By Phil Campbell
Ernie Els wants open to Muirfield as soon as possible and called R&A to book the famous course in 2028.
Muirfield is one of the emblematic places of open and welcomed the original 16 times of golf, behind St Andrews on the current Rota of 10 lessons to which the event takes place.
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But it has not been seen since 2013, due in part to a line between the R&A and the Honorable Company of Golfers of Edinburgh, which has the route.
Muirfield was briefly excluded from the reception of the open in 2016 after having failed to obtain the two -thirds majority required during a vote on the admission of women, although this was delivered when the request was finally adopted a year later.
However, R&A would be reluctant to keep the event in Scotland in the successive years and with St Andrews locked up for accommodation every five years, which leaves less room for the other four Scottish courses.
In addition, the Scottish Open, which traditionally takes place the week before the open, landed next to Muirfield at the Renaissance Club.
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This brings logistical challenges and questions about the question of whether the region can take two huge events in consecutive weeks.
“Yes Muirfield should host [The Open] As soon as possible, ”said ELS, speaking when launching her new golf club, Els Club Vilamoura.
“I don’t know why he did not resume.
“In my opinion, Muirfield is up there, it’s in my top three [courses]. “”
Fortune could help Muirfield to stage open in 2028. R&A have not yet announced their plans, but they should be disrupted by the Los Angeles Olympic Games, which were planned for mid-July, two weeks earlier than usual.
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This caused a massive headache for open, which will have to modify its usual date in mid-July to allow players to compete in both.
The 2028 Open would be back in Royal St George’s in Kent, but in August, offering less daylight, it is probably inconceivable, with 16 hours necessary.
In addition to Muirfield, the double champion of the United States, ELS, also launched his support behind courses such as Turnberry and Royal Lytham & St Annes – where he won his second jug of Bordeaux – but admitted that these three courses would be necessary.
He continued: “Many of these courses need duration now. These young people hit him so far. I think that is the problem. So let’s wait and see.”
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ELS played an exhibition of nine holes to open the Els Club Vilamoura alongside the Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and the 2001 open champion David Duval.
The Algarve course is a 18-hole championship golf course which offers a luxury clubhouse and signature equipment such as the 261 bar, and was built on the Redesssiné Victoria course, which welcomed the Masters of Portugal from 2007 to 2022.
It will host the new PGA Champions Tour event, Portugal Invitational, after having signed a five -year contract.
The first edition of the event should be held from July 31 to August 2, 2026.
Els said: “The golf course is in the pretty ideal place right now and [creating this course] was a very nice business. We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and people have great experience and good food. »»
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Montgomerie added: “The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It is not only a course for the present; it is also a course for the future.”
PGA Tour Champions announces Portugal Invititational to be held at the Els Club Vilamoura on the route designed by Ernie Els. PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo from Portugal and Turismo de Algarve will offer a five -year partnership and will make its debut at the week of And will have a field of 78 players. For more information, visit https://www.portugalinvitational.com/
