Killarney should feel aggrieved

TODAY’S announcement that Royal Portrush will be the venue for this year’s Irish Open finally brings to an end a protracted period of speculation.

As recently as weeks ago, George O’Grady, the CEO of the European Tour stated they were exploring “an exciting new package” surrounding the probable return of the Irish Open to Dublin with an announcement of the venue to be confirmed before Christmas.

Carton House was the bookies favourite and then something happened. While we may never know the true reason why the European Tour moved away from Dublin, the conclusion has to be that the Northern Ireland venue had more to offer. The sponsorship package it could bring to the table with three major champions and, of course, a golf course of true pedigree and renown goes without saying.