Open Golf Championship Carnoustie

Irish success could lead to greater influence in scheduling

Fred Daly was the first Irishman to win a major championship when he took the Open Championship in 1947. For another sixty years, Daly was the only Irishman to have ever won a major. Then, in 2007, Padraig Harrington changed the course of golf history by winning the Open Championship at Carnoustie in a playoff over Sergio Garcia .

A year later, Harrington defended his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale in perhaps one of the greatest performances in extreme weather in golf history. He backed that up by taking down Garcia again at the PGA Championship at a brutal Oakland Hills test.

Two years later, Graeme McDowell notched the first major championship for the Republic of Northern Ireland and the first European win in the U.S. Open since 1970. 12 months after that, McDowell’s good friend Rory McIlroy keeps the Ulster flag atop the leaderboard of the year’s second major.

In the span of the last sixteen majors, the combined Ireland – which it is considered in golf and rugby – has won five majors. Five of them. Want an even scarier thought? That’s the same number as Americans have won in that time period.

Whether that will result in additional influence on the European Tour schedule remains to be seen, but now would be the time for Northern Ireland to gain an event on the docket. Graeme McDowell had hoped to bring one to Northern Ireland and, perhaps, Royal Portrush for 2011. Maybe 2012 now is a possibility.

The Irish influence could also help the Irish Open, which is looking for a long-term sponsor. Padraig Harrington has offered to host the event if it would help.

With Spain scorned for the 2018 Ryder Cup, their seven-event contribution to the European Tour schedule may dwindle some, particularly with three events in some degree of financial trouble. Then again, the English Open fell off the schedule for 2011 after expectations of being played – and England has seen an incredible resurgence, winning seven European Tour events this season.

But what about one step further? The R&A could avoid the Open Championship to Portrush. This year marks the 50th anniversary since it last played host to the longest runner major championship. 2016 is available!

If that doesn’t work, perhaps the U.S. Open can post up there since the Ulsterman are intent on winning it for quite a while.

Harrington is from Dublin, Ireland. McDowell and McIlroy are from Northern Ireland – both enjoy a good Guiness, but they are still different countries.

The Open Championship Golf Course 2007 – Carnoustie Scotland ...

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