7. 18.2011
anyone turning off the a2 into royal portrush is rewarded for the pilgrimage to one of the world’s best—and seemingly most remote—courses. despite its reputation, though, the dunluce links has received little love from the r&a since hosting the 1951 british open. four years ago former director of championships david hill cited the technicality that portrush is in the united kingdom while the event “is referred to as the open championship played in great britain.” per chief executive peter dawson, the r&a is warming to portrush in light of the recent successes of graeme mcdowell and rory mcilroy—and now darren clarke. every open site has its challenges outside 09A;REtuRN;to;poRtRush?
the ropes. portrush’s main plus is its Valley links, which could accommodate
the tented folderol now part of a major championship. its concerns: limited
housing and transportation, uncertainty of corporate hospitality support and
whether the r&a could sell a ticket to anyone walking up to the gate when
the facility might not handle more than 25,000 fans. in the last 15 years
the r&a surmounted infrastructure hurdles to return carnoustie and royal
liverpool to the rota and keep turnberry from falling out of it. with the 2006
ryder cup showing the island could deliver a big event, the r&a may no
longer have the option of saying portrush is unworkable. —Brett Avery
daVid cannon/getty images
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