Rory McIlroy launched ticket sales for the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open yesterday at the same time as the Government confirmed it would be providing financial support for the event through Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland.
A percentage of each ticket sold for the tournament at The K Club from May 19-22 will go directly to the Rory Foundation, which was established by McIlroy in 2013. The purpose of the Foundation is to help children live better lives by raising funds and offering support to children’s charities around the world.
The K Club will be hosting Ireland’s national Open for the first time, while The European Tour will make a welcome return to the Kildare venue, which played host to Europe’s record-equalling 18 ½ – 9 ½ Ryder Cup victory of 2006, and between 1995 and 2007 staged 13 editions of the European Open.
“The more tickets we sell for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the more money we will raise for the Foundation – it’s really as simple as that,” said McIlroy, speaking yesterday in Dubai.
“It would be fantastic to see people really getting behind the tournament and buying their tickets early. I started the Foundation in 2013 and began giving my support to a number of children’s charities. In that time I’ve met a lot of children and their families living and coping with so much hardship that I’m just so delighted to be involved – and the more I see, the more I want to do.
“We’re back at K Club 10 years after the Ryder Cup came to Ireland in 2006. There’s also a great prize fund of €4 million to play for and some of golf’s most exciting players will be on show for people to get out and follow. It promises to be a really fantastic event.”
Tickets for the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open start at €30 for daily tickets (€20 concessions) with season tickets currently available at €70 (€50 concessions). Children under the age of 16 accompanied by an adult gain free admission.
“What Rory and his foundation are doing really resonates with us and the work that our own foundation carries out around the world,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free.
“Ahead of this year’s tournament in Co. Down, we visited the Daisy Lodge facility and we saw first-hand the great work that Rory and his Foundation team are doing to help children and their families who are affected by cancer.”
“Rory is a remarkable young man and his work both on and off the golf course continues to be an inspiration to so many people. Next year’s tournament at The K Club is going to be fantastic and I am sure that the ticket sales will do extremely well.”
Announcing Government support for the event Minister Pascal Donohoe said: “As Minister for Tourism and Sport, I am very committed to the Irish Open. I am happy to confirm that the Government will be supporting the 2016 Irish Open through Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority; and Sport Ireland, the statutory sports agency responsible for the promotion, development and coordination of sport in Ireland.”
“With our abundance of golfing talent the 2016 Irish Open will present a superb opportunity for many of the great players from this island to perform in front of a home crowd, as well as thousands of visitors and millions of television viewers across the globe”.
“The Irish Open is a very important part of the Irish sporting calendar,” added Minister of State for Sport, Michael Ring.
“Ireland is a superb golfing destination and is well-equipped for all golfing visitors. Approximately 172,000 visitors have played golf while in Ireland in 2014 and received a warm welcome from the Irish golfing community.”
“Of course, the Government’s support for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is not just about attracting golf visitors to Ireland. Golf is a very popular participation sport among Irish people and I am very confident that, through the support of Sport Ireland, it can attract more Irish people to get involved in golf in their local clubs”.
