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R&A Chief Says Open Championship Close to Portmarnock in Dublin
Mark Darbon stated the R&A is getting close to staging the Open at Portmarnock Golf Club. The Irish government offered up to 40 million euros in support. A clear view is expected by the end of the year.
Jul 15, 7:47 AM·1m read1 source
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R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said the organization is getting pretty close to staging an Open Championship at Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin. The R&A first revealed the possibility in 2023. The Irish government announced support of up to 40 million euro in 2024.
Portmarnock has previously hosted the men's and women's amateur championships. Darbon spoke on the eve of the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. He described the venue as complicated because of the scale of the Open Championship.
Darbon said a big feasibility study with the golf club, local authority and government is pretty much done. The R&A believes it can take an Open Championship to Portmarnock. The goal is to build a model that opens opportunities for the AIG Women's Open and The Open for many years.
Darbon said the R&A is in dialogue with the Irish government and is optimistic the discussions are heading in the right direction. He added that the R&A is hoping to have a pretty clear view by the end of the year. St Andrews will host the 2027 Open Championship.
The tournament returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the first time in 16 years in 2028.