PGAofficials sound McIlroy out about Portrush

The PGA of America let it be known in October that it was studying the feasibility and impact of holding the tournament outside the US, with the earliest date being 2020.

And after Ted Bishop, the association’s president, announced live on US TV that Royal Portrush would be his preferred choice, McIlroy raised his country’s hopes yet further.

“I spoke to Ted about it a few months ago,” McIlroy said when the news broke last week.

“He did not mention Portrush, just Ireland, but he has always liked it as a venue. It’s a long way down the road, maybe 10 years or so, but I would love to play a major at home.

“The American PGA is very forward-thinking and think outside the box. The US Open, the Open Championship and the Masters can’t really go elsewhere but they are thinking of moving the PGA Championship around a little bit. I think it is a great thing for the growth of the game globally.

“It would be great to see - it would be huge. Last year’s Irish Open had a huge impact and everyone saw how well it was supported.

“Asia is the fastest growing region of the world in people playing the game and China are trying to produce the next Olympic champion so maybe down the line that will also be an option.”

The R&A denied reports this summer that the Open Championship was set to be held at Portrush in 2018. R&A chief executive Peter Dawson admitted earlier this year that it is “a fantastic golf course”, but concerns remain over the infrastructure required to stage a major and Dawson feels the current nine-course Open rota is “about right.” Portrush has not hosted a major championship since the 1951 Open, but the Irish Open drew massive crowds there in 2012.