Reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer is ending a seven-year absence to tee up in next month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Royal County Down in

It will be a first occasion the German will compete in Ireland after making his Irish Open debut at Adare Manor a year earlier and then finishing T10th a year later at the same venue.

Kaymer’s appearance adds to what is shaping-up as one of the biggest Irish Open’s in some time was announced yesterday (THUR) at media and corporate sponsor’s outing on the famed Royal County Down course.

“I haven’t played in an Irish Open for a long time so I’m looking forward to competing again,” he said.

Royal County Down in full bloom ahead of next month’s Irish Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“It will be good to play Royal County Down because I also haven’t played the course before and also, given it is a links course, it’s going to be great experience for me personally before I defend my US Open title three weeks later.”

Other Major Champions competing include tournament host Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Lawrie.

In announcing Kaymer’s appearance the European Tour also confirmed three other world class competitors will tee-up including Gleneagles Ryder Cup winning hero Jamie Donaldson, former World No. 1 Luke Donald and American and World No. 14 Patrick Reed.

Reed, 24 and who won earlier this year on the PGA Tour will be competing for a first occasion in Ireland.

The American ‘let the cat out of the bag’ last Sunday at Augusta he would be competing in both the Irish Open and the proceeding week’s BMW PGA Championship.

However what was not released is the fact Reed has joined the European Tour as a full-time member and in a move Clarke, as the European Ryder Cup Captain says can only help improve the skill of the Reed who was undefeated in both Fourballs and Foursomes matches last year at Gleneagles.

“It’s wonderful firstly Patrick has added the Irish Open to his schedule and also made the decision to join the European Tour,” said Clarke.

“Tiger (Woods) set an example for all American golfers in competing all around the world and while Patrick is still in the early stages of his professional career it’s good that he’s making the decision to join the European Tour.

“So that can only be good to have a player of Patrick’s statu

The European Tour confirms Patrick Reed will contest next month’s Irish Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

re competing as a full European Tour member.”

And Clarke, who had just arrived home to Portrush from a three-day Florida fishing trip post the Masters, spoke of his desire, in what will next month be his 24th Irish Open, in hopefully adding an Irish Open trophy to sit alongside his Open Championship Claret Jug.

“I’ve always wanted to win an Irish Open and I have gone close in the past,” he said.

“I did win a European Tour title at the K. Club some years back but not an Irish Open, so it has always been a tournament I wanted to win.

“And you can ask any professional as they would always like to win their own national open at least once in their career and I am no different.”

As well, the Tour announced yesterday (THU) prize-money for next month’s US Open has been increased by 25% to a prize purse of Euro 416,660.