Royal Portrush names two holes after former major champions ahead of The Open Championship starting

Add as preferred source on Google

The Open Championship has returned to Royal Portrush, where Shane Lowry clinched the Claret Jug in 2019.

Lowry secured his maiden major win at Royal Portrush back then, when the Irishman soared to a six-shot victory.

The iconic venue is hosting The Open Championship for the third time this week, with home favourite Rory McIlroy among the field.

McIlroy failed to make The Open cut the last time the major championship headed to Northern Ireland, along with many other high-profile names such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

The Masters champion is now one of three players from the nation taking on the event, joined by Darren Clarke and Tom McKibbin.

Royal Portrush honours two former major winners before The Open Championship

And veteran Clarke is now one of two former major champions who have been honoured ahead of The Open getting underway.

The ninth hole at Royal Portrush has been renamed after Clarke, who won The Open at Royal St George’s in 2011.

READ MORE: Three reasons why Rory McIlroy can be quietly confident about winning The Open Championship at Royal Portrush

And the seventh hole has been renamed in honour of Graeme McDowell, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010.

Darren Clarke reacts to Royal Portrush honour ahead of The Open Championship

Clarke is currently enjoying himself on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has been a regular this season.

But the veteran will perhaps have the fondest memories of his unforgettable triumph at Royal St George’s in 2011.

READ MORE: Shane Lowry says why The Open Championship will be different for him and Rory McIlroy this year compared to 2019

He was 42 when he secured the Claret Jug, with Clarke defeating American icons Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson by three shots.

His current focus is, however, now on Royal Portrush, where he has shared his delight at having a hole renamed in his honour.

A thrilled Clarke posted on X: “It is a huge honour for me to have Royal Portrush’s ninth hole named after me.

“Congratulations to Graeme McDowell for also having a hole named after him. The club and its support has played such a big part in my life and this was a very proud moment.”

McDowell meanwhile is not in the field for The Open this week, but he has already gone down in golfing folklore thanks to his US Open title.

Currently playing on LIV Golf, the Northern Irishman emerged victorious at Pebble Beach via a one shot win over Gregory Havret.