Casey appeals for title sponsor to step up

Defending champion Paul Casey has appealed to companies to step up to the mark as title sponsors for next year’s Irish Open.

The European Tour event has been without a title sponsor since 2010 but has thrived nevertheless in terms of spectator support, drawn by the presence of a growing number of Irish Major champions and the financial assistance of Tourism Ireland.

Last year’s Irish Open winner, Casey remains in the hunt for a successful defence of the title he won at Carton House despite closing his second round at Fota Island yesterday with three consecutive bogeys. The Englishman still shot a two-under-par 69 that will take him into the weekend handily placed to make a challenge at a tournament he spoke about yesterday with real affection.