Rory McIlroy opts to miss this year's Irish Open to focus on The Open

Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will miss this year's Irish Open.

Organisers of this year’s Irish Open at Lahinch have suffered a major momentum check with confirmation from Rory McIlroy that he will not travel to Clare in July. McIlroy says he will miss Lahinch in order to focus on preparations for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush a fortnight later.

"If there is ever a year when I feel I can miss this Irish Open, it's this year," McIlroy told BBC NI.