Latest news with #RoyalPortrushGolfClub
Irish Times
20-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Rory did win. He brought the Open to Portrush': Standing ovation for local hero McIlroy
All week, all month, all year, Portrush has talked about only one winner of the Open : Rory McIlroy . Though it was not to be for McIlroy, who tied for seventh place – the claret jug went to the world number one Scottie Scheffler – in the end, nobody really minded. As McIlroy walked on to the 18th hole in the Sunday evening sun, he did so to a standing ovation; there were Irish flags, Northern Irish flags, and everywhere, people were on their feet, showing their appreciation for their hero by applauding him home. 'None of us could live with what he [Scheffler] had this week,' McIlroy told the media afterwards, 'but for me, to be in front of everyone here at home and to get that reception up the last, absolutely incredible. I'll remember that for a long time.' READ MORE [ The Open Day Four: Scottie Scheffler cruises to victory at Royal Portrush - as it happened ] 'Rory did win,' said Brian McDermott, from Moville, Co Donegal. 'He brought the Open to Portrush. The Open would not be here without him, so that is a win. 'Six years ago, he missed the cut, so to get him, and to watch him, and to see him finish – that is a win. Brian McDermott, from Moville, Co Donegal at the Open Championship, Portrush. Photograph: Freya McClements 'Seeing him come into the 18th, and everybody in that grandstand get up and applaud him – that is a win, for Ireland and for Rory McIlroy.' There have been many winners from this Open; add to that list Royal Portrush Golf Club, the town of Portrush, and Northern Ireland. Though official figures are yet to follow, the predictions themselves were impressive: an economic boost to Northern Ireland of £213 million just from Open week alone. Yet this does not include the impact that will continue to be felt for a long after the Open has packed up and left town. Just one example is the announcement by the Galgorm hotel group that it is to spend more than £30 million creating a new golf course at Bellarena, Co Derry – around half an hour from Royal Portrush – an investment which it said will 'help to cement the region's reputation as a world-class golfing destination'. At Royal Portrush, 'I reckon it's going to take us into the top 10 in the world now in the rankings,' said the club's ladies captain, Naoimh Quigg, while there is also the prospect of the first Open ever to be held south of the Border, potentially through the inclusion of Portmarnock in Co Dublin on the Open roster. 'They're already talking about Portmarnock because we've been so successful here, and that conversation down South, moving it out of the UK, that's positive, and it's going to be great for the South, for Dublin, for the whole of the country,' she said. As the spectators drift towards the exits, there is the hope that the Open will also come back to the north coast; in the clubhouse, 'we're looking forward to getting back to what we do best, which is being Royal Portrush Golf Club again, and getting to play our course. 'Personally, I would love to see a world class women's event here, either the AIG Women's Open or the Curtis Cup ... to showcase a world class women's event in this country would be, I think, the next positive move for this club to work towards,' said Quigg. 'For a small country to be able to achieve what we've achieved, and as a town, for us to host this and put this on – I was thinking, if this does come back, it's scary to think how big we could go.' The anticipation has begun – and maybe, next time, McIlroy might lift that claret jug after all.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Golfers frustrated by pace of play at The Open
Todd Lewis reports live from Royal Portrush following Thursday's first round, where players expressed frustrations with the pace of play and what variables led to a long first day.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Spidercam brings golf's oldest major into the modern world
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The oldest major championship has taken a step into the modern world by using a technological feature that British Open organizers hope will bring to life one of the most storied walks in golf. Spidercam — that's a camera, not a super hero — was used in golf for the first time at Royal Portrush on Thursday. It's a camera suspended above the 18th green using four pylons about 25 meters high, giving TV viewers unique views of the closing hole and its undulations.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northern Ireland's leaders hail return of The Open to Portrush
Northern Ireland's First and deputy First Ministers have hailed the return of The Open as showcasing the region to the world. During a visit to the first day of the golf tournament at the Royal Portrush Golf Club Michelle O'Neill said they were lucky to see it return after it was staged there in 2019 following a 68-year absence. Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly were among an estimated 50,000 spectators who descended on the north coast town on Thursday for what has been described as the biggest sports event in terms of spectators held in Northern Ireland. 'It's great to be here again, to have The Open back with us again, and just in terms of what it means for us, in terms of the economic potential, so many visitors that come in person, millions that get online to watch what's happening as well. 'So I think that it's such a positive event for us, and we're so lucky to have it back in the north west,' Ms O'Neill. 'It showcases all that's good about us. I think it very much sends a message that we're open for business and I think that when people tune in and they'll see this beautiful part of the world, they'll know that the island is amazing, they should want to come here and we will very much will be promoting that message.' Ms Little-Pengelly described a 'real opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland' with a 'huge global audience watching'. 'Seeing the beauty of what's here, seeing how professional the set-up is here, and hearing about Northern Ireland,' she said. 'That's huge because, of course, in a very crowded marketplace, when it comes to trying to attract that investment, attract that tourism, attract that high-value golf tourism as well, actually getting the opportunity at the likes of The Open with that really, really huge global audience, is that really good unique opportunity for us. 'I know that Tourism NI and Invest NI are really trying to maximise the opportunities of this tournament being here, the biggest sporting event, as I understand, in terms of spectators that we've ever held in Northern Ireland.'
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Ireland weather: Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms could hit Portrush course
Dark clouds are to descend over the greens of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Co Antrim today, threatening the smooth running of The Open golf championship. More than 275,000 people are expected to brave the weather throughout the week and flock to Portrush to watch the oldest golf tournament in the world. The UK Met Office has issued yellow rain warnings for five counties in Ulster , with the possibility of thunderstorms between 11am and 8pm on Thursday, July 17th, causing possible flooding and other disruptions throughout the north. Cloudy conditions are forecast for the rest of Ireland as downpours of heavy rain move from west to east throughout the day, although temperatures will hover around the low 20s, according to Met Éireann . READ MORE Rain will gradually clear in the late morning for Connaught and Munster, allowing spells of sunshine to break through. However, clouds will return later in the day. Leinster will see an echo of these conditions on Friday. Highest temperatures are expected to range from 18 to 23 degrees in 'fresh southerly winds', Met Éireann said. Light showers are expected across the country on Thursday night, bringing a cloudy start to Friday, with sunshine peeping through when clouds briefly subside. Saturday is predicted to be generally dry with few scattered showers in the morning. Rain conditions are expected to worsen over the day, 'turning heavy and possibly thundery at times', according to Met Éireann. Showers are expected across Ireland on Thursday night The solar UV index, which measures the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation and its potential to cause harm to skin and eyes, will be moderate to high across Thursday and Friday, the forecaster said. This weekend is forecast to be noticeably cooler than last weekend. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees are expected on Saturday and Sunday.
