Royal Portrush will host The Open golf championship - for the first time since 1951 - and will do so within the next five years.
Negotiations involving the Stormont Executive and R&A organisers are at an advanced stage, and not only to stage the Open at Royal Portush in five year's time. It has been reported the Dunluce Links will be added to the official rota of venues for golf's oldest Major once all the negotiations and approvals are completed.
That means The Open will return on a regular basis once changes to the course are approved.
"It's been a long road and, to be honest, I don't want to say too much until it is official, for fear of tempting fate," said Graeme McDowell, whose brother Gary is on the greenkeeping staff at Portrush.
"But it would be awesome to have the Open back there, wouldn't it? It needs some changes and a little length, but it will be a solid Open venue."
Open winner Darren Clarke, who has a house overlooking the links, has been gently lobbying Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for years and said: “I think everyone knows my views on the possibility of getting The Open back to Portrush. There’s no question the course is good enough.’
The changes which must be made at Portrush to accommodate an event on such a vast scale are so great, they'll be permanent.
And all sides in the talks accept that it'll take more than one 'hit' to justify the inconvenience and expense involved.
In reality, before any sweeping changes can be made to the links, they must be approved by the members of Royal Portrush at an Emergency General meeting.
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