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The Open: Press conference confirms Royal Portrush The Open: Press conference confirms Royal Portrush
(33 minutes later)
The Royal Portrush course has been confirmed as the venue for the world's biggest golf tournament, the Open Championship, in 2019. The Royal Portrush course has been confirmed as the venue for the world's biggest golf tournament, the Open Championship, possibly in 2019.
The event will return to Northern Ireland for the time since 1951. The event will return to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951.
The R&A, which organises the Open, announced details at a news conference at Royal Portrush. The earliest it can be held will be 2019, however, this depends on infrastructure work being completed and approved.
Peter Dawson of the R&A, which organises the Open, said he expected huge interest from the NI public.
He said Royal Portrush was "one of the world's truly great links courses" and had a "rich golfing heritage".
Mr Dawson joked that the announcement was "the world's worst-kept secret" after news of it leaked last week.
He paid tribute to the Northern Ireland Executive for its "support and great enthusiasm".
The return of the event to Portrush has been greeted as a "real boost for tourism".The return of the event to Portrush has been greeted as a "real boost for tourism".
The decision to bring the tournament to County Antrim follows the successful staging of the Irish Open in 2012.The decision to bring the tournament to County Antrim follows the successful staging of the Irish Open in 2012.
'Golfer's dream''Golfer's dream'
Northern Ireland's major winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke led the calls for the Open to return to Portrush.Northern Ireland's major winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke led the calls for the Open to return to Portrush.
Two-times major winner McIlroy said the winning the Open at Portrush would be the pinnacle of his career. Two-times major winner McIlroy said winning the Open at Portrush would be the pinnacle of his career.
"It's going to be incredible and I'm already looking forward to it," he said."It's going to be incredible and I'm already looking forward to it," he said.
"Everyone says winning the Open at St Andrews is a golfer's dream, but to win the event as home would probably be even bigger for me." "Everyone says winning the Open at St Andrews is a golfer's dream, but to win the event at home would probably be even bigger for me."
Darren Clarke, who won the Open in 2011 is delighted that his home club will stage the tournament.Darren Clarke, who won the Open in 2011 is delighted that his home club will stage the tournament.
"It is wonderful for the area, for Northern Ireland and the whole of Ireland that one of the biggest sporting events in the world is coming here," he said."It is wonderful for the area, for Northern Ireland and the whole of Ireland that one of the biggest sporting events in the world is coming here," he said.
"It's just massive, with pictures of Royal Portrush being beamed around the world to people who haven't seen how beautiful it is.""It's just massive, with pictures of Royal Portrush being beamed around the world to people who haven't seen how beautiful it is."
Graeme McDowell said that to play an Open championship in Portrush would be "something a bit special".Graeme McDowell said that to play an Open championship in Portrush would be "something a bit special".
As it is going on a rota of courses, it means Portrush will also get future tournaments after 2019. As it is going on a rota of courses, it means Portrush will also get future tournaments after the first Open.
Philip Tweedie from Royal Portrush said this was good news for everyone.Philip Tweedie from Royal Portrush said this was good news for everyone.
"It is something we have been working towards over the last few years. It is great for the club, it is great for Portrush, for Northern Ireland and, indeed, Ireland," he said."It is something we have been working towards over the last few years. It is great for the club, it is great for Portrush, for Northern Ireland and, indeed, Ireland," he said.
"From the overall tourism point of view, this is a real boost.""From the overall tourism point of view, this is a real boost."