The Open Championship considers move abroad
The Open Championship is contemplating a significant shift from its traditional UK venue by potentially hosting the tournament in Ireland. The R&A’s chief executive, Mark Darbon, indicated that the possibility is “getting pretty close,” with Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin being a likely candidate, reports BritPanorama.
The R&A first suggested this move in 2023, coinciding with the Irish Government’s announcement of support, which could amount to up to €40 million (£34 million) in 2024. Historically, Portmarnock has been the site for various men’s and women’s amateur championships, and Darbon reaffirmed its candidacy in anticipation of the 154th tournament scheduled at Royal Birkdale.
Darbon explained, “It’s a complicated venue because of the scale of the Open Championship. There’s been a lot of great feasibility work with the golf club themselves, with the local authority, the Government. We’ve undertaken a big feasibility study. That work is pretty much done. We’ve confirmed that we believe we can take an Open Championship there.” He noted that the goal is to establish a framework that would benefit both the AIG Women’s Open and The Open for many years to come.
Dialogue is ongoing with the Irish Government, and Darbon expressed optimism about the direction of these discussions. When asked about the timeline for any announcement, he stated, “In the spirit of transparency, it’s taking a bit longer than we thought it might, but it’s complicated doing all that feasibility work. We’re hoping to have a pretty clear view by the end of the year.” Prominent players Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have both supported the idea of moving the Open to Portmarnock.
Lowry remarked, “They’re not giving too much away over there but all the rumours are that it’s going to be announced at some stage. Who knows, it would be amazing to have an Open Championship in Dublin. One of the biggest tournaments in the world coming to a place where I live would be very cool. I think Portmarnock is one of the best golf courses in the world so I think it’s fit for an Open. It would be a good Open for the R&A; it would be very successful. The infrastructure is all there.”
Next year, St Andrews will be the host for the Open Championship, while Royal Lytham & St Annes is slated to return in 2028 after a 16-year absence. The R&A has not yet confirmed venues beyond these dates, but Portmarnock appears to be in contention for an event within the decade.
