Ireland’s Major heroes add spice to Irish Open

THREE major champions will be among the 27 home golfers taking part in the Irish Open Championship at Killarney from July 28 to 31.

Darren Clarke’s victory yesterday in the British Open at Sandwich ensures the marquee names that every tournament craves will be there in force around the Killeen course at the end of the month.

The presence of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, the US Open champions in 2010 and this year respectively was enough but Clarke’s popularity, plus that of Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, adds spice to a field for one of the European Tour’s most prestigious events.

Ross Fisher, who held off Harrington in an exciting finish 12 months ago, returns to defend his title and other former champions to play include Colin Montgomerie, Michael Campbell, Richard Finch, Brett Rumford, David Carter, Patrick Sjoland and Soren Hansen.

Clarke will be joined by fellow Northern Ireland man Michael Hoey, who captured the Madeira Open in April. Other Irish tour regulars Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Paul McGinley will compete while invitations have been extended to former South of Ireland champions Niall Kearney and Colm Moriarty, Kerry’s Mark Murphy, Kilkenny’s Gary Murphy and Simon Thornton. It is also hoped that Killarney’s Dan Sugrue will secure a late invite.

Waterville’s David Higgins leads an octet of Irish qualifiers from the 2010 domestic order of merit completed by Damien Mooney, David Mortimer, John Kelly, Darren McWilliams, Barrie Trainor, Michael Collins and Eamonn Brady. Kevin Phelan, the Irish-American with close Waterford connections is one of four amateurs. Others are Irish Walker Cup team contenders, Alan Dunbar and Paul Cutler, and the North’s Dermot McElroy.