Sponsors want Irish date a week before British Open

IRISH Open sponsors 3 are targeting the week before next year’s British Open at St Andrews as the new date for their championship. It is probably the most coveted week on the calendar.

However, the slot is currently filled by the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and sponsored by Barclays Bank to the tune of £3 million.

But, like most financial institutions, Barclays have been suffering in the global slump and there has been speculation about their future involvement.