Golf fever builds in Portrush as six-year wait for return of The Open is finally over
The first of four official practice days got under way yesterday ahead of the sold-out tournament, which tees off on Thursday.
US Masters winner Rory McIlroy is among the favourites to lay his hands on the coveted Claret Jug.
McIlroy's hopes of heading for Royal Portrush with another title under his belt were dashed yesterday at the Scottish Open, where Chris Gotterup held off the Co Down star's challenge to claim his maiden DP World Tour title.
But with a home crowd in north Antrim behind him, there are high hopes McIlroy could rekindle his fire on the course where he famously shot a record 61 as a 16-year-old.
Who is Rory McIlroy and what is golf's Career Grand Slam?
So too could Shane Lowry, who is hoping for a repeat of his success in 2019 when the championship was last played in Portrush.
The Co Offaly is depicted on a large mural near the entrance to the course marking his triumph.
Last year's Open champion Xander Schauffele is also in with a strong chance.
Coleraine councillor Russell Watton said the huge sporting event will bring great economic benefits to the north coast.
'It will be a very busy weekend, there is no doubt about that,' he said.
'Rory McIlroy is very well supported here, it will be massive.
"It's hard to go into Portrush even now, and that is just a week before the kick off to the main event.'
Fellow councillor John Wisener echoed those sentiments.
He said: 'I was actually just watching Rory at the Scottish Open. Sadly, I don't think we will have the weather we have had this weekend for it next week.
'But it will be fantastic for Portrush, all of the councillors have spoken about how this will benefit us economically.
"But, it's all about the people, and if they enjoy themselves.
'I would like to see Rory win this year, I think it is a lot of pressure for him.
"I believe the pressure of The Open will be more for him than the US Masters, since it's on his home soil.
'Shane Lowry won back in 2019, I was fortunate enough to go each day then.
'The North West 200 is great for the north coast, but this is something else.
Spectators have been urged to avail of public transport for the event, with Translink partnering and Royal Portrush to develop a strategy to help spectators get to and from the course.
There were fears that there would be a disruption to services on July 18 and 19 as a result of industrial action by train staff, but there is now an agreement in place with unions.
All eyes are now on Portrush, with a staggering 5,000 hours of global television coverage expected to be generated as the tournament is beamed around the globe.
The spectator village and its bars, shops and food outlets is fully stocked in anticipation of large crowds throughout the week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I was once Scotland's top golfer but haven't played here for seven years – I'm buzzing to tee it up at Trump Aberdeen
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EXILED-SCOT Martin Laird is hoping to turn the clock back five years to the last of eight career wins when he plays his first tournament on home soil since 2018. The 42-year-old Glasgow-born PGA Tour player is a surprise entry for the $2.75 million Nexo Championship at Trump International outside Aberdeen. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Martin Laird speaks with his caddie at the practice range at Trump International Credit: Getty 3 He hasn't teed it up in Scotland competitively for several years Credit: Getty 3 U.S. President Donald Trump recently opened a new course at his Aberdeen venue Credit: AP Laird, who claimed a fourth PGA Tour title at the 2020 Shinners Hospital For Children Open, last competed in the land of his birth at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance. Back in 2011 he reached a career-high of 21 in the world, making him the highest-ranked Scot at the time. But he can't wait for play to start this week after revealing: 'I haven't been back here for a couple of years, even non-competitively. 'But to be here in Scotland again to play in a tournament is brilliant. 'The way the Scottish Open falls was always a tough one for me for a few years. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position where I could just come over for that. 'There were a lot of tournaments around that time that I had to stay and play in and the week after the Scottish Open, it's the Barracuda tournament and I've got a really good record in that, so that was one I always wanted to play. 'Then I didn't qualify for the Scottish Open for a few years. But this was kind of a no-brainer, because I ended up getting less in America as they have cut their cards to 100 from 125. 'So, you might see me over here at least in two more tournaments and maybe even more.' After only two of the over-50s managed to finish in red figures at last week's wind-blown PGA Seniors Championship, Laird fears that the course at Balmedie may again be close to unplayable if the forecast of gusts this week proved accurate. 'It's spectacular, but flipping hard,' he said. 'They need to get the tees right, otherwise on some holes, even if you hit a good drive, you are hitting long irons into small targets and with 25-30mph crosswinds, it almost gets a bit unplayable. Hilarious moment Donald Trump's golf caddie appears to subtly drop ball in prime spot before he arrives to take shot 'I saw the scoring last week with a 14 over cut and that just shows you what this place is capable of as I have never seen a 14 over cut in my life.' It has been decided to bring several of the tees forward in an effort to at least partially wind-proof the links and that was music to Calum Hill's ears. The 30-year-old two-time DP World Tour winner from Fife got his first taste of the track a month ago when he played a practice round with close buddies Connor Syme and Grant Forrest in sunshine and 10mph winds. And he recalled: 'It felt quite straightforward. Then on Monday it looked much trickier. 'The difficulty here is that it's not like some links course where you get a bit of leeway. It's fairways or bushes and it's quite penal. You'll have a lot of reloading. 'It's very strong off the tee and the greens are slightly upturned so you have a lot of runoffs, and if you get it wrong it could be like ping pong. 'I think I started triple-bogey, double-bogey and I didn't know where I was the first few holes.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Calum Hill looks to shine on home soil at Nexo Championship
In fact, forget the peaks. It tends to be an endless series of troughs. As for DP World Tour champion Calum Hill? Well, ups and downs are all just part of the day job. A month or so ago at the Renaissance, Hill was right in the thick of it after a first round 65 in the Genesis Scottish Open. The next day, he was nursing the wounds of a 77 that led to him missing the cut. What were we saying about peaks and troughs, again? 'The Scottish Open was very odd,' said Hill, who is back in action on home turf at this week's Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links. 'On the second day I putted just as well as day one and every putt caught on the edge. Every shot took a bounce and ended up on a downslope. It was just one of those days where it just gets away from you. 'It's funny. I could go on peaks and troughs with golf but when it's been a trough I'd be thinking my game is nowhere close. 'But it's never felt far away this time. There are better things in there, I just need it all to click.' Hill certainly got it to click in South Africa earlier this season when he won his second DP World Tour title at the Joburg Open. Since that triumph, it's been a bit of a mixed bag. In his last 12 events, he's enjoyed a share of third at the Italian Open, but he's also endured six missed cuts, including three in a row heading into this week's stop-off near Aberdeen. The links test here will be as hard as a clump of Rubislaw granite and an early reconnaissance mission a few weeks ago was quite an eye-opener. 'I think I started triple-bogey and double-bogey,' he said with a wry smile. 'I didn't know where I was the first few holes. But it was still good fun. 'The difficult thing is it's not like some links course where you get a bit of leeway. Here it's fairways or bushes and it's quite penal. "You'll have a lot of reloading. It's very strong off the tee and the greens are slightly upturned so you have a lot of runoffs. So, if you get it wrong it could be like ping pong.' In the here, there and everywhere birl of touring life, golfers have to quickly adapt to all manner of conditions, challenges and curiosities. The DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, for instance, is widely viewed as the hardest course on the circuit. So, where does Trump's track sit? 'It's not quite as extreme as India,' said Hill. 'It (DLF) is the most extreme in that you hit either the fairway or you're in the munch. This is not far off India, mind you. "In India, you don't get the 30mph winds like you do here. You can ask me the question again on Sunday.' While Hill looks to get himself back in the swing, his fellow Scot, Danny Young, has made the trip north in a buoyant mood following his maiden win on the HotelPlanner – formerly Challenge – Tour last weekend. Young, who also qualified for The Open during a decent summer, bolstered his push for promotion to the main DP World Tour with a timely success in the Scottish Challenge at the Roxburghe near Kelso. 'Absolutely,' he replied when asked if he can contend again on this step-up to the cut-and-thrust of competition on the main tour. 'My game is good. I'm familiar with the course and the way the forecast is supposed to be. I think it should favour the home-grown players a bit, having played a bit more in heavier winds off the sea. 'Little things like having the patience to play links golf can add up a bit in your favour. So, I don't see any reason why I can't compete at this level.' Prior to his breakthrough win, Young had finished second and third on the HotelPlanner Tour before making a major debut in The Open at Portrush. This week's examination will provide a very different test to the parkland layout of the Roxburghe and Young is very much up for the challenge. 'You are going to make mistakes, you are going to make bogeys,' added he 32-year-old from Perth. 'Last week was pretty score-able and the weather was beautiful, so you could go and make a lot of birdies. "This week it will be more a case of trying to take the opportunities when they present themselves.' Opportunity knocks again for the upwardly mobile Young.
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Calum Hill looks to shine on home soil at Nexo Championship
As for DP World Tour champion Calum Hill? Well, ups and downs are all just part of the day job. A month or so ago at the Renaissance, Hill was right in the thick of it after a first round 65 in the Genesis Scottish Open. The next day, he was nursing the wounds of a 77 that led to him missing the cut. What were we saying about peaks and troughs, again? 'The Scottish Open was very odd,' said Hill, who is back in action on home turf at this week's Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links. 'On the second day I putted just as well as day one and every putt caught on the edge. Every shot took a bounce and ended up on a downslope. It was just one of those days where it just gets away from you. 'It's funny. I could go on peaks and troughs with golf but when it's been a trough I'd be thinking my game is nowhere close. 'But it's never felt far away this time. There are better things in there, I just need it all to click.' Hill certainly got it to click in South Africa earlier this season when he won his second DP World Tour title at the Joburg Open. Since that triumph, it's been a bit of a mixed bag. In his last 12 events, he's enjoyed a share of third at the Italian Open, but he's also endured six missed cuts, including three in a row heading into this week's stop-off near Aberdeen. The links test here will be as hard as a clump of Rubislaw granite and an early reconnaissance mission a few weeks ago was quite an eye-opener. 'I think I started triple-bogey and double-bogey,' he said with a wry smile. 'I didn't know where I was the first few holes. But it was still good fun. 'The difficult thing is it's not like some links course where you get a bit of leeway. Here it's fairways or bushes and it's quite penal. "You'll have a lot of reloading. It's very strong off the tee and the greens are slightly upturned so you have a lot of runoffs. So, if you get it wrong it could be like ping pong.' In the here, there and everywhere birl of touring life, golfers have to quickly adapt to all manner of conditions, challenges and curiosities. The DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, for instance, is widely viewed as the hardest course on the circuit. So, where does Trump's track sit? 'It's not quite as extreme as India,' said Hill. 'It (DLF) is the most extreme in that you hit either the fairway or you're in the munch. This is not far off India, mind you. "In India, you don't get the 30mph winds like you do here. You can ask me the question again on Sunday.' While Hill looks to get himself back in the swing, his fellow Scot, Danny Young, has made the trip north in a buoyant mood following his maiden win on the HotelPlanner – formerly Challenge – Tour last weekend. Young, who also qualified for The Open during a decent summer, bolstered his push for promotion to the main DP World Tour with a timely success in the Scottish Challenge at the Roxburghe near Kelso. 'Absolutely,' he replied when asked if he can contend again on this step-up to the cut-and-thrust of competition on the main tour. 'My game is good. I'm familiar with the course and the way the forecast is supposed to be. I think it should favour the home-grown players a bit, having played a bit more in heavier winds off the sea. 'Little things like having the patience to play links golf can add up a bit in your favour. So, I don't see any reason why I can't compete at this level.' Prior to his breakthrough win, Young had finished second and third on the HotelPlanner Tour before making a major debut in The Open at Portrush. This week's examination will provide a very different test to the parkland layout of the Roxburghe and Young is very much up for the challenge. 'You are going to make mistakes, you are going to make bogeys,' added he 32-year-old from Perth. 'Last week was pretty score-able and the weather was beautiful, so you could go and make a lot of birdies. "This week it will be more a case of trying to take the opportunities when they present themselves.' Opportunity knocks again for the upwardly mobile Young.
