Players who plunder par 5s in with shout

The Irish Open has provided me with many of my very best memories from professional golf.

For example, it gave me my first professional start in 1987 at Portmarnock as well as my best European Tour finish, a tie for third place in 1998 at Druid’s Glen.

From an Irish player’s perspective though, the Irish Open is so much more than just another tour event. It is their national Open championship, their fifth major and a must on their career CV. It is also the one annual chance the player has to perform on home soil in front of family, friends and a largely anonymous but adoring general public who routinely follow the Irish players on tour each week.