Record prize fund for Smurfit European Open

A record prize fund of €3.336,288 – up €145,000 on last year – will be on offer at the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in Ireland this summer.

The event, one of the European Tour’s flagship tournaments, will revert to the Palmer Course (formerly the North Course) – which will also host the 2006 Ryder Cup – in June after being played on the Smurfit (South) Course last year.

“This is another significant landmark in the Tour’s special relationship with the Jefferson Smurfit Group,” said European Tour executive director George O’Grady.

“The Smurfit European Open has grown substantially during the decade since our move to The K Club and we thank Dr Michael Smurfit for his vision in bringing the event to this superb venue and also his role in developing the prize fund to a new record level in 2005.”

South African Retief Goosen, the US Open champion, won the tournament last year by five shots from a group including Worksop’s Lee Westwood.