The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is underway this morning at Galgorm Resort and Spa just outside Ballymena in Northern Ireland.
The course has featured regularly on the golf circuit and hosted both the Northern Ireland Open and the ISPS Handa World Invitational tournament for men and women this year.
This is the first time the County Antrim venue has hosted the island of Ireland’s national Open with the event moving into the date vacated by the rescheduling of The 2020 Ryder Cup to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is an integral part of the European Tour’s schedule, ” said Keith Pelley, the European Tour CEO.
“We made the move to Galgorm happen with the support of the Northern Ireland Executive who deserve our sincere thanks. We opted to move the tournament to Northern Ireland and are extremely grateful to Gary Henry and everyone at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort for stepping up to host us.”
“It is wonderful to see top class golf return to Northern Ireland,” added Diane Dodds, Economy Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive.
“After the success of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush last year and of recent Irish Opens in Portstewart, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland is proving once again that it is made for golf.”
Shane Lowry goes into the tournament as the 7/1 favourite with Paddy power and gets his first round under way at 0925.
Live coverage gets underway on RTÉ from 1 PM as well as on Sky Sports Golf channel.
