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As widely expected, The Open is set for a quick return to Royal Portrush.

Organiser the R&A have today announced that the championship will be played over the Dunluce Links in Northern Ireland in 2025.

That follows a hugely successful return to the Emerald Isle in 2019 when Shane Lowry won the Claret Jug  – his maiden major – to the delight of a home crowd.

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The only previous occasion The Open had been played there was in 1951, when England’s Max Faulkner etched his name onto the most famous silverware in golf. 

The 2019 championship attracted a bumper crowd of 237,750, setting a new attendance record for a championship held outside St Andrews.

Martin Slumbers said, “We could not be more thrilled to be bringing The Open back to Royal Portrush in 2025. There will be huge excitement among golf fans around the world to see the best men’s players facing the challenge of this magnificent links once again.

“The Open in 2019 was a massive success and showed just how much collective enthusiasm, passion and commitment there is to make Royal Portrush one of the leading venues for the Championship and to
build a distinctive golf tourism brand for Northern Ireland.

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“We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the Northern Ireland Executive, our partner agencies and, of course, from the Club and its members. We look forward to working with them to deliver another fantastic celebration of golf in four years’ time.”

The Old Course in St Andrews will stage the 150th Open next year, followed by Royal Liverpool in 2023 and Royal Troon in 2024.


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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