Fota closes in on Irish Open

Cork’s Fota Island resort is closing in on a deal to bring the Irish Open back to Munster next June.

Productive talks between the European Tour and Fota resort representatives are likely to reach a positive conclusion before Christmas.

The financial muscle of the 780-acre resort’s new Chinese owners has helped table a persuasive package that the cash-strapped European Tour will find difficult to ignore as it ponders a venue for the June 19-22 event.