Shane Lowry hopeful fans will line Irish Open fairways at Mount Juliet

“I’m hoping there is going to be even a couple of thousand people a day, although that would probably give me a big headache as I would probably need 1,999 of those tickets!”

Shane Lowry completed a great week at Kiawah Island on Sunday where he finished tied for fourth alongside Pádraig Harrington as Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Shane Lowry is cautiously optimistic there will be spectators back at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open when the European Tour event returns to these shores at Mount Juliet on July 1-4.

With reports over the weekend that the Government is drawing up plans for a gradual reopening of sports and live entertainment events from July, there is fresh optimism that this year’s Irish Open could be an early beneficiary with a small number of golf fans permitted entry to the tournament at the Co. Kilkenny resort this summer.