- McIlroy became just the sixth golfer in history to claim the Grand Slam honour
- The Northern Irishman won victory in a dramatic play-off with Justin Rose
- Thousands are scrambling to catch a glimpse of the star’s ‘homecoming’
Rory McIlroy‘s history-making Masters triumph has triggered a surge of interest in this year’s Open – with a stampede for tickets on secondary markets.
Online searches for the upcoming tournament, which takes place just 60 miles from McIlroy’s hometown, have spiked to record levels with fans apparently desperate to see the Northern Irishman on the back of his Augusta success.
McIlroy became just the sixth golfer to win the Grand Slam after a dramatic play-off victory over England’s Justin Rose earlier this month.
And thousands are now scrambling for tickets on resale sites for what is being viewed as a glorious homecoming at Royal Portrush in July.
General admission tickets were snapped up in record time last year, marking what officials described as ‘the fastest sell-out in Open ballot history’. Around 278,000 are expected on the Antrim coast links for what was already the biggest sporting event held in Northern Ireland.
But McIlroy’s nerve-shredding victory has sparked a dramatic increase in demand. Ticket marketplace viagogo say that from the moment McIlroy clinched an epic victory on the Sunday through to the Wednesday (April 16) searches for tickets for the event were up by 343 per cent.
Rory McIlroy broke his majors drought in epic style claim his historic Masters title this month
The Northern Irish star triumphed during his play-off against Justin Rose in Augusta this month
There is a scramble for tickets to this year’s Open at Royal Portrush to witness his homecoming
On the Monday, hours after McIlroy eased into the green jacket, searches rocketed to more than 2,500 – more than 10 times higher than the average from the previous week and demand remains high. The cheapest general admission tickets for Thursday are priced at £198, while the cheapest for Sunday’s final day are at £230 each, close to double face value.
‘Rory McIlroy mania is in full flow,’ said viagogo’s Matt Drew. ‘His victory at Augusta captivated golf fans around the globe in what was undoubtedly one of the most dramatic and emotional sporting moments in recent memory, and many sports fans are now eager to witness what promises to be a historic homecoming at Royal Portrush this July.
‘The surge in demand on viagogo speaks volumes and it’s clear that The Open is now firmly in the sights of fans who want to be part of what could be another unforgettable moment in Rory’s career.’
