Darbon also reaffirmed the R&A’s desire to take the Open outside of the United Kingdom for the first time, to Portmarnock in Dublin.
“We’re really excited about the investigative work we’re doing at Portmarnock and pleased with the support we’re receiving from local authorities and the government,” he said.
“We have a lot of work to do to bring that project to life but we’re really optimistic that it will happen.”
Darbon is also keen to return the Open to “brilliant” Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast in Scotland and says “feasibility” work is being undertaken.
The resort which has been given £200m of improvements since being bought by US president Donald Trump in 2014, last held the Championship in 2009.
Despite the facelift, Darbon says there are still “logistical and commercial challenges” around “road, rail and accommodation infrastructure” to overcome.
“In 2009 we had just over 120,000 people at Turnberry, and this summer we’re welcoming nearly 280,000 people to Royal Portrush,” he said.
“We know the golf course is brilliant so we’d love to be back there.”
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