For the first time in more than 60 years the Open Championship is headed to these waters. The R&A announced on Monday that golf’s oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. That was the only time it was held outside Scotland or England since the Open began in 1860.

The decision to bring the Open championship back to Northern Ireland was influenced by overwhelming evidence of the region’s huge appetite for golf, organisers the R & A has revealed Confirming that Royal Portrush has been added to the Open rota, with 2019 a potential date for its long awaited return to major golf, R & A chief executive Peter Dawson cited the record breaking attendance at the 2012 Irish Open at the venue as both an “eye opener” and “tipping point” when it came to deliberations about taking the tournament across the Irish sea for only the second time in its history Mr Dawson said the vision became a reality when architects confirmed that a partial course redesign, required to accommodate the Open’s infrastructure demands, was workable.

He also made clear he had no security concerns about bringing the tournament to Northern Ireland during its oft-volatile marching season.

Four major championship victories by local superstars Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke between 2010 and 2012 added a real impetus to the campaign to bring the championship back, with all three lobbying on behalf of the course.

European Tour: Irish Open Preview Fota Island staged the Irish Open recently in 2001 and 2002 and the European Tour is back there this week post Pinehurst.

Colin Montgomerie and Soren Hansen were the duo to lift the trophy just outside Cork and it is unsurprising to see a few tweaks have been made to the course - including some additional length - ahead of this year’s renewal.

Top billing as ever goes to Rory McIlroy after a bit of an in-and-out display in North Carolina which saw him finish just inside the top-25 As an outside bet Danny Willet from England represents decent each way value at 50/1 .

PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands in Cronwell, Connecticut plays host to the Travelers Championship this week and 45-year-old Ken Duke defends the title he won via a play-off with Chris Stroud last year.

That renewal extended the run of first-time winners in this event, one which kick-started the career of Bubba Watson, confirmed the promise of Marc Leishman and offered long-deserved reward for both Duke and 2011 champion Freddie Jacobson.

Jason Day represents decent value at 14/1, having finished well last week he could well go a few places better this week.

Having just recently recovered from a thumb injury this exciting Aussie player could well have a profitable few months ahead of him.

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