PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - Royal Portrush Golf Club last hosted the British Open Championship in 1951. That's too long.
Politics aside, the seaside gem has everything the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews could want and much more.
At 7,143 yards the Dunluce Links is plenty long enough for the modern game, particularly if the wind blows.
The club is also blessed with plenty of room for corporate tents and grandstands, and there is the added benefit of an adjacent "smaller" course for parking.
And for those who say Portrush, about an hour northeast of Belfast, is too remote, we offer Carnouste as Exhibit A. Location may be the golden rule of real-estate but not for the Open.
Word is Rory McIlroy's victory at last month's U.S. Open may speed up the process of pulling Portrush back into the Open rota. Let's hope he doesn't have to collect 17 more to seal the deal.
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Hoggard, a senior writer, covers the PGA Tour and appears on-air in several capacities.
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