Irish Major Champions Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke have applauded the decision to stage the 2012 Irish Open at Royal Portrush.

The European Tour confirmed the Irish Open is returning to Northern Ireland for a first time since 1953.

Conor Mallaghan (Carton House), Richard Hills (European Tour), Redmond O'Donoghue (Chairman, Failte Ireland), George O'Grady (European Tour), Arlene Foster, (Tourism Minister, Northern Ireland Executive) Darren Clarke and Philip Tweedie (Captain, Royal Portrush). Photo - Thanks to Getty Images/European Tour.

Clarke, who returned last year to live in  Portrush, was present at the Royal Portrush at the annoucement along with European Tour CEO, George O’Grady and representatives of the Nothern Ireland Government.

News the 2012 Irish Open is heading to the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush took most observers by surprise with Carton House outside of Dublin the likely choice after www.golfbytourmiss.com revealed the event was not returning to Killarney.

However it seems the decision to grant Royal Portrush the 2012 Irish Open was brought forward a year on the back of news Clarke had been awarded an OBE and Rory McIlroy an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.  

It prompted the Northern Ireland Goverment, who hinted of the move some months back, to ‘cash in’ and go for backing the 2012 Irish Open as confirmed at a press conference at the Royal Portrush club on Friday.

The tournament will be staged from June 28th to July 1st, 2012.

Clarke, winner of last year’s Open Championship, along with McDowell who captured the 2o10 U.S. Open, are both residents of Portrush, are they’re thrilled with the news.

“It is fantastic news that an event of the calibre of the Irish Open is coming to Portrush, a world class event on a world class golf course. I know every inch of this course and can vouch for its quality,” said Clarke.

“I’m pleased for everybody in this part of the world and the decision to come here reflects the amazing run this relatively small golf community has had in the last couple of years. Best of all, it will be great to sleep in my own bed during that week.”

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.

“It will be great to show The European Tour the excellent set-up at Royal Portrush. It is probably one of the best set-ups of a links golf course in the world and it will also be great to showcase the beautiful north coast of Ireland.

“It’s going to be great, obviously, to play in front of my home fans too. The Irish Open is a hugely important event for me, and Irish golfers in general, and to play that event in Portrush is going to make it extra special.”

Fellow Ulsteman Rory McIlroy 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.

“The course holds great memories for me; from watching my dad play in the North of Ireland there as a toddler to playing in it myself as a 15 year old and shooting a course record 61.  It’s a superb set-up and players new to the course are going to love it.

“The rescheduling of the Irish Open to late June is also a great plus given that the Open Championship takes place three weeks later. Hosting an event on one of the best links courses in the world that close to an Open Championship, is sure to generate a strong field.”

And triple Major winning Padraig Harrington reacted to the news remarking: “It is great news that there will be a major sporting event of the calibre of the Irish Open going to Northern Ireland this year and with the recent Major Championship successes of Graeme, Rory and Darren, it is an inspired move. Personally, I have many great memories of playing golf in the North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, which quickly became my favourite course in the world. 

“The Northern Irish public love their golf, always turn out in great numbers, and I’m sure will generate a great atmosphere. In addition, it is the perfect place to play links golf in the build-up to the Open Championship and I eagerly look forward to taking part.

“Furthermore, the news that 2013 will see the Irish Open return to Carton House is also very welcome. I finished in the top five there in 2005 so I know it is a course I can perform on and I will be looking forward very much to the tournament heading back to my home town.”

George O’Grady, CEO of the European Tour travelled with Ryder Cup Director, Richard Hills, to County Antrim for the annoucement.

O’Grady said:  “I applaud the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government for their vision in taking the Irish Open to Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the world’s great links courses, a mere three weeks prior to The Open Championship. We are following on from a truly special two years for Northern Irish golfers on the world stage and we are delighted to be able to recognise their achievements in this way.”

And while missing out this year, Carton House was confirmed to stage the 2013 Irish Open.