R&A says study for Portmarnock Open host positive

The prospect of the Open Championship being staged outside the United Kingdom for the first time is moving significantly closer, with officials expressing strong confidence that Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin can host the historic event. Mark Darbon, chief executive of the RA, the governing body for the Open, said on July 15 that a major feasibility study for the north Dublin links course is nearly complete and the results are positive.

Darbon made the comments during a press conference at Royal Birkdale in England, where the 154th Open Championship is scheduled to begin on July 16. He stated that extensive work with the golf club, local authorities, and the Irish government has confirmed the RA believes it can stage the tournament at Portmarnock. The goal, according to Darbon, is to establish a long-term model that would see the venue host both the Open Championship and the AIG Women's Open for many years.

While a final decision and an official announcement are pending, Darbon indicated that ongoing discussions with the Irish government are heading in the right direction. He acknowledged the process has taken longer than initially anticipated due to the complex logistical and...