Royal Portrush to Host 2019 British Open

[billchao]

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) The British Open is heading across the Irish Sea for the first time in nearly 70 years, with Royal Portrush announced Tuesday as the 2019 venue for golf's oldest major championship.

Royal Portrush staged the British Open in 1951, when Max Faulkner of England lifted the claret jug. That is the only time the event has been held outside England or Scotland.

The push to bring the Open back to Northern Ireland gained momentum after three players from country - Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy - won majors since 2010. McIlroy is now a four-time major champion and one of the world's best players.

It's good to see something new in the British Open rota. Rory probably has this marked down on his calendar already.

Source: Golf Digest

[Broke100Once]

It only makes sense that the Open should visit all of the British countries and not just Scotland/England.  Let's start beating the drum for a future Open at Royal Porthcawl so Wales can get into the picture!

The question now becomes whether the R&A will now incorporate 10 courses into an 11-year cycle (with St. Andrews still every five years and one course being the 'odd one out' every decade) or if one of the current rota will get the boot to make way for Portrush.  I'd have to think that Turnberry may be on the chopping block given all the Trump drama and the fact that Turnberry still doesn't really meet the R&A's standards for hosting, even given the course and infrastructure upgrades.

[garush34]

Good to see this. Makes sense after all the Irish success in majors the last few years. Also the Irish open has been a great success the last couple years so they know there will get a lot of fans down.

I had herd that Royal Lytham and St Annes may be the likely one to drop out of the current rota. I hope it doesn't as I Like the course. For me Turnberry would be one to go, nice course and great views when I went to the women's open this year but I can't see it holding up much longer for the men's game.

[jamo]

I guess since Northern Ireland isn't technically on the island of Great Britain, the "IT'S THE OPEN, DAMMIT" people finally get their wish for a year.

[weekend hacker1]

I guess since Northern Ireland isn't technically on the island of Great Britain, the "IT'S THE OPEN, DAMMIT" people finally get their wish for a year.

Who, the people who are actually correct in pointing out that Northern Ireland isn't part of GB and therefore the "British Open" is a misnomer?! More fundamentally, what business is it of the PGA Tour to rename a tournament they have no part in running and that existed decades (if not a century) before it did?

I say the above mainly tongue in cheek, by the way. Whilst I believe it is all true life is too short to get involved in such petty nonsense.

[iacas]

Who, the people who are actually correct in pointing out that Northern Ireland isn't part of GB and therefore the "British Open" is a misnomer?! More fundamentally, what business is it of the PGA Tour to rename a tournament they have no part in running and that existed decades (if not a century) before it did?

Looks like something to discuss here:

 

[Broke100Once]

I had herd that Royal Lytham and St Annes may be the likely one to drop out of the current rota. I hope it doesn't as I Like the course. For me Turnberry would be one to go, nice course and great views when I went to the women's open this year but I can't see it holding up much longer for the men's game.

I also hope it isn't Lytham, but I kind of doubt it would be the course that gets ousted.  The R&A clearly likes it a lot...since 1996, Lytham has hosted three Opens, four women's Opens and one British Amateur.

[garush34]

I also hope it isn't Lytham, but I kind of doubt it would be the course that gets ousted.  The R&A clearly likes it a lot...since 1996, Lytham has hosted three Opens, four women's Opens and one British Amateur.

Yeah I doubt it would drop out too, also hosted the walker cup this year. 

[dunlucedreams]

this will be amazing for irish golf. the course improvements look awesome too!