[O'donoghue:] Welcome back to "Living Golf." Now in 1951, something unique happened in the Open Championship. It left mainland Britain. Royal Portrush was the venue, and over the past few years, a campaign to bring it back here has been given new impetus by the remarkable success of Northern Ireland's McDowell, McIlroy and Clarke, who followed swiftly on from Padraig Harrington's Irish triple major haul. So what are the chances?
[Unidentified Male:] This golf course is way beyond good enough to host an Open. And the roads here are as good as the roads in [inaudible], so I don't see why not, you know? It would be as tough as [inaudible], probably tougher.
[O'donoghue:] This year's Irish Open drew 100,000 fans to Portrush, but a century ago, this small fishing town on the top of Northern Ireland was more renowned for its giant [inaudible] than its golf. Then, in 1951, not unlike today, the successful staging of the Irish Open in the '30s and '40s coupled with some homegrown talent persuaded the R&A; to bring the Open to this patch of stunning June land.
[Ian Bamford, Portrush Golf Historian:] There was huge buzz in the town, 8,000 to 9,000 spectators walking the fairways in most cases. Robin [inaudible] past captain, I can remember distinctly, he was the chief marshall. And he used a megaphone to keep the crowds in check and to admonish the [inaudible] for not keeping the crowds in check. I saw the last round that was on the first tee and Max Faulkner had shot 71, 70, 70, and it was a very wet day. Rumor has it, and I think it's actually true, that when he was signing autographs, he had the audacity to put "Open champion."
[O'donoghue:] But the Open Championship never returned. From the late 60's, Northern Ireland became drawn into decades of sectarian violence. Reminders of those dark days remain, but in the week of the Irish Open, the Northern Irish Peace Process delivered a scene unthinkable just a few years ago. On the very next day, guess who came to Royal Portrush?
[Peter Robinson, First Minister Of Northern Ireland:] We've got political stability, and we've got peace like we've never had before, and these are the benefits of peace, being able to bring international tournaments into Northern Ireland, being able to showcase Northern Ireland to the world. This is what normality means.
[O'donoghue:] The phenomenal interest from these Northern Irish golf fans has made this Irish Open the first ever sell-out event on the European tour. But despite the obvious passion for golf here, would this course, and indeed this area, really be able to host a modern-day Open Championship with 160-odd thousand spectators during the week, sponsors, merchandise, and absolutely everything else?
[Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Tourist Board:] We know there will be infrastructure requirements, we know there'll be transport requirements, we know there'll be accommodation requirements. All those things can be done if you have five years to plan for it, you know, a different scenario. And I'm confident that given the success of this event, if we know what's required, we'll deliver on it.
[O'donoghue:] So logistics play their part, because the three musketeers of Portrush and Ireland's most successful golfer who are paving the way for an Open return.
[Graeme Mcdowell, Professional Golfer:] It'll be something pretty special, but we'll soon learn quickly if the golf course can handle it, if the logistics can handle it. And, like I say, hopefully we can showcase it well to the R&A;, and who knows.
[Rory Mcilroy, Professional Golfer:] You know, the golf course is certainly to hold the Open Championship. You know, it's just everything else that goes into making an Open you know, a major tournament. But, you know, the Open's still played at [inaudible], and you know, that's a very small place with not a great infrastructure around it, and they manage to do it well there, so I don't see why there's be no reason to not play it here.
[Padraig Harrington, Professional Golfer:] As far as I'm concerned, we've already had a winner here. They've exceeded all expectations, they've done everything they should have done at this stage, and you know, I wouldn't judge them past that.
[Peter Sinclair, Chairman, Golfing Union Of Ireland:] We want to prove that we can run a tournament that's second to none around this course, and hopefully be able to attract other people to come here and hopefully down the line bring the British Open, which is our [inaudible].
[O'donoghue:] And away from stars and the cameras, the Northern Ireland authorities are working to develop the area as one of the leading golf destinations in the world. A fact that was suddenly thrown into the spotlight when Portrush's defending Open champion chose his press conference to lambast those blocking a proposed new golf development near the giant's [inaudible].
[Darren Clarke, Professional Golfer:] It's been in planning for 12 years, and it's a 100-million-quid project, and you know, hopefully at some stage, they'll come to their senses and let the course be built.
[O'donoghue:] But one thing's for sure: throughout the week, key figures from the R&A; were mingling with the players, crowds and organizers at Portrush, assessing how the course and infrastructure coped with the huge numbers. And if there ever was a signal that something really has now changed, surely this is it.
[Martin Mcguinness, Depputy First Minister Of Northern Ireland:] Those people who are the decision makers in terms of the Open are now very, very serious. They're looking at the prospect of the Open that will come here. In fact, I think we can protect with a fair degree of certainty that it's not too far away.
[O'donoghue:] Still to come on "Living Golf," the best bunker player in the business, Luke Donald. And we talk Royal Lytham and St. Anne's with a man who's been there, seen it and done it.