McGinley was rattled by Rory withdrawal

First-time tournament host Paul McGinley has admitted he feared the worst for this summer’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open when Rory McIlroy decided to skip the €6.25m event but now believes the field for Lahinch is coming together very nicely indeed.

McIlroy’s decision not to play his home open championship this July 4-7 was revealed in February with organisers of the European Tour Rolex Series event insisting their tournament would not be defined by the presence or otherwise of the Irish superstar.