British Open heads to Northern Ireland in 2019

London: The British Open will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2019, golf’s governing body the R&A announced on Tuesday. It will be only the second time that golf’s oldest major is played outside England and Scotland, after a previous tournament staged at Portrush in 1951, which was won by England’s Max Faulkner. “We are very much looking forward to bringing The Open to Royal Portrush in 2019 and believe it will be a tremendous venue for the Championship,” said Peter Unsworth, chairman of the R&A’s championship committee, in a statement on the organisation’s website. The move follows the successful hosting of the 2012 Irish Open at Portrush and comes after lobbying from Northern Irish major champions Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell for the Open to be played there.