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Wales is hoping to attract the British Open Championship and initial talks have been held between government officials and the event’s organisers.
The Royal and Ancient (R&A) - the organisers of The Open, one of golf’s four major annual tournaments - has staged championships in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland but none of its 145 events in Wales, although Wales has staged golf’s Ryder Cup.
The Royal Porthcawl course in Bridgend county is where Wales wants The R&A to consider adding to their roster of host venues, alongside courses such as St Andrews and Muirfield.
Although the course has been suggested as a potential Open venue, Royal Porthcawl - which attracted 43,000 spectators to the 2014 Seniors Open - would need extensive development to host an event of the magnitude of The Open, which packed in about 175,000 fans at Royal Troon in Ayrshire last year.
The R&A has previously said that said it had ‘no intention’ of hosting the competition in Wales, which until 2014 hosted an annual Wales Open tournament at Celtic Manor in Newport.
The Open venues are confirmed until 2020. Economy Minister Ken Skates, however, confirmed the government was in negotiations.
“I think there is great potential to host new major events that have not yet been to Wales,” he said. “There are opportunities to host more golfing events and I’m keen to discuss with the R&A the potential of Wales to host the British Open.
“I think it is right that if we call it a British Open that it should be hosted in Wales and I’m keen to make sure that discussions take place with the R&A on that.
“I’ll be meeting with The R&A again this summer to discuss how we take forward the potential of a British Open being staged in Wales. I think it is our time.”
