 Tom Watson played in the Senior Open at Royal Portrush last year |
Royal Portrush is set to lose next year's Senior British Open despite a commitment to host the event on the north coast course in 2006 and 2008. It is believed the headline sponsors of the event, Aberdeen Asset Management, have indicated that they would prefer the championship to stay in Scotland.
The event has been held at Portrush on six occasions in the last ten years, and also at Royal County Down twice.
The Northern Ireland Events Company was committed to backing next year's event.
They indicated earlier this week that they were intent on honouring their side of the legally binding agreement with the European Tour for 2006 and 2008.
Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player are just three of the great players who have graced the north west links in the last decade.
Watson beat Ireland's Des Smyth in a play-off to win this year's event at Aberdeen on Sunday.