The Open 2025 golf: The Rory McIlroy effect and a boost for Northern Ireland's reputation

BBC News

21-07-2025

Organisers of The Open golf championship at Portrush delivered a highly successful event in a land scorched by recent sporting failure.The collapse of plans to host matches in football's Euro 2028 tournament in Belfast damaged Northern Ireland's reputation in the world of sport.The spectacular pictures and smooth running of The Open at Royal Portrush have helped to regain some of the reputational ground which was lost.It was a roaring success rather than a Rory success.A home-grown winner would have been an added bonus but there was no McIlroy miracle on the final day.Nobody could catch the runaway leader, Scottie Scheffler. The American golfer is number one in the world and he proved it.But Scheffler was not the only winner. It was a triumph too for Royal Portrush golf course and the championship organisers, the R&A (Royal & Ancient).
Almost 50,000 spectators a day watched the four days of competition. The temperature was warm and so was the atmosphere. There were some sudden bursts of heavy rain but few were perturbed, apart from the Australian golfer Jason Day who branded it the "craziest" weather he had ever seen.He even had a pop at weather presenters claiming they get it wrong "all the time".Perhaps downbeat Day should have concentrated on his own job. He had to leave the tournament on Friday after failing to make the cut.One of the 70 golfers who made it through to the weekend was the young Swedish player Ludvig Aberg.His every shot was watched by three superfans who wore Sweden football shirts and flat green hats with a miniature golf ball and flag on top.Jim, Leif and Martin enjoyed Northern Ireland and said they would love to come back for more sport.
It is global events that really boost the economy and prestige of a country or city.Hosting part of the Tour de France cycling race has been explored but the brakes were subsequently applied.The island of Ireland has tried to host the Rugby World Cup but that bid was kicked into touch.
One of the main reasons Northern Ireland struggles to attract major sporting events is that it does not currently have a stadium with more than 20,000 seats.There is a long and complicated history to this, which involves sport, politics and money.Golf does not need a stadium to host a global event. It needs a world class course and Royal Portrush ticks that box.
'Like a big music festival'
The Swedish visitors were very impressed.Jim Ahlgren Kvist, 38, an engineer from Malmö said: "It's my first Open ever and it's been fantastic. We've been staying in Belfast and going to Portrush by train."It's like a big party. I explained it to some of my friends back home who are not into golf, it's like a big music festival but instead of listening to music, you go and watch golf basically. You have a few beers and have fun."
With 278,000 spectators in total over the eight days of practice and competition, there were some hiccups.One Portrush restaurant was accused of price hiking. There was also a large band parade in Portrush on the penultimate evening, at almost the same time as golf fans were leaving.There were teething problems with one of the park-and-ride sites on the third day of practice.The threat of industrial action affecting bus and rail travel on two days of the championship may have reduced the number of fans booking public transport.However, by whatever means they could use, the fans all got to the course and the majority of them followed one player – Rory McIlroy.
When the Holywood golfer eagled the 12th hole on Saturday, the Rory roar could be heard from beyond the course.In the end, there was no fairytale finish for the local hero, in spite of raucous support, including from actor Jamie Dornan.
He spoke for millions of fans when he told the BBC: "It's the Rory show and we're all just desperately wanting him to play well."He did play well, despite huge expectation weighing on his 36-year-old shoulders, but just not well enough.Without him, it is hard to imagine Portrush would have hosted two Open championships in the past six years.
When is The Open next in Portrush?
So will The Open return to the north coast? Nothing has been confirmed but the early 2030s looks likely.It is estimated that the Northern Ireland economy will receive an economic windfall of more than £200m thanks to the 2025 championship at Royal Portrush.There is another dividend. The sporting world has been reminded that Northern Ireland is a great place to host sporting events.That is priceless.