Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy finally succeed in bringing Irish Open back to Royal Portrush
Leading Northern Irish players, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy and their constant support of the European Tour event on their home turf, the Royal Portrush, has finally yielded results when the European Tour officials announced the return of the Irish Open on the same venue.
The event will be held from Thursday, June 28 to Sunday, July 1, after a lapse of almost 60 years. The tournament was held for the first time in 1953, at Belvoir Park Golf Club in south Belfast.
Although the tournament will be held for the tenth time, it is for the first time that the event is held under the European Tour banner, since the inception of the tour in 1971.
Graeme McDowell said, “It has always been a dream of mine to play a big event, be it an Open Championship or a European Tour event, at Royal Portrush Golf Club, and I am going to be very proud to have The European Tour come to the town where I learned to play golf”.
McDowell added that Royal Portrush is probably the best example of the Links Golf courses anywhere in Northern Ireland and it will provide a unique opportunity for the world to witness the amazing facilities on the venue.
He said that it will be a matter of great honour for him to participate in the event especially in front of the local fan club and spectators.
Padraig Harrington, one of the handfuls of successful golfers from Northern Ireland, also hailed the decision and said that he has many great memories of playing on the venue which is without a doubt, one of his favourite golf venues in the country.
Harrington also revealed that the Northern Irish public is a great fan of the sport and will surely turn up in huge numbers to lend support and colour to the event.
He also believed that the venue and time of the event will provide excellent preparations for the Open Championship right after the event, as both events are strictly played on Links courses.
Blue-eyed boy of the Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy, also played an effective role in bringing the event back to his home town.
While speaking on the occasion he said, “Royal Portrush is one of the best courses in the world and to have the Irish Open there and play my first European Tour event in Northern Ireland in front of home fans will be very special”.
McDowell, the 2010 US Open winner, McIlroy the current US Open champion, and Darren Clarke the reigning Open champion, have continuously supported the idea of pulling back the Irish Open to Royal Portrush. It has been their relentless support to the cause which ultimately yielded the result.
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