Irish PGA Championship returns to Limerick GC for first time since 1973

Event organisers said Limerick GC will play host from August 2-5, with the tournament to be called the TouchStore Irish PGA Championship

RETURN: This is the first time since 1973 that the event has been held at Limerick GC

The Irish PGA Championship will be heading to Limerick Golf Club for the first time in 53 years this summer with a new title sponsor also confirmed for 116th staging of one of the oldest professional golf tournaments in the world.

Event organisers, PGA in Ireland, on Thursday said Limerick GC will play host from August 2-5, with the tournament to be called the TouchStore Irish PGA Championship, supported by a Limerick-based software company.

This year’s staging will be the first at Limerick GC since 1973, when Jimmy Kinsella defended his title in the same run that also brought Madrid Open success on the European Tour.

Simon Thornton will be the defending champion this time around as he marks his recent installation as PGA in Ireland Captain for 2026, and he will be looking to repeat his wire-to-wire victory last year in Monkstown, a win which led to claiming the season-long Elavon Order of Merit title.

Limerick GC will have a contender of its own with Tim Rice having finished seventh in 2025 and having won the PGA Championship in 2017.

PGA in Ireland manager Conor Dillon said: “Limerick Golf Club, founded in 1891, is one of the oldest golf clubs on the island, and along with being a fantastic golf course worthy of the players who’ll be competing, its history makes it an ideal match for the history of this championship."

“I’d like to thank TouchStore for their support in making all of this possible, and we expect another incredible championship and another extremely worthy winner to emerge from this, the 116th staging of the event.” Limerick Golf Club President Ivan Morris added: “It is a privilege and an honour for Limerick Golf Club to be invited to host the 116th staging of the TouchStore Irish PGA Championship this year.

“It is all of 53 years since we last hosted the Irish PGA Championship, one of the oldest professional golf tournaments anywhere in the world. I was an interested observer in 1973 when Jimmy Kinsella ‘caught fire’ during his last nine holes to make up eight shots on the field and join Paul Leonard in a play-off where Kinsella calmly holed an awkward four-footer to win on the first hole.

“I expect the scoring to be better in 2026 than in 1973, but a similarly exciting finish would make everyone happy.”