Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy has said that Royal Portrush will be a "fantastic venue" for The Open in 2019.

It was confirmed this morning that the Northern Irish course would host the tournament later this decade and McIlroy, who hails from the same country, said that it is one of his favourite courses in the world.

"Royal Portrush is one of my favourite golf courses in the world," he told The Open's website. "I think it will be a fantastic Open venue."

Preparations are underway for new seventh and eighth holes on the Dunluce Links that will replace the current 17th and 18th holes.

"They are going to add a couple of new holes to the golf course and I think that will be a great addition and will make the course even stronger," added McIlroy, who won the tournament last year. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Another Northern Irishman, 2016 European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, said: "This is going to be absolutely huge for Northern Ireland and, indeed, Ireland as a whole.

"To have the world's biggest and best golf Championship played at such a fantastic venue as Royal Portrush, with all the passion that the Irish fans will bring to the event, is going to be amazing."

The 2019 edition will take place between July 18 and 21 and will be just the second time in the tournament's history that it has been staged outside of Scotland or England.

The other time was also at Royal Portrush in 1951, when Englishman Max Faulkner lifted the Claret Jug.