When asked about Portmarnock potentially being the first Open venue outside the UK, Dublin-born Padraig Harrington said: “For people from the outside it could be unusual.
“Some people would think it’s the ‘British Open’ – it’s always been The Open to me. The R&A run golf everywhere outside the US and Mexico.
“I’ve grown up playing on GB&I teams, on Walker Cup teams. I’ve never seen with the R&A a kind of ‘them and us’ type of thing. I’ve always thought an Open could move outside of Britain and what better place than Ireland.”
Three-time major winner Harrington, who won back-to-back Opens in 2007 and 2008, added: “It is the Open Championship. That’s why you have qualifiers in South Africa, Australia, Japan, around the world.”
In addition to Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have previously voiced their support for an Open at Portmarnock, with the latter telling BBC Sport NI earlier this week that he visited the club last week.
“They’re not giving too much away over there but all the rumours are that it’s going to be announced at some stage,” said the 2019 Open champion.
“Who knows, it would be amazing to have an Open Championship in Dublin. One of the biggest tournaments in the world coming to a place where I live would be very cool.
“I think Portmarnock is one of the best golf courses in the world so I think it’s fit for an Open. It would be a good Open for the R&A, it would be very successful. The infrastructure is all there.”
St Andrews will host next year’s Open before the tournament returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the first time in 16 years in 2028. Beyond that, the R&A is yet to confirm any other host venues.