Padraig Harrington welcomes the return of the Irish Open to Carton House
The three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is relishing the opportunity to participate in the Irish Open, when the tournament will make its return to Co. Kildare, Republic of Ireland, in 2013.
The European Tour event will be staged at the Montgomerie Course at Carton House, offering a total prize fund of US$2 million, to the participants.
Harrington, who is also regarded as Ireland’s most decorated golfer, has welcomed the return of the event to his homeland, after it remained absent for six years.
The Irishman holds a strong track record in the event, as he finished tied for the fifth position in the 2005 edition of the tournament, prior to taking 11th position on the leaderboard in 2006.
The very next year witnessed him taking home the prestigious Irish Open title, after defeating Bradley Dredge in the sudden-death playoffs.
According to the tournament officials, the advance tickets for the tournament are out for sale. Harrington believes that a huge crowd will visit the Montgomerie Course this season, in order to watch their favourite players showing their skills on the course.
“I am thrilled that the Irish Open is coming back to Dublin next year. As far as I am concerned it is my "Fifth Major" and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing at Royal Portrush earlier this year, as a Dubliner, it's great to play in my
home town and at the same time build on the success of this year's tournament in the North,” he said.
While making the decision to choose the venue course, the organizers had two options in front of them – the Mark O'Meara Course and the Montgomerie Course.
The Mark O'Meara Course is expected to undergo a small development process, which includes redesigning the first and the eighteenth hole.
Therefore, the golf club owners and the European Tour officials decided to opt for the other option available to them.
"We are in the very fortunate position of having two championship golf courses at Carton House but ...we have decided that the Montgomerie course is the sensible option for 2013,” said the Managing Partner Conor Mallaghan.
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