R&A boss reveals what needs to change before Open goes back to Muirfield

The chief executive of the R&A has insisted that The Open WILL return to Muirfield – but hinted that a potentially big conversation needs to take place before that happens.

The East Lothian course has a significant Open pedigree, having staged the battle for the Claret Jug on 16 occasions, but not since 2013.

It was briefly struck from the rota in May 2016 after a vote by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to allow women to become members failed, only to be restored ten months later when the same proposal passed at the second time of asking.

However, whilst the AIG Women’s Open was staged at Muirfield in 2022, there is no date confirmed for The Open to return.

The suspicion is that this is a consequence of the Genesis Scottish Open, staged the week prior to The Open, taking up residency at The Renaissance Club next door to Muirfield.

• Study reveals least memorable Open champion

• Tiger Woods: Donald Trump incident derailed Open prep

Speaking on the eve of The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, Slumbers conceded that may be an issue and one he would look to resolve before he steps down from his post later this year.

“We’re going back to Muirfield,” he insisted. “It’s a brilliant golf course. I’ll have a little conversation with Mr. [Guy] Kinnings [the chief executive of the DP World Tour] about maybe moving the Scottish Open from the Renaissance.”

The Scottish Open has been staged at The Renaissance every year since 2019 and it has become a popular venue with both players and fans.

Any conversation about moving the event from there would also, presumably, require the input of the PGA Tour. The US-based circuit has co-sanctioned the tournament 2022.

• Brandel Chamblee questions Rory McIlroy’s major prep

• Shane Lowry defends Rory McIlroy over ‘blood boiling’ criticism

On the subject of the rota, Slumbers also provided an update on Portmarnock’s prospects of being added.

The Irish links has been heavily touted as a future Open venue and, last October, it publicly declared its intention to host the championship.

According to Slumbers, however, a decision remains some way off.

“What we’ve said about Portmarnock is the club has asked the Irish government for support in putting together a business case to stage our championships on the links, and we are fully supportive of the club doing that.

“We are actively engaged in making those assessments. But no decisions have been made because we don’t even know if it’s possible.”

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