Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke clamour for Northern Ireland event
Now that Graeme McDowell is a major champion, the 31-year-old's words presumably command more attention than previously. So when he speaks out about his hope of seeing the European Tour bringing an event to Northern Ireland, one assumes that his voice carries some weight.
This year's US Open winner has been talking about his desire to see the Irish Open held in Northern Ireland, telling the BBC: "Up here in the North we have so many top courses, with County Down and Portrush and Portstewart, and so many great courses in and around Belfast."
"We've such a wealth of great, great golf courses and talented players, it would be huge. I'm definitely going to be part of the drive to try and get the European Tour to Portrush, perhaps."
And McDowell is not alone in his enthusiasm for bringing the tour event to his motherland in 2012 (next year's event is already confirmed for Killarney). Darren Clarke, who memorably contributed three points to Europe's victory in the Irish-hosted 2006 Ryder Cup, is also a keen exponent of the idea. And Clarke cites the Royal Portrush club, where McDowell and Clarke are both members, as the "perfect" location for an event.
"It's got everything. Links is the purest form of golf and this is the best links course in the world," said Clarke of the course that hosted the Open in 1951.
As vice-captain at this year's Ryder Cup, Clarke certainly commands respect. But it is McDowell who has truly arrived in 2010, first triumphing at Pebble Beach and then clinching victory for Europe with the final match of the Ryder Cup. Curiously however, he is arguably not even Ulster's most high profile player, with great things expected of the talented but erratic Rory McIlroy.
The 21-year-old won his first tournament on the PGA Tour this year, beating Phil Mickelson in the final round at Quail Hollow, with a 10-under-par 62 - a course record. McIlroy also put himself in a strong position to win the Open at St Andrews this summer, before atrocious weather on the second day saw him undo all the good work of the first day's play.
McIlroy still managed to finish third however, and in the next few years, great things are expected of the man already ranked No. 9 in the world.
As such, an event in his and McDowell's backyard would seem like a highly felicitous addition to the tour calendar - though as Clarke readily admits, the cost of such a tournament would not be modest.
"Getting an event will be a lot of hard work with the current economic climate and the sponsorship required. You're looking at €4million by the time you look at prize money and the hosting fee."
With two players in golf's top 20 right now, and both men looking capable of going places, Northern Ireland deserves to host a big tournament. Whether the country can afford to do so right now is another matter.
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