captained the winning 2014 Europe Ryder Cup team, is also hopeful.

‌ “Seriously Considering” may be too strong a term as there are many logistical challenges. at the moment there is one road there and back and most of the vacant land is secured,” he told Telegraph Sport. «But you never know because it ticks a lot of boxes, especially from a commercial point of view, being in the capital.»

‌The next available date for the Open is 2027, but Portmarnock will likely have to wait. at least until the beginning of the next decade. Another link analyzing this scenario with interest is Royal Porthcawl, located in South Wales, which was also rejected as not having the means to host the championship.