Tour to confirm Open for Killarney
Tour chiefs will press ahead with the announcement, probably Monday, pending a few minor issues — and despite the fact that no sponsor has been secured to replace communications company, ‘3’.
It’s a huge shot in the arm for Killarney Golf Club and the town, which dovetailed superbly last August, impressing Tour players and officials alike. The Tour is continuing to work a two-pronged approach to sponsorship of the€3m event. They are continuing tentative discussions with regard to another significant corporate sponsor, but failing that, Fáilte Ireland has indicated that it will be part of a multi-tiered sponsorship agreement which will ensure the Irish Open’s status. The latter option would reduce the overall prize fund, however.
Even against that backdrop, the European Tour are happy to progress with the announcement of Killarney as the 2011 venue. Tour chief George O’Grady believes Killarney is an ideal location and set-up to build the Open for the future — as do key players on the Tour.
The event is also a significant financial boost for Killarney Golf and Fishing club itself. This week general manager Maurice O’Meara told the club’s agm that green fee increases of 10% from last August was only part of the dividend from the global publicity of hosting the event. He said the club expected that bump to continue in 2011.
Meanwhile two of the players who lauded Killarney’s hospitality, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, go into the Shark Shootout in Florida today flying the flag for a European Tour they believe is as strong as it has ever been.
Playing together competitively for the first time in this annual invitational pairs events organised by Greg Norman at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Clarke is hoping to tap into some of McDowell’s brilliant form to end a remarkable year for European golf on a high.
“I think it’s been an amazing year for European Tour members,” Clarke said. “I think if you take a look at the current world rankings, you have seven out of the top 11 in the world are European Tour members. That says an awful lot about the strength of the European Tour.
“G-Mac’s win over here at Pebble, and then kicking on from there and (Oosthuizen) winning at the Open, and Martin Kaymer winning in the PGA. We’ve got the number one player in the world as a European Tour player as well. I don’t think the European Tour has ever been in as strong a position as it is right now.”
It was left to McDowell, newly minted as number seven in the world rankings following his Chevron victory, to remind Portrush neighbour Clarke about the small matter of the Ryder Cup.
“Exactly,” added Clarke, “all that sort of stuff. I wasn’t going to mention that. I was trying to be polite. But I think it is in a really, really strong position right now.
“As Europeans, we all — certainly through my era — we all aspired to play on the PGA Tour. Now you take a look at it, and we still do have guys that have the opportunity to play on the PGA Tour, but the European Tour is now a very viable option. That just shows how far the European Tour has come.”
A second Euro win on US soil in as many weeks would suit Clarke very well with McDowell’s Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter also in the 12-team event, partnering American Dustin Johnson, the title being defended this week by US veterans Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker.
McDowell agreed with his partner’s assessment of the strength of their home tour and also pointed to PGA Tour wins for its members.
“It’s just been unbelievable. It’s been a crazy year when you think about what we’ve achieved as European Tour players with Rory and Lee and guys winning over here on American soil. Throwing three majors in there, throw the Ryder Cup in there. You know, look at the world rankings with the world No. 1 player in there. It’s just been a crazy year.
“I feel great to be part of that and one of the reasons why the European Tour is so strong right now. It will continue hopefully.”
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