Pádraig: Irish Open a hit with Rory in the House
Wearing his hat as Irish golf’s top tourism ambassador, the Dubliner is convinced the hottest player on the planet will build on this year’s record-breaking staging at Royal Portrush and make Ireland the epicentre of world golf when the event returns to the Montgomerie course at Carton House from June 27-30.
“We were a top Premier League team for some time but we intend to get back up there,” Harrington said when asked about the Irish Open’s mid-table standing in terms of European Tour prize funds.
“You’ve got Rory McIlroy playing already. I’m sure if you read some of the articles this week you know how much it costs to get Rory to play an event.
“He’s playing in the Irish Open for free because he loves to play in the Irish Open. Already the event is on a winner.
“Rory has created so much of a buzz around the world that he’s wanted in every tournament there is yet he’s already committed to the Irish Open – what a guarantee that is!
“There is only one professional event in Ireland. That’s your only opportunity to see Rory play golf. So for spectators, that’s a must.
“Obviously, there’s many more Irish professionals and many will have their favourites but, for sure, Rory is an unbelievable draw and the fact that he’s already committed to the Irish Open is a big deal.”
Harrington was referring to reports that McIlroy can now command a $2m (€1.5m) appearance fee that was once the sole domain of Tiger Woods.
And there’s no doubt the 23-year old Ulsterman’s bid for his first Irish Open crown will draw millions of worldwide viewers and pack the Maynooth venue, which hosts the event on a summer date following two weather-plagued stagings in 2005 and 2006.
A huge gate is crucial for the European Tour and Fáilte Ireland, who are the event’s primary stakeholders.
This year’s return to Royal Portrush was an unprecedented success for the European Tour, which made a €1m profit after 130,785 fans paid in to see McIlroy, Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, who have won seven Majors between them since 2007. No fewer than 112,280 attended the four tournament days — up 27,101 on last year’s attendance at Killarney.
And with the Tour facing staging costs of around €4.5m with plans for “a small increase” in this year’s €2m prize fund, they are banking on McIlroy to draw around 100,000 fans to the muscular Montgomerie course.
The Mallaghan family, which owns the resort, was keen to take the Irish Open to the sister O’Meara course following the construction of a new first 18th, but was convinced by the tour to go back to the Montgomerie amid fears that the new holes would not bed in well during a harsh winter.
Underwritten by the Tour and Fáilte Ireland for the past five years, Fáilte Ireland chairman Redmond O’Donogue sees no reason why government support — €1.5m including VAT next year — will not be forthcoming for the foreseeable future.
“Over the past five years, nobody [in Government] has demurred,” O’Donoghue said. “You only have to argue on the basis of competitiveness. What self-respecting country that is serious about golf doesn’t have a national open?
“Ireland is to golf what New Zealand is to rugby. Since we were in Carton House last time, Irish golfers have won seven Major Championships, which is fantastic. You have to have an Irish Open.
“It’s a lot of money in a difficult time but it’s an investment and everyone can see the benefit. It makes good business sense and is right for the country.”
The event will once again be run on a public-private basis, with a host of supporting sponsors such as Ballygowan, BMW, Emirates, Heineken, Moy Park, Rolex and Waterford Crystal all happy to tap in to the Dublin market.
A move back north of the border is likely in the future as George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, explained.
“We had steadfast support from governments on both sides,” O’Grady said of this year’s staging at Royal Portrush. “If we can take a good financial gate, that becomes a realistic part of the whole sponsorship package and we can reflect that with the prizemoney we’re going to pay. We’re going to be up on last year.”
When the Irish Open was last staged at Carton House in 2006, it was competing with the Smurfit European Open and the Ryder Cup, both of which were held at The K Club.
“Being able to pull all of Ireland together without having to compete with a tournament at The K Club or elsewhere on the island is significant,” O’Grady added. “But the big thing is being able to market Ireland abroad.
“The North has said we’ll be welcome back at the right time, I don’t think they’ll necessarily want to host the tournament every year. We will be going back to the North. I think the Taoiseach sees one Ireland in terms of golf and the great courses North and South.”
Harrington was keen to promote the ticket drive, which includes a specially priced ‘Irish Double’ ticket for the third round of the Irish Open and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day at The Curragh for a combined price of €50.
* Full ticket information can be found at www.europeantour.com/tickets or on 1890 252 698.
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