R&A chief executive Mark Darbon says the organisation is "getting pretty close" to staging an Open Championship outside the United Kingdom for the first time, at Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin. The R&A first revealed the possibility in 2023, with the Irish government announcing support of up to 40 million euro (£34m) in 2024.

Portmarnock has previously hosted the men's and women's amateur championships. "It's a complicated venue because of the scale of the Open Championship," Darbon said on the eve of this year's 154th tournament at Royal Birkdale. A major feasibility study with the club, local authority, and government is "pretty much done," confirming the venue can host the championship.

The R&A is now building a model to secure both the AIG Women's Open and The Open for many years. Discussions with the Irish Government are ongoing and "heading in the right direction," though Darbon admitted the process is taking longer than expected. He hopes for a clear view by the end of the year.