The secret underground tunnel where Open golfers hide from thunderstorms but only certain stars can use it at Portrush

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

SUPERSTAR golfers have a secret way of escaping thunderstorms when they strike at Open venue Royal Portrush - a secret underground tunnel that burrows through the sand dunes.
Storms have hit the course this week already, causing practice rounds to be suspended.
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Keegan Bradley and Patrick Cantlay take cover in the tunnel
Credit: Getty
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Golfers, their caddies and officials shelter away from the storms
Credit: Getty
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Akshay Bhatia of United States walks through the tunnel during a practice round
Credit: Getty
And more wet
weather
is predicted with heavy run and thunder forecast for the County Antrim coastline later this week.
However The Open stars like Rory McIlroy and
The man-made
subway
passes from the 10th green to the 11th tee, and was built so players can escape the log-jam of
golf
fans at The Open.
It goes underneath between 9th tee and 6th green and runs for 65 yards.
Read more on The Open
But this week it has served a second purpose — as a different type of bunker to the other 59 on the famous old course.
When thunderstorms hit the course during Monday's practice round, American
golf
stars Keegan Bradley and
lightning
.
And more storms are forecast for Thursday's open round.
However only those players who are on that corner of the seaside course will be able to shelter if thunderstorms hit.
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If R&A chiefs decide to suspend pay over fears of
lightning
, the rest of the players on the course will be shuttled back to the clubhouse in
golf
buggies.
The tunnel took a year to build and was dug before the 2019 Open to allow players to speedily move from green to tee despite the thousands of fans.
The area at the back of the 10th green is a real bottleneck and golf chiefs feared chaos if players were forced to make their way through the crowds.
The 10th green is also close to the 8th and 6th greens, and to the 9th and 11th tees in one of the most congested parts of the course.
Open Championship golf club Royal Portrush has 65-yard underground tunnel for players to escape fans
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The secret man-made tunnel runs from the 10th green to the 11th tee
5
Players simply disappear into the dunes when they go underground in the tunnel
So the 65-yard tunnel allows players to quickly move from the 10th green to the 11th tee and bypass the crowds.
156
golf
ers are competing at Royal Portrush aiming to walk away with the prestigious
on Sunday evening.
Around 275,000 fans are expected to visit the iconic Dunluce links venue across the eight days of both practice and tournament rounds.
is the defending champion after
his
stunning performance at Royal Troon last year.