The organizers of the Open Championship "have said they are staggered by the level of interest in the tournament’s historic return to Northern Ireland," according to the IRISH TIMES. The R&A described the demand for tickets to see July’s "sporting showpiece" at Royal Portrush Golf Club as "phenomenal." The tournament, which is returning to Northern Ireland and Portrush for the first time in almost 70 years, sold out last August -- 10 months before "the world’s top golfers tee off on the scenic Causeway Coast." Only tickets for practice days remain. On a winter planning visit to the course, R&A Dir of Corporate Communications Mike Woodcock said that "the pace at which tickets went took them by surprise." Woodcock: "We were confident there would be huge excitement here but I think even we were staggered by just how much there was when the championship days sold out in two months. It was phenomenal really and I think that speaks volumes about the enthusiasm, not only for golf but for sport here in Northern Ireland." Due to the "anticipated large crowds, this year’s Open was the first ever all-ticketed event in the Major tournament’s history" -- 190,000 people are expected through the gates. After meeting club officials, tourism bosses, emergency services and "other state agencies involved in putting on the tournament," Woodcock said that plans "were well ahead of schedule." The R&A "has already predicted" that the tournament will deliver an £80M ($101M) boost to the local economy (IRISH TIMES, 1/1).
