Open at Portrush no closer

Royal Portrush members have been urged not to hold their breath in anticipation of an announcement over the prospects of the British Open Championship returning to the Dunluce Links any time soon.

As the 142nd Open gets underway today at Muirfield, the Scottish links’ 16th staging of the event, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson did little to encourage excitement in the Irish golfing community that the world’s oldest major would visit their shores for only the second time, Royal Portrush having staged the event in 1951.

“We’re cracking on with the work,” Dawson said yesterday. “We’ve got another visit planned relatively soon. You’ll have to be patient and see what comes of it.”