OPEN AND SHUT

Portmarnock could be host — Harrington

THE Open Championship is set to go global, and a visit to Portmarnock smacks of ‘a logical first step’, according to Padraig Harrington.

In returning to Royal Portrush this week after a 68-year absence, the R&A are getting geared up to launch the world’s oldest and most famous championship on an international stage.

‘I think this is the beginning of The Open moving around the world,’ predicted dual champion Harrington, a key mover in the push for a Portrush return to the Open rota.

‘Portmarnock would seem the logical first step, but in my lifetime it is possible to see it (The Open) being played in the Netherlands — they have great links golf courses there — or maybe Australia.

‘These are all under the auspices of the R&A so yes, it could move around the world.

‘It would be easy to think that we are on their (R&A) doorstep, that we should be the first (to host) if it (The Open) does move,’ he added.

As a men-only club, Portmarnock would have to change its rules on membership in order to allow women join before being considered for The Open. ‘Portmarnock is a great venue, they obviously

have their own issues,’ said Harrington. ‘But it is a possibility. It would be a great venue.’ Shane Lowry also advocates Portmarnock’s pulling power as a potential Open venue. ‘Portmarnock is the best course in Ireland, it’s such a good test of golf. I don’t know what needs to happen — some things do. ‘They had the Amateur Championship there so that could be first step to getting it (The Open) there,’ he said. Six Irish golfers are chasing Open glory this week, but they won’t have anything easy against the world’s elite. ‘In sport you don’t deserve anything, but it would be great if one of us had a chance Sunday afternoon and go on to do the business,’ said Lowry. ‘The tournament would be incredible if one or two of us were in with a chance.’