Organisers plan to put Irish Open back on map in Killarney

IT WAS only after “robust discussions” between sponsors ‘3’ and the European Tour that the August Bank Holiday was agreed as the date for next year’s Irish Open Golf Championship to be played for the third time over the Killeen Course at Killarney.

It will be staged from July 29 to August 1, meaning it will end on the Sunday evening rather than on the bank holiday Monday. The prize fund is in excess €3million which is a magnificent contribution by ‘3’, Fáilte Ireland and the European Tour. I understand that Killarney are not involved in any financial contribution whatsoever.

The change from mid-May to early August makes for the likelihood of the strongest Irish Open field for years, as it falls a couple of weeks before the European team to face the Americans in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor (Oct 1-3).