Tour and 3 set talks to pin down Irish Open date
The ideal scenario from 3’s perspective would be to stage the championship on a links in the weeks immediately preceding the British Open.
The dates in question are held by the French and Scottish Opens so there would need to be a serious sea-change if either were to become available.
Furthermore, there is a strong rumour the Scottish Open, sponsored by Barclays, will be moving from Loch Lomond to Turnberry in 2010.
Should this come to pass, it would be a massive boost to the Scottish event given that Turnberry, of course, is a links and the venue for this year’s British Open. Most of the game’s finest would see it as ideal preparation for St Andrews the following week.
However, Finnegan can beexpected to once again tell O’Grady that mid-May just isn’t satisfactory and that they would prefer to stage their event in July or even into August as was the case in the event’s halcyon days of the Irish Open at Portmarnock and Royal Dublin.
There are free dates on the calendar in June and September but it is doubtful if either would fit in with 3’s requirements.
O’Grady spoke yesterday of his appreciation for 3, who almost certainly saved the Irish Open from extinction, and the outstanding support they received in spite of all the inclement weather at Baltray last month.
He was also touched when Rory McIlroy’s mother came up to him during the event, gave him a big kiss and thanked him “for keeping the Irish Open going so that my son can win it some day”.
He went on: “It took hours, days, weeks to bring Ireland together. I am not exaggerating. And then it might have been our fault in the week when the weather wasn’t great but you have occasions like later as well.”
O’Grady added: “It’s now preserved and it’s hopefully got a future when the chief executive of 3 comes to Wentworth on June 11.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
