With Shane Lowry and the Claret Jug in 2019
SCHOOL’S out, summer holidays, All Ireland finals, Twelfth celebrations, Wimbledon… July means a lot of things to a lot of people.
But if you’re a golf fan here, this is the month you’ve been awaiting for one reason… Happy Open month!
The Open returns to Royal Portrush after the huge success of the 2019 tournament.
The R&A, who host the Championship each year, have promised this time around will be even bigger and better.
More spectators will attend but they’ll have a hard time making it better after the fairytale ending of Shane Lowry lifting the Claret Jug six years ago!
Most Open venues have to wait around 10 years for the tournament to return as part of the rota system but Royal Portrush has been such a popular venue that it is the largest Championship held outside of St Andrews in Scotland, which is known as the home of golf.
History will be made when 278,000 fans descend onto the Dunluce links in Portrush for this year’s fourth and final major of the year. Tickets were snapped up in record time with unprecedented demand for general admission in the ballot with applications totalling more than one million.
There will be more attendees on the Monday-Wednesday practice days than in 2019 but the Championship days, from Thursday-Sunday, will remain the same to avoid overcrowding.
Rory fever at the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush
I have been up at Royal Portrush covering the build up for UTV and can see the difference in the scale of the event already. There are more hospitality areas than before, the tented villages are bigger and there is so much excitement for this year’s tournament from in and around the golf club.
“The work starts up to three years before The Open comes,” Graeme Beatt, Course Manager at Royal Portrush, told me.
“Every year we try to present the course to Open standard because we have so many people come and play this course from all over the world. But for the whole world to see the golf course and so many people to come and see it on the ground, it’s going to be amazing and it’s a chance for us to showcase the course.”
Danny Campbell, General Manager, told me: “For the club, it’s very special and for the local community it’s a big deal for everybody.
“This is my sixth Open in a hosting role as I worked at St Andrews for just under 25 years. I was here in 2019 running a merchandise event for the R&A so I got to experience the amazing tournament.
“The atmosphere here is comparable to St Andrews and I think that’s down to the hospitality we have in this country.”
Who will be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year is anyone’s guess but local fans will be cheering on Rory McIlroy to make the cut after his early exit in 2019.
Tom McKibbin will also have a big following as he’ll be playing in his second Open but first on home soil.
Portrush caddie Rickie Elliott will be trying to guide Brooks Koepka back into the major winner’s circle. Two time Open Champion Padraig Harrington is back in the limelight after recently winning his second Senior Open, and Shane Lowry was as popular a winner as you’ll see at Portrush so will no doubt have a huge fan base also.
The atmosphere in 2019 when Lowry won by six shots was electric, there’s a great painting on the wall just as you walk into the clubhouse at Royal Portrush of Shane about to take his approach shot onto the 18th green.
You can see the surrounding grandstands, packed full to the rafters of elated golf fans ready to congratulate him on his achievement.
To have another local hero would be special but whoever is presented with the Claret Jug on Sunday, July 20 will deserve all the plaudits as links golf provides the truest test of the golf to the very best.
Of course you have to add into the mix that this will be a homecoming of sorts for Rory McIlroy after his Grand Slam success by winning the Masters earlier this year.
He has talked about how much he’s looking forward to reconnecting with the fans. Although he flew home for a quick visit to see his parents after winning the green jacket at Augusta, this will be his first public appearance and there’s no doubt the home fans will want to show their appreciation to Rory after what he has achieved in the game of golf and becoming arguably the greatest ever sports star from here.
Rory attracts the biggest crowds since Tiger Woods so if you’re wanting to follow him get your spot early if you’re heading to Royal Portrush.
And don’t forget to bring your waterproofs even if you leave home while the sun is shining… links golf can produce the craziest of weather – as well as some of the craziest golf shots to go alongside it!
Whether you’re heading to Portrush or watching on from your sofa, we’re all in for a thrilling week.
Away from the golf the European U23 Swimming Championships have been taking place and I’d like to give a special mention to Ellie McCartney who completed a full set of medals in Slovakia. A brilliant bronze in the 100m Breaststroke, sensational silver in the 200m Breaststroke and glowing gold in the 200m Individual Medley. Well done Ellie!
Also, huge congratulations to Cliftonville Ladies who won their third successive League Cup after coming from 2-0 down at half time to win 4-2 against Glentoran.
Where the first tee shot will be hit from on Thursday, July 17 at Royal Portrush
Interviewing Shane Lowry for UTV when he won The Open in 2019 at Royal Portrush
Filming a feature for UTV with Portrush caddie Gary Stevenson, ahead of the Open
