As the 153rd Open Championship gets underway at Royal Portrush, the First Minister and deputy First Minister have welcomed the tournament back to Northern Ireland's north coast.

Celebrating the return of golf's oldest major, the Ministers joined business leaders and partner organisations at a breakfast networking event, marking the start of the biggest ever sporting event to be hosted in Northern Ireland.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "I am delighted to welcome The Open – one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar - back to Portrush on our stunning north coast.

"The 2019 Open was a massive success, and this year's event promises to be a showcase on an even bigger scale. It gives us an incredible opportunity to shine a spotlight on what we have to offer to thousands of visitors from across these islands and around the world, and many millions more watching on television in almost 200 countries. "Tourism has a vital part to play in achieving our goal of growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy. It is a vital industry which supports thousands of jobs and brings millions of pounds into our communities. The 153rd Open will bring significant benefits and future growth opportunities."

Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: "It is great to see the world’s best golfers back at Royal Portrush competing to win the sport’s oldest major championship in front of a sell-out crowd of 278,000 fans. I am really looking forward to an incredible few days of sporting drama.

"Northern Ireland boasts some of the best golf courses in the world, and has become a must-visit destination for golfers from across the globe. We have already seen the legacy of 2019 Open support the growth of golf tourism here, with the overall value reaching more than £86 million last year. And this year's Championship will further strengthen our position as a premier golf tourism destination and significantly benefit our overall tourism economy."

As well as getting to watch some of the top players in action, during their visit to the Open, the First Minister and deputy First Minister were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue, during which they took in the Swing Zone where they met with some future golfing stars. They also visited the Tourism NI & Failte Ireland Exhibition Marquee and the Broadcast Centre.