A month after insisting it remained “some distance” from being able to stage the Open in the North for the first time since 1951, the R&A is set to announce Royal Portrush will host the championship in 2019.

Royal Portrush has emerged as a surprise contender to stage the US PGA Championship if the PGA of America goes ahead with plans to stage the event outside the United States.

A HIGH-LEVEL report has revealed a major pollution catastrophe was possibly averted off the west coast of Ireland last year when an oil tanker was forced to divert to Donegal following a double tragedy on board.