Euro Tour bids to woo Irish Open title sponsor in Killarney

THE Irish Open may be going ahead without a title sponsor next month but European Tour chiefs will use the event in Killarney to woo a major long-term backer for one of its biggest tournaments.

The 2011 tournament, set for Killarney Golf and Fishing Club on July 28-31, was launched in Dublin yesterday with a €1.5 million prize fund and the title “The Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland” after the event was kept alive by Fáilte Ireland and the European Tour following November’s withdrawal of 3 as title sponsor.

The Irish Examiner understands major global financial services group Zurich is in talks to become the tournament’s next title sponsor, adding the event to a golf sponsorship portfolio that already includes two PGA Tour events in America, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and The Farmers’ Insurance Open as well associate sponsorship of European Tour events including the European Masters and Wales Open.