Keegan Bradley will play the Irish Open for the first time
Keegan Bradley will play the upcoming Irish Open, as he plans to join the European Tour event's field for the first time in his career.
The 25-year-old American golfer will play his first professional event in Europe, at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush County, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The official purse of the event is €2million and all the players are planning to give their best to grab the lucrative prize money.
The Irish Open is staged by the European Tour, scheduled from June 28 to July 1, this year. Bradley will be facing tough rivals like the US Open Champion, Rory McIlroy, and The Open Champion, Darren Clarke.
Simon Dyson will be defending his title, as he won the 2011 Irish Open by scoring a 15-under 269, defeating Richard Green by one stroke.
Bradley is also aiming for the upcoming European Tour Ryder Cup. He desires to make it to the European Team by displaying some amazing finishes before the month of September.
He received professional status in 2008, and has won two PGA Tour titles and two NGA Hooters Tour titles. More impressively, he won his first major in 2011, and recorded a tremendous win at the PGA Championship.
“I’m very proud of my Irish heritage,” said Bradley, whose roots are in County Cork, “and I’ve wanted to represent them in the Irish national championship. Also, Graeme and Darren both have told me what a fabulous layout Portrush is, so I’m doubly excited
about the opportunity to compete there”.
Northern Ireland’s Tourism Minister, Arlene Foster is also excited about the event. She said that the presence of leading golf players in the region would boost tourism and business to some extent.
“There’s no doubt our local golf stars have been a huge draw for all of those who will be heading to the Irish Open. To have a reigning US PGA Championship winner, Keegan Bradley, taking part is a major coup and delivers an even greater competitive edge
to this tournament which is rapidly becoming an unmissable golfing event,” Foster said.
The Irish Open will be huge, since all the leading players are in the field. Hence, players like McIlroy, Dyson and Clarke are making the field tougher and more competitive, therefore, more exciting for the audience and fans.
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