Royal and Ancient golf officials have promised to consider returning the British Open to Northern Ireland's Portrush course, the only links to have hosted an Open outside of mainland Britain.
Darren Clarke yesterday became the third Ulsterman in 13 months to win a grand slam tournament by winning the Open at Royal St George's, following last year's US Open and this years Masters won by Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
42-year-old Clarke has met with the RA's chief executive Peter Dawson to discuss the feasibility of the tournament going back across the Irish Sea where it was held at Portrush for the one and only time in 1951.
The next three Opens have been confirmed for England's Royal Lytham, Muirfield in Scotland and Royal Liverpool.
The political situation in Northern Ireland has also been a concern for UK golf's governing body in the past.
