‘Fantastic field’ to attract record attendance

A RECORD crowd is expected at next week’s Irish Open in Killarney on the back of Darren Clarke’s and Rory McIlroy’s Major triumphs.

With Clarke claiming a stunning British Open success at Royal St George’s, following McIlroy’s superb US Open victory last month, the fact that two current Major champions will be competing in Killarney is expected to swell the crowd.

Killarney Golf Club general manager Maurice O’Meara believes that last year’s crowd numbers can be surpassed next week, when Clarke and McIlroy, as well as a host of other big names in golf, head to Kerry.

“We had 82,500 fans at last year’s Irish Open but from the interest that has been shown already we hope to exceed that number next week,” O’Meara said.

“The weather will be a huge factor in what numbers attend but if we get the same sort of weather we enjoyed last year, we will be aiming to surpass last year’s number.”

As well as Clarke and McIlroy, former Major champions Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell will compete at Killarney, with the four Irish stars certain to create a huge interest amongst golf fans.

O’Meara admitted: “It’s great to have two current Major champions coming to Killarney for the Irish Open, and that makes it four Major champions, with six Majors between them, in the field. It shows the strength in depth in Irish golf at the moment. Not only is this great news from a sport’s perspective but from a tourism perspective this is a massive boost to the country.”

“The interest in the Irish Open this year is huge. You have Rory McIlroy who is the new sensation of world-wide golf, while Darren Clarke will have a huge following after his terrific and deserved win in the British Open.

“With the likes of former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie coming, as well as Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington and (defending champion) Ross Fisher it will be a fantastic field to watch in action in Killarney next week.”