New sponsor faces big decision

MONEY rules — as thousands who understandably advocate the return of the Irish Open to Killarney for a third successive year may soon learn to their regret.

There was plenty of speculation over the weekend about the potential venue for the event in 2012 and beyond but ultimately that will be the call of any sponsor prepared to part with €2 million in prize money to augment a similar amount on offer from Fáilte Ireland.

The European Tour have had their fill of digging into their reserve fund to keep the tournament alive, just as they have done for several years past.