THE OPEN IN 2019

It was an exciting weekend for Ireland as Co. Offaly Man, Shane Lowry, took home the coveted Claret Jug!

Ever wondered why the Island of Ireland is often referred to as the “green of dreams”? Here are just some of the reasons….

With world-class courses in some of the most spectacular locations on the planet, its credentials are sky-high when it comes to golf.

Did you know, for instance, that the Island boasts a quarter of the world’s natural links courses?

Or that some of the world’s best golfers hail from this fair isle, including

Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowel, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington?

Did we even mention that Royal County Down has topped Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in the World outside of the US yet again?

www.ireland.com

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PORTRUSH IS PRIME FUTURE OPEN TERRITORY

The short par-4 5th – “White Rocks” – is a highlight of the popular routing at Royal Portrush. David Cannon/Getty Images

For nearly 70 years, Scotland and England have hogged the spotlight that comes with hosting The Open. Most American golfers had no idea how beautiful and great the links in Ireland and Northern Ireland are until watching Irishman Shane Lowry win this weekend.

Praise for the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush and the tournament was universal from fans and R&A officials to players. It was the first sellout in Open history. The Irish love their golf; without a doubt, this was the biggest sporting event ever held on the Emerald Isle.

The links might have already leapfrogged more established Open venues to become one of the more popular stops on the rota. It’s fair – you’ll note that none of the good shots down the fairway kicked into bad lies in the dunes like other links – and scenic and challenging. The fact that traditional Irish weather, wind and rain, affected play during the final round added another element of intrigue, even if Lowry ran away with it.

Portrush has already proven it deserves a return trip, and likely several more. The BBC reports that The Open could return to Portrush as soon as 2024.

“If we have to wait another 10 years, the icing might rub off between now and then and people might forget,” Graeme McDowell told the BBC. “Hopefully we can get it back soon – it would be very special.”

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The 148th Open will be played at Royal Portrush from 14th to 21st July 2019

Marking a historic return to Northern Ireland for golf’s oldest and most international Championship after nearly 70 years.

The Open was last staged at Royal Portrush in 1951, when Max Faulkner became Champion Golfer of the Year.

Northern Ireland will be at the center of the global sporting spotlight when The Open is staged outside of Scotland

and England for only the second time in the Championship’s more than 150-year history.

Sports fans from throughout Ireland and around the world are expected to descend upon the town of Portrush

to watch the world’s greatest golfers compete for the iconic Claret Jug.

 

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