G-Mac backs Royal County Down

Graeme McDowell believes Royal County Down could become the second course in Northern Ireland on the Open Championship rota.
Last year, Royal Portrush was added to the rota – joining Troon, St Andrews, Muirfield, Turnberry, Sandwich, Lytham, Hoylake, Birkdale and Carnoustie – and it is set to host its first Open in 2019.
McDowell reckons Royal County Down, which hosts this week’s Irish Open, has the necessary quality to become the 11th course on the list.
“It’s great to be back here,” said the former US Open champion. “Obviously Portrush a few years ago (staging the Irish Open in front of record crowds in 2012) put Northern Ireland golf on the map from the point of view of what we are capable of and led to things like the Open Championship coming back to Portrush, and I really believe that County Down can be a runner for an Open Championship.
“I’m a little biased towards Portrush of course, but there’s something about this golf course that I love. I love the elevation changes. I love the bunkering. It’s a much tougher golf course.
“This will be a really, really great showcase I think for golf and Ireland in general.”
One issue that would need to be resolved is the venue’s current infrastructure, which has seen spectator numbers limited to 20,000 a day this week.
To host an Open Championship it will need to increase its spectator capacity, but two-time Open winner Padraig Harrington believes it will be achievable.
“I think this golf course is capable of hosting any tournament,” he said.
“Portrush was always thought of as a great links golf course and the questions were can they host the event and the infrastructure for an Open Championship. And I assume that’s the same question at Royal County Down and that’s why we’re here for an Irish Open.
“If they do such a good job like Royal Portrush in 2012, it really puts their name out there as, yeah, not just do we have a great golf course but we can host a great event like the Open Championship.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship
After a run of five straight pars McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five.