The rude health of Irish sport in an international context has been verified again with the news announced yesterday that Dubai Duty Free is to come on board as headline sponsor of the Irish Open golf tournament for a further three years.
This follows on from their debut appearance as partners at Royal County Down in 2015 and has been backed up by confirmation that Rory McIlroy will ‘host’ the tournament on behalf of the Rory Foundation over the same extended three year period.
This years championship at Royal County Down in May was a complete sell out, the only one of its kind on the European Tour outside of the British Open, attracting over 100,000 fans in Dubai Duty Free’s first year of involvement. Next year’s tournament which will be played at The K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22.
As a result of the confirmed sponsorship the prize fund for the 2016 championship will increase by a massive 60 per cent, rising from €2.5 million this year to €4 million for next May’s edition. It means the Irish Open will have one of the highest prize funds in European golf outside the Major Championship and World Golf Championship events.
This, together with McIlroy’s support and that of past and present Ryder Cup Captains Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke who both starred at the K Club when it hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006, will mean a likely star studded cast of players next year and another massive crowd.
“We are delighted to announce our title sponsorship of the Irish Open after a terrific inaugural sponsorship year in Northern Ireland earlier this year,” said Colm McLoughlin, CEO of Dubai Duty Free.”
“The fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision moving forward. We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, The European Tour has announced an increase in prize money to €4million making it very appealing for international players to participate.”
“The staging of the 2016 tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive. With all these things combined, we are looking forward to a great event next May.”
Outside of the Irish Open, Dubai Duty Free is associated with The European Tour as supporters of both the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the Dubai Desert Classic – won at the Emirates Golf Club by McIlroy for the second time in February – while their golf portfolio also includes the Dubai Ladies Masters, as well as a series of high-profile events including the annual Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, Dubai Duty Free UAE Nationals Cup, Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup and Dubai Irish Golf Society tournament.
The company is also a keen supporter of tennis – through the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – and horseracing, particularly as sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, one of Ireland’s most prestigious races which is held at The Curragh in June.
Other sponsors of the tournament have yet to be confirmed but in recent years have included Discover Ireland, BMW, Heineken and Emirates Airlines.
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