Weather gods frown on Irish Open once again

Correctly predicting the Irish weather is an art form that Irish Open organisers would pay handsomely to possess.

No matter whether it is played in May, June, July or August, the rain gods tend to have a field day, as it proved at The K Club this week.

Shane Lowry would be the first to admit that his 2009 Irish Open win as an amateur was due in no small part to the luck of the draw.

But even though he felt hard done by this year — insisting he would certainly have been out among the leaders yesterday — he believes the event should be handed a mid-summer date that’s in keeping with its stature as one of the European Tour’s most historic events.

“We need to have it later. We’re better off having The Irish Open in September,” said Lowry, who was undone by torrential rain on Thursday morning and poor weather on Friday afternoon.

“I’m not saying the golf course wasn’t good because the golf course was amazing this week and all credit to them for that. But I do think we need to have it later in the year. Albeit we might come back in September and it might be awful, but generally the weather is a lot better later on in the year.

“They are trying to get one near The Open. That would be ideal, July, dates around the Open is perfect. I’m sure you’d get a few extra players playing, as well. Hopefully, that would be the case.”

Rory McIlroy is keen to get the prize fund up to the €7m target as soon as possible and that will drive the date closer to the summer and The Open.

And after being forced to play until 8.30pm on Saturday after two lightning suspensions delayed play by a total of three hours and 49 minutes, McIlroy as again forced to endure two weathers yesterday.

The first brought heavy rain and hailstones, keeping the players off the course for an hour and nine minutes.

“If we can get the Irish Open to a links course every year and a suitable date so the guys coming from America can stay here in Europe and build up to The Open, I think that would be ideal,” McIlroy said. “But that’s three or four years down the line. That’s the plan and hopefully we can achieve that.”

Given the scorching weather that greeted players in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open just two weeks ago, the K Club and the European Tour were unfortunate with the weather this year. Yet given the choice, players such as last year’s champion Soren Kjeldsen or Mount Juliet’s Kevin Phelan would play in summer.

“In an ideal scenario, we would play the week before The Open,” Kjeldsen said. “I don’t think this is a bad date. But it’s early here if you don’t play it on a links course.

“So it is amazing the job they have done here but it is difficult. If you could play later, it would help.

“So I hope that with Dubai Duty Free on board and Rory taking part, hopefully it can grow and get a better date. Fingers crossed.”

Phelan understands that having the event close to the BMW PGA can help the field but he feels it would be better later on the schedule. “We played Fota Island two years ago in July and it was probably the best week of the year on the European Tour in terms of weather so it would be nice to have it at that time of year.”

As Graeme McDowell said in the build up: “We’re looking forward to the future, 2019, The Open Championship at Portrush, and just the future of this event, where it’s going to go, from venues and financially and hopefully from the field strength, as well, and moving to hopefully the week before The Open Championship in 2019 which would be special and hopefully bringing a world-class field to Ireland.”

McDowell was 65th and last on 11 over after an 80 and while he refused to blame the weather, he’s also keen for a date change.

“It’s early in the year for golf courses here in Ireland, as we know. We’ve been very unlucky with the weather,” McDowell said. “It’s been well supported, even with the weather conditions. I mean, great to see people out here supporting us.

“If this event could go a little later in the year, I’m sure Rory and The European Tour are working on that and it would be great to see. It would be great to see some sunshine and dry golf courses and showcase Ireland for what it is. It’s a great golfing country.”