John Gleeson: Lahinch is still box office without Holywood star

Organisers of this summer’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch have insisted the prestige $7m European Tour event will not be defined by the absence of Rory McIlroy from the field.

Four-time major champion and Irish Open tournament host until last year, McIlroy announced yesterday that he would be skipping his national open, a Rolex Series event on the European Tour with a prize fund totalling €6.2m, in order to prepare for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush a fortnight later.