Chief executive Mark Darbon has revealed that the R&A is "getting pretty close" to staging an Open Championship outside the United Kingdom for the first time, with Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin as the prospective venue.
The R&A, which organizes golf's oldest major, first explored the possibility in 2023, and the Irish government pledged up to €40 million in support last year. Portmarnock has previously hosted both the men's and women's amateur championships.
"It's a complicated venue because of the scale of the Open Championship," Darbon said on the eve of the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. "There's been a lot of great feasibility work with the golf club, the local authority, and the government. We've confirmed that we believe we can take an Open there."
He added that the R&A is building a model that could open opportunities for both the AIG Women's Open and The Open at the venue for years to come. "That's the dialogue we're in right now with the Irish Government, and we're optimistic that those discussions are heading in the right direction."
When pressed on a timeline, Darbon said: "In the spirit of transparency, it's taking a bit longer than I thought, but we're hoping to have a pretty clear view by the end of the year."
Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open champion, expressed his excitement: "It would be amazing to have an Open Championship in Dublin. Portmarnock is one of the best golf courses in the world, so I think it's fit for an Open. The infrastructure is all there."
The 154th Open Championship runs from 16-19 July at Royal Birkdale, with St Andrews hosting next year's event. Beyond that, the R&A has not confirmed further host venues.