‘Wild Thing’ will be unleashed at Fota

Wildlife is not in short supply at Fota Island, but the Irish Open will have “Wild Thing” John Daly alongside the “Big Five” of Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley from June 19-22.

The confirmed participation of Ireland’s current major winners, not to mention European Ryder Cup captain McGinley, is no surprise. But could more stars be on the way?

With appearance money not an option for an event without a title sponsor, the €2m championship is relying on the powers of persuasion of the likes of US-based McIlroy and McDowell to bring a few more big names to Cork.

McIlroy certainly did not rule that out when confirming his first competitive appearance in the Rebel County. “It is the week after the US Open, so I would love to get a few more international players along,” McIlroy said. “But it is a strong event anyway and it is great that all of Ireland’s major champions are supporting it again.”

World stars would be more likely to play in next year’s Irish Open at Royal County Down, given the cachet of the venue. But until the event snags that dream date in the fortnight before the Open Championship, Daly may be the biggest US name available.

The presence of all four Irish major winners is certainly welcome and McIlroy will be hoping to improve on his modest record of just two Top-10 finishes in six professional appearances, with the best of those his seventh place on his debut at Adare in 2008.

“I’ve never been to Fota — in fact, I’ve never properly visited Cork — so I don’t know the area too well,” McIlroy said. “But I do know that the Irish Open was a great success when it was hosted there in the past.

“It should be a good venue for us again and it is great that they are moving the Irish Open around. The Irish Open is a big part of The European Tour schedule and has been for a long time now, so to still keep it going is important and I want to lend my support to it as much as I can.”

With talk of a charter flight being laid on to take the Irish Open entrants from the US Open at Pinehurst No 2 directly to Cork, a few more big name invitations could be in the pipeline.

But while some eyebrows will be raised about inviting struggling world No 639 Daly to tee it up in an Irish Open for a fifth time, the 48-year old American is sure to add colour to what promises to be a big week as top-class golf returns to Cork in 50 days’ time.

Daly, aka “The Lion”, shot a career worst round of 90 alongside Harrington at the Valspar Championship in Florida just six weeks ago as he struggled with the yips. The 1991 US PGA and 1995 Open champion last played in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 and finished tied for 24th behind Jamie Donaldson, having previously played at County Louth in 2009 (cut), Druids Glen in 1999 (67th) and Mount Juliet in 1994 (tied 2nd).

The only player to win two majors but not participate in the Ryder Cup, Daly said: “I can’t wait to get over. I always love my time in Ireland, a place of great courses and brilliant fans.”

Fota will be Daly’s fifth European Tour invite this season. He has made the cut in one, in Qatar in January, finishing 61st behind Sergio Garcia.