Graeme McDowell wants the "British" open played at Portrush, Co.Antrim - huh ?

vicwatson · 28-06-2011 03:45PM #1

Irish Independent website today-

Star golfer Graeme McDowell has declared it his dream to play the Open Championship in his hometown of Portrush as he vowed to help bring Major golf back to Northern Ireland.

"I know myself and Rory would be behind a Northern Ireland event with the potential of then getting the British Open back to Portrush, that would be something," he said, stressing the importance of securing sponsors.

"That is a dream of mine. To play the Open Championship in Portrush is a wild dream, to play a European Tour event in Portrush is an achievable dream and I will do everything I can to make it happen."

Since when is Co.Antrim in "Britain" ?

PseudoFamous · 28-06-2011 03:47PM

vicwatson wrote: »

Since when is Co.Antrim in "Britain" ?

Since the partition? Granted, it's only part of the UK, but the UK open doesn't sound right.

TiGeR KiNgS · 28-06-2011 03:49PM

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Since the partition?

about 600 years before that ?

chave · 28-06-2011 03:49PM

FYI - It's called the Open championship.

amcalester · 28-06-2011 03:51PM

The competition is referred to as The British Open but its actual name is The Open Championship.

So this is a non-story.

The King of Moo · 28-06-2011 03:52PM

Well it's not in Britain, the island to the east of us, but it is in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which I think is close enough to allow it to qualify to host it,

Riskymove · 28-06-2011 03:52PM

vicwatson wrote: »

Since when is Co.Antrim in "Britain" ?

happened before

It was July 1951 when Royal Portrush made real headlines on the world stage by becoming the first (and last) golf course outside Great Britain to host the British Open Golf Championship, an event won by Max Faulkner with an aggregate score of 285 over four rounds.

the Senior Open Championship has been held there too

Riskymove · 28-06-2011 03:53PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

Well it's not in Britain, the island to the east of us, but it is in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which I think is close enough to allow it to qualify to host it,

surely the authorities could choose to host it anywhere they like? I dont think there are any legal requirments

KeithAFC · 28-06-2011 03:54PM

Hopefully it happens. Rory and McDowell, two great players.

Rabidlamb · 28-06-2011 03:54PM

There is no storm, there is no teacup either.

RMD · 28-06-2011 03:55PM

It can be played in Northern Ireland, I don't see why this is such an episode OP.

Lustrum · 28-06-2011 03:56PM

I can't believe we let the French have the Tour de France here in 1998!

At least a load of us speak the language of Britain, it's close enough

The King of Moo · 28-06-2011 03:56PM

Riskymove wrote: »

surely the authorities could choose to host it anywhere they like? I dont think there are any legal requirments

Maybe they could, what with it technically being called The Open Championship. Maybe it's like the way they have different parts of The Tour de France in other countries.
I'm guessing the organisers would like to at least keep it in the Commonwealth though.
I remember a few weeks back someone was looking for tips on being the ultimate troll. He should start a thread suggesting it be held in the Republic and named the Queen Elizabeth II Open.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 28-06-2011 03:57PM

TiGeR KiNgS wrote: »

about 600 years before that ?

Not really, seeing as Ulster was the last province conquered by England. I'd say Portrush was fairly late falling under British control. And the concept of 'Britain' didn't really exist until 1707.

Micky Dolenz · 28-06-2011 03:57PM

NI is part of Britain. I don't get the outrage.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 28-06-2011 03:57PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

NI is part of Britain. I don't get the outrage.

No its not. Its part of the UK.

Micky Dolenz · 28-06-2011 03:59PM

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

No its not. Its part of the UK.

Yeah, whatever. You can get a British passport if you are from NI.

My name is URL · 28-06-2011 03:59PM

It's never referred to as the Great Britain Open, and we do live on an island situated in the British Isles, so..

GavRedKing · 28-06-2011 04:00PM

Let them play there, they have my support.

Riskymove · 28-06-2011 04:00PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Yeah, whatever. You can get a British passport if you are from NI.

well you can get an irish pasport if you like, so that doesn't really prove anything

ScumLord · 28-06-2011 04:00PM

It was July 1951 when Royal Portrush made real headlines on the world stage by becoming the first (and last) golf course outside Great Britain to host the British Open Golf Championship, an event won by Max Faulkner with an aggregate score of 285 over four rounds.

Doesn't sound like it went to well.

2ygb4cmqetsjhx · 28-06-2011 04:00PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

NI is part of Britain. I don't get the outrage.

Yes. And I really have three testicles!

KeithAFC · 28-06-2011 04:00PM

I really don't see the problem. People from the Irish Republic can easily travel up to Northern Ireland and to Antrim to see it. Bit of a baffling thread to be honest.

Riskymove · 28-06-2011 04:01PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Doesn't sound like it went to well.

its more that there are a lot more courses in England, Scotland and wales competing to get it......Portrush is probably the only oine in NI with enough history and quality to get a look in

Micky Dolenz · 28-06-2011 04:02PM

Be pedantic all ye like.

Senna · 28-06-2011 04:06PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Doesn't sound like it went to well.

Last, to date.

Would love to see it played in Portrush, or even Royal Co.Down. Hopefully both their resent success will mean its a possibility.

Lustrum · 28-06-2011 04:06PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

I really don't see the problem. People from the Irish Republic can easily travel up to Northern Ireland and to Antrim to see it. Bit of a baffling thread to be honest.

Exactly! I'm sure there are plenty in this part of the island who would love the chance to get up and see some of the best golfers in the world. We all saw the support for McIlroy over at the US Open, imagine what it would be like in Portrush, it would be Special-Olympics-opening-ceremony-2003 tingling

CdeP · 28-06-2011 04:06PM

It would be great if The Open Championship (!) were to be held at Portush although, as Graeme seems to be acknowledging, it's unlikely. The necessary facilities simply aren't there.

No reason why the Irish Open shouldn't be held up North, though.

mike65 · 28-06-2011 04:08PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Yeah, whatever. You can get a British passport if you are from NI.

Riskymove wrote: »

well you can get an irish pasport if you like, so that doesn't really prove anything

It proves Nordies can have their fcuking state subsidised cake and eat it till they spew!

citytillidie · 28-06-2011 04:10PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Yeah, whatever. You can get a British passport if you are from NI.

Its a UK passport not British

CdeP · 28-06-2011 04:11PM

Riskymove wrote: »

its more that there are a lot more courses in England, Scotland and wales competing to get it......Portrush is probably the only oine in NI with enough history and quality to get a look in

Well Royal County Down certainly has "enough history and quality" but unfortunately those aren't the only criteria which determine where The Open is held.

Graeme McDowell wants the "British" open played at Portrush, Co.Antrim - huh ?

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