Gary Player Reflects on Royal Portrush’s Return to the Open Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With a little less than two weeks remaining until the 153rd Open Championship tees off at Royal Portrush, golf legend Gary Player couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when I caught up with him last week. The nine-time major champion, who memorably won the 1997 Senior British Open at the Northern Ireland venue, had nothing but praise for the course that will once again host golf’s oldest major.
“Royal Portrush stands, in my view, as the finest golf course in Ireland, which is no small praise given the extraordinary depth of world-class links found throughout the country,” Player told me. “Overall, it’s one of the greatest in the world.”
The 153rd Open will mark Royal Portrush’s third time hosting the championship, following previous editions in 1951 and 2019. When the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links in 2019 after a 68-year absence, it created one of the most memorable moments in recent Open history as Irishman Shane Lowry claimed victory in front of adoring home crowds.
Player, who has witnessed golf’s evolution across seven decades, believes the R&A made the right call in bringing the Open back to the County Antrim coast. “It is a truly magnificent test of golf, shaped by nature and steeped in tradition. I was delighted to see the R&A restore it to the Open Championship rota, a decision that rightfully honors its stature in the game.”
Player still gets a sparkle in his eye when he talks about his 1997 Senior British Open win at Royal Portrush. It came down to a playoff against John Bland, a fellow South African, and Player remembers every detail of that clutch 15-footer he rolled in on the second playoff hole to seal the deal.
Player also fondly recalled the moment when Shane Lowry won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush. “What a moment that was when Irishman Shane Lowry won in its return!” he said, reflecting on the electric atmosphere that surrounded the tournament’s return to Northern Ireland after nearly seven decades.
With this year’s field getting ready to take on Royal Portrush, Player’s win all those years ago shows just how special this place is. The course has been creating magic moments for decades, and there’s no reason to think that’ll change anytime soon.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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