Watson remains defiant over Irish Open sponsorship

IRISH OPEN organisers have not admitted defeat in their search for a title sponsor but insist this year’s event will not suffer for the lack of one.

The European Tour, with support from Fáilte Ireland, has underwritten the 2011 tournament, to be held at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club from July 28-31, in the wake of 3’s withdrawal as title sponsor last November.

And while officials have not given up their search for a replacement, Championship Director Ben Watson accepted that time was running out with the first round teeing off on the Killeen course 13 weeks from today.