Stars queue up to back Fota Island Resort’s credentials

Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell may have come up short in this year’s quest for an Irish Open victory, but both would be delighted to give it another shot at Fota Island Resort after a hugely successful week in Cork.

With 97,889 coming through the gates between Thursday and Sunday, and a total of 104,000 spectators — including those who attended last Wednesday’s Pro-Am — this year’s Open proved more popular in terms of attendance than even the European Tour’s flagship tournament, last month’s BMW PGA Championship.

Compared with recent Irish Opens, Fota’s hosting of the tournament was outshone only by Royal Portrush in 2012, which drew 112,280, while it bettered Killarney’s best showing in 2002 of 85,179, and last year’s event at Carton House near Dublin of 81,379.