Carton back for 2013 Open

Whatever about the long-awaited return to Royal Portrush for the 2012 Irish Open, Carton House director of golf Francis Howley is already gearing up for the 2013 tournament.

Carton House, home of the GUI’s national academy and host of the Irish Open in 2005 and 2006, is set to stage the European Tour event in 12 months, although a final decision will not be made until August about which of the resort’s championship courses will be used when Rory McIlroy and company descend on the Co. Kildare property.

The previous visit to Carton saw the Irish Open staged on the 7,301-yard, par-72 Montgomerie Course, an inland links designed by Colin Montgomerie and opened in 2003. The Montgomerie saw Stephen Dodd win in ’05 and then Thomas Bjorn prevail a year later and the course will stage this year’s European Amateur Championship from August 8-11.