Rory McIlroy, who just won the Masters and completed his career Grand Slam, is expected to return to Royal Portrush for The Open Championship this summer. He didn’t do well at Portrush in 2019, missing the cut, and now the head of the R&A, Mark Darbon, says McIlroy has “unfinished business” there.
This year’s Open will be held from 17-20 July and is expected to be the biggest sports event ever in Northern Ireland, with 278,000 fans expected to attend.
Darbon said McIlroy’s Masters win makes the upcoming tournament even more exciting. He added that Portrush offers everything a great championship needs — a tough course, passionate fans, and a beautiful location.
The 2019 Open at Portrush was memorable, with Shane Lowry winning his first major. This year’s event is set to bring a £213 million boost to the economy and will be the biggest Open ever held outside of St Andrews in Scotland.
Officials Feel Positive About Portmarnock Open Bid
Darbon confirmed that the R&A is interested in holding The Open outside the UK for the first time, possibly at Portmarnock in Dublin.
“We’re really excited about the planning we’re doing at Portmarnock and happy with the support from local authorities and the government,” he said.
“There’s still a lot to do, but we’re hopeful it will happen.”
Darbon also wants The Open to return to Turnberry in Scotland, calling it a “brilliant” location. He said they are currently studying whether it’s possible to bring the event back there.
Even though Turnberry has had £200 million in upgrades since Donald Trump bought it in 2014, Darbon explained that there are still challenges with things like roads, trains, and places for people to stay.
“In 2009, Turnberry hosted 120,000 people. This year at Royal Portrush, we expect nearly 280,000,” he said. “The course is fantastic, and we’d love to return.”
