Portrush in Major frame

There is a strong possibility Royal Portrush will be awarded the 2019 British Open — 68 years after being the only club outside Scotland and England to host golf’s oldest Major.

Officials from the R&A &recently inspected the course that played host to the 1951 British Open. The R&A were present at the course in 2012 monitoring the European Tour’s move to stage the Irish Open on the famed Dunluce Course and they will be back in June for the staging of the 2014 British Amateur Championship.

Among those who competed in the 1951 British Open was Australian great Peter Thomson, who made his championship debut in finishing sixth, and who would go on to capture five Claret Jugs.