Rory McIlroy: Portmarnock in the mix as a potential Open venue

McIlroy revealed the Royal and Ancient is “seriously looking” at the North Dublin course

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the ninth green during day one of the Horizon Irish Open Golf Championship at The K Club in Straffan, Kildare. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Portmarnock is being studied as a potential venue for The Open, according to Rory McIlroy.

Speaking to reporters after his round in Straffan, McIlroy revealed the Royal and Ancient is “seriously looking” at the possibility of the North Dublin course hosting the fourth Major of the year.

“I think there's every chance that they're seriously looking at it,” he said. “So I think it would be fantastic. (But) there are so many other considerations to hosting a Major championship apart from just being a great golf course.

"There has to be a lot of stuff that makes sense. But, you know, having a course that's so close to a major city, so close to a major airport, having a great golf course, I think it would be amazing.” 

Portmarnock hosted the 1991 Walker Cup as well as the Amateur Championship in 2019. Next year, it stages the Ladies’ Amateur Championship having done so previously in 1931.

Its last staging of the Irish Open was in 2003, the 19th time it has been the venue for the national tournament. Between 1976 and ’90, it hosted 12 Irish Opens.

Royal Troon stages next year’s Open before it returns to Royal Portrush in 2025 and Royal Birkdale the following season.