Where will The Open Championship be in 2019?

With the 2018 Open Championship in the books, where will Francesco Molinari be defending his title in 2019?

Francesco Molinari became the first Italian golfer to win a major championship on Sunday, with a steady 2-under 69 in the final round of The Open Championship at Carnoustie as other contenders (including playing partner Tiger Woods) fell by the wayside. In his last six worldwide events, Molinari now has three wins.

Now we can look ahead to next year’s event, where Molinari will be the defending Champion Golfer of the Year. So where will the 2019 Open Championship take place?

Through 147 Open Championships (or British Opens, if you prefer) now, only once has it been played outside of Scotland and England. That was in 1951 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, when Englishman Max Faulkner lifted the Claret Jug, and the event will make its return there 68 years later next year.

Rory McIlroy (2014) and Darren Clarke (2011) are Open champions of the fairly recent past, and natives of Northern Ireland. So the tournament’s return to the country will carry some extra meaning to them. At the time of the announcement back in 2015, Clarke spoke to that.

"This is going to be absolutely huge for Northern Ireland and, indeed, Ireland as a whole. To have the world’s biggest and best golf Championship played at such a fantastic venue as Royal Portrush, with all the passion that the Irish fans will bring to the event, is going to be amazing."

Also at the time of the announcement, Royal Portrush’s Acting First Minister Arlene Foster hinted at the course hosting two more Open Championships after next year.

“I welcome today’s announcement that The Open Championship is to be held at Royal Portrush in 2019 and twice again in the future.”

Related Story: Francesco Molinari wins The Open: Full Highlights

Golf’s oldest major will have the sporting world’s attention at Royal Portrush from July 18-21, 2019.