Paul McGinley wants to address Irish Senior Open regret

Legends Tour ambassador Paul McGinley. The OFX Irish Legends tournament takes place at Seapoint Golf Links in Termonfeckin, Louth, from 19 - 22 June. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Paul McGinley has put this summer’s OFX Irish Legends title on his wish list as he prepares to make amends for a missed opportunity in the event two years ago.

The ex-Ryder Cup captain is a former tournament host of the Irish Senior Open when the McGinley Foundation presided over the event at Rosapenna and McGinley regrets narrowly missed out on victory there in 2022.

The 2024 edition, to be staged from June 19-22, was launched yesterday at this year’s venue, Seapoint Golf Links in County Louth, with foreign exchange company OFX unveiled as both the official FX partner of the Legends Tour and title sponsor of the Irish Legends.

McGinley, who will tee it up at Seapoint alongside major champions Paul Lawrie and Ian Woosnam and defending champion Peter Baker, will be competing for a prize fund increased by €100,000 to a new total of €400,000 but it is the title the Irishman craves, he told the Irish Examiner on Tuesday.

“When you put ‘Irish’ in front of anything, whether it be the Irish Open, it’s got a name and a reputation throughout the world as a big title,” McGinley said, “and Irish Legends is a big event and a big event in the world of seniors golf and it would be great to have that title behind your name.

“The McGinley Foundation hosted it twice up in Rosapenna in Donegal… the second one, two years ago, I should have won but left it behind me. Was joint leader and lost my ball on the eighth hole and lost momentum and lost by a shot or two in the end to Philip Price.

“It’s a regret I left it behind me so I’d like to make up for it at some stage and hopefully get that title.” McGinley is also looking forward to playing competitive golf at Seapoint.

“It’s a great event on links golf courses… Irish links golf courses are on a real upward curve, the revenue and the amount of people coming to play them from around the world is growing every year and it’s at record levels.

“So to have this on a links golf course, even though it mightn’t be one of the more well known names, it’s great to be able to have it in the middle of summer.”