Rickie Fowler relishing Royal County Down battle with Rory McIlroy

New Players champion Rickie Fowler is relishing his trip to Royal Country Down for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Eight years have passed since Fowler was last in Northern Ireland as a member of the 2007 USA victorious Walker Cup side.

Now after out-lasting four extra play-off holes to capture the lucrative Players Championship, Fowler’s added to the aura of this year’s Irish Open as a 2015 PGA Tour winner.