Authority wants to lead the bid for 2006 event

Published on Wednesday 17 July 2002 01:00

THE Open could make modern-day sporting history by returning to Muirfield as early as 2006 if ambitious plans by East Lothian Council bear fruit.

No venue has staged Opens as part of a four-year cycle in modern times and it is necessary to go back almost half a century to when St Andrews hosted two out of three Championships from 1955 to 1957 for evidence of such familiarity with a single course.

But as the Open continues to grow in popularity - around 200,000 fans are expected to attend in the four days between tomorrow’s start and Sunday’s conclusion - local authority officials are pinning hopes on the need to take advantage of specially provided infrastructures in terms of transport, etc.

At the same time it is being stressed that all efforts to attract further Opens are being made in conjunction with the host club who are the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers as well as the R&A.

"We note that no decision has yet been made regarding the whereabouts of the 2006 Open and for sure it is our intention to be in pitching to bring it back to East Lothian," said Brian Simpson, economic development manager.

Key to East Lothian’s bid is the relatively traffic-friendly location.

"Muirfield is easy to get to compared with other Open courses partly because the traffic management policy is spot-on," Simpson said.

He added: "Planning for this Open began several years ago and coincided with the start of road improvements which needed to be done.

"Spending was already programmed in but we wanted to take into account which roads would be used for getting to Muirfield and on those routes it was important East Lothian was seen to best advantage by the main visitors.

"I expect between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors will attend generating around 15 million for the local economy. To that extent the Open is a major sporting attraction on any scale and we take heart from the fact that only five years separated last year’s Open at Royal Lytham from its predecessor there in 1996."

Muirfield hosted Opens in 1987 and 1992 but the last of those allocations was due to the Honourable Company celebrating the course’s centenary year.

"Above all we want the Open back as early as possible because spectators enjoy coming here and the players themselves consistently say it is the best of the venues."

Champions crowned at Muirfield since the Second World War are widely regarded as golfing greats.

To that extent Simpson claimed that a victory for Tiger Woods to take him a step nearer a unique Grand Slam of major titles in a calendar year would enhance Muirfield’s status and further boost claims for a quick return by the Championship organisers.