The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is expected to completely sell out today with a total of 80,000 spectators making their way to Royal County Down golf course.
They will come from every corner of Ireland and many countries around the world. The immediate economic impact for Northern Ireland is expected to top come close to £20 million not counting the promotional stardust it sprinkles across golf across the island of Ireland.
Golf tourists have long been a prized source of sports tourism, generating an estimated additional €4 for every €1 they spend on the actual golf.
That filters through to transport, accommodation, hospitality and general spending across the time of their visit and they often come in groups as well which once more ups the ante on attracting them here as opposed to rival destinations such as Scotland.
US coverage will be more intense this year given the quality of the field assembled by the organisers and Rory McIlroy in his capacity as host for the event.
As World number One he attracts massive coverage and when he is playing on his home course the potential for storytelling around the game of golf in Ireland moves to another level.
McIlroy has been out front and centre stage throughout the build up to the event though he is moving now into game mode having missed the cut at the tournament for the last two years and only once finishing in the Top 10.
Dubai Duty Free have come on board as first time sponsors this year and are backed up by a strong roster of companies keen to be associated with such a high profile global event.
Eircom, Heineken, BMW, Dale Farm, Emirates, Bose, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Golf Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland will all be active around the build up and the four days of competition.
