Ewen predicts return of glory days

This week’s return of the Irish Open to Royal Portrush could spark a rekindling of the tournament’s halcyon days of the 1970s and ’80s, says leading golf commentator Ewen Murray.

The ‘house full’ signs are already up at the revered County Antrim course as the Irish Open goes back to the North for first time since 1953, and to Royal Portrush’s Dunluce links for first time since Harry Bradshaw won in 1947.

More than 100,000 are expected through the gates for the event starting on Thursday with the European Tour announcing last week that Saturday and Sunday’s third and fourth rounds were a sell-out, the first time in their history they have had to close tickets sales for any day of a regular Tour event.