Following the success of fellow golfing compatriots McIlroy, Clarke & McDowell in getting the Open to come to Northern Ireland, the IOC apparently sent the Golfing Titans McLeeRoy and G-Mac to Portrush to seal this additional deal.
Local newspapers are also reporting on the possibility that part of the agreed deal was to send out McLeeRoy in place of world Number 3 McIlroy. This could help explain why he shot that horrific +8 opening round?
But the bigger mystery is around the whereabouts of IOC Tour Director Pete Doherty. Why isn’t he in Portrush negotiating this deal? Rumours from America suggest that he may be negotiating an even bigger deal to get the Autumn Super Titans announced as the 5th Major. The leading players here this week are said to be super excited to be playing at Pine Ridge. Fowler and Rose have been spotted playing sneaky practice rounds which as we know is well established Titans protocol!