Dubai Duty Free Irish Open organisers are looking to increase the prize fund to $US 1om in a goal to attract more of the leading American players to Ireland’s premier golf event.
This year’s event is the richest ever with a prize pool of $US 7m and hosted for a third year running by four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy was successful in encouraging current World No. 2 Hideki Matsuyama to Portstewart along with Spanish sensation, Jon Rahm and reigning Olympic Gold medal winning Justin Rose, and respective No. 11 and No. 13 ranked in the world.
The only Americans competition are three European Tour-based players in Daniel Im, Paul Peterson and David Lipsky and with Im sharing on the lead on day one with a new course record equalling 64.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson will travel to Ireland next week but not to partake in any official competition and rather it is understood he will be joining noted Irish entrepreneur’s J P McManus and Dermot Desmond playing practice rounds on a number of links courses in the Dublin area ahead of the following week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Irish-born Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, and main sponsor of the Irish event, is confident that in boosting the prizemoney the likes of Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will travel to contest the event.
However Irish-born Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, and main sponsor of the Irish event, is confident that in boosting the prizemoney the likes of Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will travel to contest the event.
“As title sponsor, we have only been involved with Rory and his Rory Foundation for a couple of years now but I can only see our relationship continue to grow in the years ahead,” said McLoughlin,
“We have this year a prize fund of $US 7m but it would be terrific if we increased that to $US 1om we may be able to attract the leading American stars.
“But then when we are looking after one more year at our option of continuing our sponsorship increasing the prize fund to $UD 1om is something we will be talking about.
“The policy to move the date this year and to return to a links course are all very good things.
“So if that works out we could see 15o,ooo spectators attending the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and hopefully $US 1om will help coax all the top Americans players to come to Ireland.
“That is my wish list”.
However, and with Ballyliffin going public in their desire to host the 2o18 Irish Open, McLoughlin indicated he would be happy for the event to travel around reland.
“It is a long trek this week for people travelling up from County Kerry or County Cork, so I would like to see the event move between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and also I would love to see the event move to the middle of the country as that would also help the attendance”, he said.
“But then I do not know personally enough about all the golf courses in Ireland, like Lahinch or Portmarnock or the European Club or whatever but then I guess it will not be Ballinasloe (smiling)”.
