Muirfield will require "a few tweaks" before it can be considered to host The Open Championship again, according to R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. The East Lothian course, widely regarded as one of the finest on the championship rota, last hosted golf's oldest major in 2013 when Phil Mickelson secured victory.
Darbon indicated that discussions are ongoing with the Muirfield club, stating, "We've got a great dialogue with Muirfield... 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."
Muirfield last hosted The Open in 2013. Phil Mickelson lifted the Claret Jug that year.
Darbon made these comments ahead of the current year's championship, which is set to take place at Royal Birkdale and is expected to draw record crowds exceeding 300,000. He was questioned on whether Muirfield would need to implement significant alterations to its layout, similar to changes seen at Birkdale, to accommodate the increasing spectator numbers.
Darbon emphasized that host venues are typically private members' clubs, and decisions regarding course modifications are ultimately made by their members. "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," he said. "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."
The R&A is also progressing with plans to potentially bring The Open to Portmarnock in Ireland, a venue not previously on the championship's rota. "We are getting pretty close" to taking the championship to Portmarnock, Darbon revealed.
On the topic of prize money, Darbon noted a slight increase for the current year's championship, with the winner set to receive approximately £2.4 million. He stated the R&A believes in recognizing and rewarding players, viewing prize money as part of a comprehensive package. "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," Darbon explained. He also highlighted the R&A's model of reinvesting proceeds from The Open back into the sport.
Royal Lytham has already been confirmed to host The Open in 2028, meaning the wait for Muirfield to stage the championship will extend beyond that.