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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| The Open: Press conference confirms Royal Portrush | The Open: Press conference confirms Royal Portrush |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Royal Portrush course has been confirmed as the venue for the world's biggest golf tournament, the Open Championship, possibly 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 first time since 1951. | The event will return to Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951. |
| The earliest it can be held will be 2019, however, this depends on infrastructure work being completed and approved. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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". | He paid tribute to the Northern Ireland Executive for its "support and great enthusiasm". |
| 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. |
| 'Wonderful news' | |
| Simon Rankin, captain of Royal Portrush Golf Club, said it was "a great day in the celebrated history of Irish golf". | |
| "It will be of great benefit to the club and Northern Ireland as a whole to have the game's greatest championship played here," he added. | |
| First Minister Peter Robinson said: "This is wonderful news, not only for Royal Portrush Golf Club, but for the whole of Northern Ireland. | |
| "The decision to bring the Open back to Northern Ireland is a tremendous vote of confidence in the game here and follows the huge success of the Irish Open in 2012, the first in European Tour history to sell out." | |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "This announcement will create much anticipation and excitement as the thought of our local golfers challenging for the Claret Jug on home soil is set to become a reality. | |
| "Hosting the Open will leave a lasting imprint on Royal Portrush and I wish everyone involved in the planning and preparation every success and assure them of the full support of the executive." | |
| '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 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 at 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 the first Open. | As it is going on a rota of courses, it means Portrush will also get future tournaments after the first Open. |