The chief executive of the R&A, Mark Darbon, has stated that Muirfield will need to make ‘a few tweaks’ before it can host The Open once again.
Widely revered as one of the finest courses on the rota, Muirfield has not hosted The Open since 2013 when Phil Mickelson lifted the Claret Jug.
The wait will continue for a while longer after it was confirmed earlier this year that Royal Lytham will stage golf’s oldest championship in 2028.
‘As I’ve said to you many times, we’ve got a great dialogue with Muirfield,’ said Darbon ahead of this year’s championship at Royal Birkdale, which should see record crowds of over 300,000.
‘We’ve just staged a really successful Amateur Championship there for the women. We’re excited to return an Open Championship to that venue in the future.
‘It requires a few tweaks both around the golf course and across the site more broadly, but it’s a good dialogue with the club and one that we’ll maintain.’
The view of the clubhouse from the wispy rough at the picturesque venue of Muirfield
The clubhouse at Muirfield but the East Lothian course needs tweaks to stage another Open
Birkdale has changed its layout quite dramatically this year, particularly on the back nine, and Darbon was asked if Muirfield would have to make similar alterations to the course and its ability to host the huge crowds now witnessed every year at The Open.
‘I think what I would say, first and foremost, is that these are all members’ clubs,’ he said. ‘So a lot of the decision-making is driven by the members themselves.
‘I think where we are this week is a brilliant example of that. The changes to the golf course have been driven by the members.
‘Given the strength of partnership that we have with our host venues, of course we’re part of some of those discussions, and where there are things that we can do together that also help us operationally, they often make sense to do to help with the staging of the championship.
‘But I think it would be wrong to say that all of the changes are driven by a need to accommodate spectators. They’re ultimately decisions for the clubs and their members.’
Darbon also revealed that the R&A are getting ‘pretty close’ to taking The Open to Portmarnock in Ireland, which will be a new addition to the rota of venues.
Phil Mickelson lifted the Claret Jug the last time The Open was staged at Muirfield in 2013
He also spoke about the slight increase in prize money this year, with the winner pocketing a cheque for around £2.4million.
‘We are big believers in recognising and rewarding the players,’ he added. ‘They’re the icons of our sport. They have a disproportionate impact on the status and standing of the game.
‘We look at prize money as part of a broader package that we offer here at The Open Championship. So prize money is but one component of that comparison.
‘At the same time, we’re trying to find a model that gets the balance right. We have a relatively unique model at The R&A.
‘We invest the proceeds that we generate from this Open Championship back into the sport. That’s really important for us, and we think we’re finding the right balance.’
