Next year's Open at Royal Portrush expected to be bigger than '19

Martin Slumbers presented Shane Lowry with the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush in 2019

Outgoing R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers is predicting the Open will again attract a crowd in excess of 250,000 at Royal Portrush next year.

A quarter of a million were expected at Royal Troon this weekend, the third largest crowd in the championship's history behind the 150th edition at St. Andrews in 2022 and at Royal Liverpool last year.

There were approximately 238,000 spectators when Royal Portrush last hosted in 2019, with Shane Lowry's victory the first time the Claret Jug had been won on Northern Irish soil for 68 years.

"We've north of 250,000 here [at Royal Troon] this week and I think you can expect to be somewhere around that crowd number," Slumbers told BBC Sport NI.

"The ballot is open for tickets for next year and all the initial numbers that are coming through show it will be a bigger crowd than we had last time.

"I think the golf course can take that amount more people and let's hope we have the same exciting weekend."

'It can develop a St Andrews-like reputation'

Slumbers described the Portrush crowd as "slightly different" to a usual Open and added that the quick return to Northern Ireland was down to a desire to "build on" the success of five years ago.

"I learned a lot from 2019, we learned a lot," he said.

"One of the things we learned was that the large proportion of the crowd who came and enjoyed it had never been to an Open before and haven't been to an Open since.

"It can develop its own brand. Because of where it is in terms of the physical location, I absolutely feel it can develop a St Andrews-like reputation and destination.

"That will take time but that was why we wanted to come back so quickly."

Slumbers, who will step down from the position he has held since 2015 before the end of this year, added that the island of Ireland has the "golfing pedigree" to have two courses on the Open rotation but "a lot of problems and issues" must be overcome first.

Portmarnock Golf Club, located north of Dublin, has previously stated its desire to host the championship, although concerns have been raised about the course's surrounding infrastructure.

"Publicly we had said that the club had asked the Irish government for support in putting a proposition to us," said Slumbers. "We support that request and ambition.

"I think it would be terrific for the whole island of Ireland if we could have Portrush and one other event. Ireland has a big enough golfing pedigree to be able to support that.

"There are a lot of problems and issues before that becomes anywhere near a reality. I'm just focusing on next year."