Open tickets selling fast

This year’s Irish Open is expected to be one of the best yet after organisers confirmed tickets for Friday had sold out.

That makes Thursday the only day patrons without tickets can attend the event following an announcement last week that Saturday and Sunday’s tickets for the third and fourth round, respectively, had sold out also for the first time in its 40 year history.

Spectators without tickets can still pay on the gate to watch the action in today’s first official practice day, Wednesday’s Pro-Am, featuring stars from the worlds of showbusiness and sport and Thursday’s first round.

“When we announced in January that the Irish Open was coming to Royal Portrush we were told to expect a hugely positive reaction from [the] golfing public but this has exceeded all our expectations and is fantastic news for the tournament. We are well on course for in excess of 100,000 spectators here over the week,” said Championship Director Antonia Beggs.

“We have planned for this and our traffic management is in place. However we remind spectators that it is vitally important to follow the official Automobile Association event signage to and from the tournament rather than rely on ‘SatNav technology’ as the signs will direct spectators to the best available car park at the time.

“We also ask spectators to remember that this is a major sporting occasion and to exercise patience in their journeys to and from the event.”