Irish Open moved to May for first time

THE 2005 Nissan Irish Open will be played in May for the first time in the modern era.

European Tour bosses yesterday confirmed that the championship will be played at the Montgomerie Course at Carton House, Co Kildare, from May 19 to 22.

On its revival by PJ Carroll in 1975, the championship was played in August and in the interim has gone into June and more recently to the week after the Open Championship in July.