Preview: Ryder Cup adds some extra spice to the Irish Open

“Obviously exciting few weeks ahead, starting with this week,” Lowry said ahead of his 07:50 first-round tee time alongside Kopeka and France’s Martin Couvra.

Rory McIlroy during a Pro-AM round at The K Club ahead of the 2025 Amgen Irish Open. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

The shadow of the 2025 Ryder Cup looms large over the Amgen Irish Open, which starts on Thursday just three weeks ahead of the USA-Europe matchplay showdown at Bethpage Black.

Yet that need not be a bad thing for the 10s of thousands of Irish golf supporters expected to brave the autumnal storms forecast for The K Club’s Palmer North course over the first round and beyond.