… Dubai, UAE
Rory McIlroy’s never played the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open host venue but he revealed he has a very special reason to tee-up next May at Mt. Juliet as it where the then 13-year old first laid eyes on Tiger Woods.
McIlroy confirmed some weeks ago he will return to contest next year’s premier Irish Open after the disappointed for sponsors and fans alike in skipping this year’s event at Lahinch.
The current World No. 2 was just 13-years old when he accompanied his father to the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship when Tiger Woods led from start-to-finish to pocked the then $1m first prize cheque.
Two years later, Ernie Els collected a 15th of his 19 PGA Tour counting victories capturing the 2004 WGC – American Express Championship on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Co. Kilkenny lay-out.
Tiger Woods wins the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship at Mt. Juliet where 13-year old Rory McIlroy was a Sunday spectator
McIlroy was asked his thoughts on Mt. Juliet, that last hosted a big tournament and that being the Irish Open in 1995. Scotland’s Sam Torrance was the winner and with the wily Scot, after first lifting the victory trophy skyward, was then handed a pint of Murphy’s, and the new event sponsor, and in downing the pint in one gulp he got triple the crowd roar in then raising the empty pint glass skywards.
McIlroy was asked his thoughts in Mt. Juliet hosting the Irish Open in 1995 and where Sam Torrance was the winner and with the wily Scot, after first lifting the victory trophy skyward, was then handed a pint of Murphy’s, and the new event sponsor, and in downing the pint in one gulp he got triple the crowd roar raising the empty glass skywards.
“The first time I ever watched Tiger play was at Mount Juliet with my dad and myself going down there on Sunday when Tiger won the American Express there in 2002,” said McIlroy.
“I also went back down in 2004 when Ernie won.
“I don’t know the place very well. I’ve never played it. I know that the two tournaments that they played there, the World Golf Championships, anyway, everyone raved about the course. They raved about the greens.
“It’s a good time next year for the event as they couldn’t put it opposite Memphis. Would have had what happened a couple years ago with the French Open going up against Akron and all that sort of stuff.
“So, it’s a better thing for The Irish Open that it’s not going up against a huge event in America. Yeah, I mean, to be honest, it’s hard to fit in there as there’s a golf tournament’s every week and things have to move and change.
“But yeah, I’m excited to play Mt. Juliet. I guess my ambition for The Irish Open was to sort of try to keep it on links, but that was leading up to The Open Championship.
“Now that it’s nowhere near there, yeah, I don’t see a problem with it going back to a parkland venue like Mt. Juliet and as long as we get a decent spring it should be good conditions and a good course to play it on.”
