Gary Player gave his verdict on Royal Portrush as a course in 2014 when it was bidding to host The Open

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The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush next month, with the event being played on the Northern Irish course for only the third time ever.

Of course, many will remember Shane Lowry winning his first major title at the 2019 Open Championship. Lowry definitely had the crowds on his side as he ended up winning by six from Tommy Fleetwood.

It was a significant week as it was the first time in nearly 70 years that the Claret Jug had been lifted at Royal Portrush.

You would have had to have gone back to 1951 for the last time The Open was played at the venue, with Max Faulkner triumphing.

Gary Player issued his verdict on Royal Portrush

Gary Player would make his debut in The Open Championship five years later. The South African would go on to win his first Open title in 1959, before winning again in 1968 and 1974.

He would get the chance to win in the Senior Open Championship at the venue, with Royal Portrush hosting the event between 1995 and 1999. It would also return in 2004.

Player was victorious in 1997 following a playoff with countryman John Bland. The pair finished the week at 10 under par, before Player made a birdie on his 90th hole of the week to win by one.

And speaking to BBC Sport in 2014 as Royal Portrush was bidding to host The Open again, Player shared his view of the course.

“I love Royal Portrush. I think it’s one of the greatest golf links in the world, and I was very proud to win the Senior Open. I wanted to win nine majors on the Senior Tour as well as the regular tour, and I had to hole in a playoff against John Bland, I had to hole a 15 foot putt, and I really don’t remember being more excited about a putt going in than that. I always felt that my nine majors, particularly my grand slam on the Senior Tour, was a better effort than my grand slam on the regular tour because you’ve got to do it after 50, and I’m the only one who did it. They all tried to do it, so obviously it’s pretty tough to do. So obviously, I’ve got great memories of Royal Portrush,” he said.

“And is that true they’re going to have The Open Championship? Wouldn’t that be wonderful, that would be most deserving.”

The top 10 at the 2019 Open Championship

Lowry took control of the 2019 Open during the third round. He reached the halfway mark tied for the lead with JB Holmes. But he ended Saturday with a four-shot lead.

Interestingly, just four of the top 10 from that week have won major titles, while Brooks Koepka is the only one who has won a major since.

That perhaps hints that there could be quite a few surprise names in the mix when The Open returns to Portrush in the coming weeks.