The Irish Open is to return to Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2017, with the Royal County Down Golf Club (left) hosting next year’s event from May 28-31, 2015, followed by Lough Erne Resort in three years’ time.
This year’s event will take place at Fota Island in Cork where ticket sales are already ahead of forecast.
This will be the second time in the last 60 years, that Northern Ireland has played host to the tournament and will raise hopes in Ulster that the British Open, or the Open Championship to give its proper title will be played there as well within the next decade.
Record crowds watched Jamie Donaldson’s victory at Royal Portrush two years ago, making it The European Tour’s first ‘sold out’ tournament. The event is consistently top of the European charts when it comes to spectator numbers, despite not attracting a headline commercial naming rights partner.
The agreement to bring the event North in 2015 and 2017 was forged between the European Tour, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
This will be the eleventh and 12th time the event has taken place in the North.
Tickets for the event are already on sale via the European Tour website, as they are for this year’s event taking place between the 19th and 22nd of June.
“The Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 captured the imagination of the country after a lengthy absence, and we are delighted to confirm that the tournament will be back in Northern Ireland next year,” said European Tour CEO George O’Grady.
“When Northern Ireland hosted the 2012 Irish Open we staged an incredibly successful event, which not only exceeded our own expectations but it also became the first European Tour event in history to sell out,” added Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson.
“More than 130,000 spectators travelled to the north coast to see the world’s golfing elite in action and the feel-good factor that it generated created a huge sense of civic pride. I have no doubt that next year’s event at Royal County Down will be equally successful.
“It is fantastic news that we will have another chance to play on Northern Ireland’s fine courses in 2015 and again in 2017,” said Rory McIlroy.
“Royal County Down is a great links course which I am very proud of as a Northern Irishman, so I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play an Irish Open there. I’m sure the fans will come out and support us again and make it another week to remember.”
Carton House in Co. Kildare hosted the 2013 Irish Open, won by Ryder Cup player Paul Casey, who will defend his title at the Fota Island Resort in County Cork, from June 19-22, before the spotlight then falls on Royal County Down Golf Club next year.
Founded in 1889, Royal County Down Golf Club is located in the beautiful Murlough Nature Reserve and set against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne. It has previously hosted the Irish Open on three occasions, staging the second Irish Open – and first on Northern Irish soil – in 1928, won by Englishman Ernest Whitcombe who also claimed the title upon the event’s return to the venue in 1935.
The Irish Open was last played at Royal County Down Golf Club in 1939, when another Englishman, Arthur Lees, was crowned champion, while the Newcastle links also hosted The Senior Open Championship on three occasions from 2000-2002 – won by home favourite Christy O’Connor Jnr, Australian Ian Stanley and Japan’s Noboru Sugai respectively.
Latterly it hosted the 2007 Walker Cup, which featured McIlroy, and 2012 US Open Champion Webb Simpson, and it was McIlroy who helped inspire the move for Royal County Down to host next year’s Irish Open.
Lough Erne Resort is home to two Championship Golf Courses – The Faldo Course, designed by six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo, and Castle Hume Golf Course. The resort is set on a private 600 acre peninsula between Lower Lough Erne and Castle Hume Lough.
