The British Open | Seeking Victory at the Royal Portrush

The British Open is an annual event which is taking place in Portrush, County Antrim in July 2019, which is expected to attract over 200,000 supporters. 

Tickets for all four days of the famous tournament have sold out. A fifth of all the tickets were sold in the first two days they were available to the public.

It is shaping up to be an exciting number of days, with a star-studded lineup expected to take to the course on the island of Ireland’s second most-populated county.

A Historical Overview of The British Open

The Open Championship dates back to 1860, making it the oldest of golf’s four major tournaments. It was first played at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, with Willie Park Sr. taking the inaugural title. Over the years, the tournament has evolved significantly, expanding its prestige and global appeal. The rotation of courses, known as the Open Rota, includes some of the most celebrated venues in golf, such as St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Muirfield.

In 1951, Royal Portrush became the first course outside Scotland and England to host The Open, marking a significant milestone in the tournament’s history. Nearly seven decades later, in 2019, the championship returned to Portrush, a testament to its enduring legacy and the passion for golf in Northern Ireland.

The Significance of Royal Portrush

Nestled on the Antrim Coast, Royal Portrush Golf Club is renowned for its spectacular views of the North Atlantic Ocean and rugged coastal landscape. Founded in 1888, it was granted royal status in 1895 by the Prince of Wales. The club’s Dunluce Links, named after the nearby medieval Dunluce Castle, is the championship course hosting The Open. Designed by the legendary golf course architect Harry Colt, the Dunluce Links is considered one of the finest examples of links golf.

The course is known for its undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and unpredictable coastal winds, which make it an actual test of skill and strategy. Players must navigate challenging holes such as the infamous 16th Calamity Corner, where a long carry over a yawning chasm tests even the most seasoned professionals.

In Search of the Claret Jug

The Open is considered one of the sport’s four major tournaments and the oldest. Other majors include The Masters, The PGA Championship, and The US Open.

The first-ever Open was played at Prestwick in 1860, with Willie Park Senior claiming the victory. Two years later, Tom Morris Senior won the Open by 13 strokes, a record that still stands today. Today, the winner receives the coveted Claret Jug; however, this was not always the case. Until 1873, the winner would receive the ‘Challenge Belt’. 

Harry Vardon won his sixth Open in the last Open before the First World War, another record that still stands in 2019. Arnold Palmer, the man dubbed ‘The King’, won the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1961 and defended his title the following year.

The Open was broadcast in colour on television for the first time in 1969. There was drama in 1999 as Paul Lawrie won The Open at Carnoustie. Lawrie, down by ten strokes at the start of the fourth round, completed the biggest final-round comeback in significant championship history. More recently 2017, Branden Grace shot 62 at Royal Birkdale, which is still the lowest round in any golf major.

The British Open was previously hosted in the exact location in 1951, when Max Faulkner of East Sussex took home the Claret Jug after defeating 98 others in the 80th British Open Championship, winning £ 300 in prize money £.

This time around, the prize fund is a little more significant. The winner of this year’s competition will go home with a whopping $10.75m. This is almost a 3 million percent increase, which shows how big of an event this is and how golf has changed so much in just under 70 years. 

The British Open is an annual event that takes place in Portrush, County Antrim, in July 2019. Over 200,000 supporters are expected. Tickets for all four days of the famous tournament have sold out.

A fifth of all the tickets were sold in the first two days they were available to the public. It is shaping up to be an exciting few days, with a star-studded lineup expected to take to the course on the island of Ireland’s second-most-populated county. 

Royal Portrush: The Course Layout

The Dunluce Links course underwent significant changes before the 2019 Open to meet modern championship standards. Renowned architects Martin Ebert and Tom Mackenzie led the redesign, which included the addition of two new holes, the 7th and 8th, replacing the former 17th and 18th. These changes enhanced the course’s strategic complexity while preserving its natural beauty and historical character.

Key Holes to Watch

• Hole 5: White Rocks
  This picturesque par-4 features a fairway that slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean, demanding precision off the tee. Deep bunkers guard the green, making approach shots challenging.
• Hole 7: Curran Point
  One of the new additions, this par-5, offers birdie opportunities but requires careful navigation of bunkers and dunes.
• Hole 16: Calamity Corner
  As one of the most feared par-3s in golf, Calamity Corner requires a long carry over a ravine to a narrow green, with trouble lurking on all sides.
• Hole 18: Babington’s
  The final hole, a par-4, presents a fitting climax to the round. Players must negotiate bunkers and undulating terrain, with the grandstand providing a dramatic backdrop.

The Bookie’s Favourite

In its 148-year history, the Claret Jug has been won by three Northern Irishmen, the third being Rory McIlroy, who dominated The Open at RoyalLiverpool in 2014.

Previously, in 2011, Darren Clarke won it in thrilling circumstances after fending off Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. The R&A (the organisation that runs The Open) have given Darren Clarke the honour of teeing off first for this year’s Open at Royal Portrush.

The first Northern Irish winner of The Open was Fred Daly, whose medal lies beside Darren Clarke’s in Royal Portrush Golf Club. Rory McIlroy is the favourite to lift the Claret Jug, and most bookmakers price him at 8/1. McIlroy turned pro in 2007 and has been highly successful. He is the only European golfer to have three of the four golf majors to his name. 

The town of Portrush has been subject to rigorous preparations after being credited with a £17m grant to refurbish it. Around £5.6m was spent on a new state-of-the-art train station, which is much more kind to the eye than the previous station.

£500,000 was spent on sprucing up over 100 businesses in the area and some more on improving derelict buildings. The town has never looked better, and giving a good impression to the tourists who come and visit will hopefully inspire them to return.

Portrush is a town well known outside of golf for its three sandy beaches: the West Strand, East Strand, and Whiterocks. The area has several primary schools, and it is very close to Ulster University’s Coleraine campus (UUC). Many students who attend UUC live in Portrush.

The Future of The Open at Royal Portrush

The overwhelming success of the 2019 Open has bolstered the case for Royal Portrush to remain a regular fixture on the Open Rota. The course’s unique challenges, combined with the passion of local fans, create an unmatched atmosphere in the world of golf. Plans are already underway to further enhance the course and facilities, ensuring that it continues to meet the standards of a modern major championship.

Conclusion

The British Open at Royal Portrush is more than just a golf tournament; it celebrates tradition, skill, and the unbreakable connection between the sport and its roots. From the windswept fairways of the Dunluce Links to the roar of the crowd as the Claret Jug is lifted, Portrush offers a truly unique experience.

As players and fans alike look forward to future Opens at this iconic venue, Royal Portrush’s legacy and place in the history of the Open Championship remain secure. It stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of links golf and the timeless allure of the game. Whether you are a seasoned golfer or a casual observer, The Open at Royal Portrush reminds us why we love the sport: the pursuit of victory, the embrace of challenge, and the celebration of excellence.

Whether you’re a golf fanatic or know nothing about golf, get yourself up to Portrush this July to soak up some of the electric atmosphere at the largest sporting event Northern Ireland has ever hosted. 

Have you ever visited The Royal Portrush Golf Course? Let us know in the comments below.

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