McDowell: Portrush shortcomings 'minimal'

Graeme McDowell believes the “minimal” shortcomings of Royal Portrush can be overcome in order for the course to stage the Open Championship.

A successful staging of this year’s Irish Open was expected to boost hopes of the Open returning to the venue for the first time since 1951, but R&A chief executive Peter Dawson yesterday played down the prospects of that happening.