FROM the brink of extinction to being a poster event on the European Tour’s latest creation, it’s reasonable to say that golf’s Irish Open has experienced its fair share of travails over the last decade.
This week, Ballyliffin Golf Club will host the 63rd edition of the Emerald Isle’s national Open, welcoming some of Europe’s best players in the likes of Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, and defending champion, Jon Rahm, to Donegal.
To add to the glamour and display this historical event's recent success, the winner will receive a monstrous €1 million for the second year in a row, with the tournament now part of the European Tour’s new Rolex Series.
But, for those not well informed on their golf, it may seem strange to hear that it was not too long ago when the existence of the Irish Open was at threat as the recession and a lack of willing sponsors hit hard in the early part of the decade. The nadir was in 2011 when Simon Dyson picked up just €250,000 for his victory in Killarney – the lowest champion’s cheque for 12 years. While it is often suggested since that there was no real chance of the tournament being axed, one thing for sure is that those were testing times for the Irish game.
The fact that the winner on Sunday evening will now collect four times that lowly sum seven years ago is testament to the efforts of both Irish and European golf. Homage certainly must be paid to the European Tour’s chief executive, Keith Pelley, whose decision to include the Irish Open within the new founded Rolex Series has put the event on an elevated pedestal.
While the effect four-time major winner, Rory McIlroy, has had by being tournament sponsor for the last three to four years has been unrivalled. McIlroy is a global star and, as such, anything the 29-year-old is involved in inevitably catches headlines worldwide.
He has given the Irish Open added publicity and helped to attract PGA Tour stars such as Japanese icon, Hideki Matsuyama and American, Rickie Fowler, in recent years.
America's Rickie Fowler appeared at the Irish Open in 2015 (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)In tandem, the benefit to the clubs and local areas hosting a more exposed tournament has been tremendous. Indeed, speaking exclusively to The Irish Post this week, John Farren, manager of Ballyliffin Golf Club, praised McIlroy for effectively saving the Irish Open and believes that it will have a lasting impact on the county of Donegal.
“That the Irish Open is now one of the premier events now on the European Tour with a worldwide audience of 500 million people is owed a lot to McIlroy’s efforts over the last few years,” said Fallon.
“It’s unbelievable really that Donegal has been given the chance to be showcased in front of that many people. There’s a huge opportunity for the area to display the scenery and beauty of Donegal. It’s going to have a fantastic economic benefit and legacy long term to the area.
“Everybody has been out painting and decorating and putting their best foot forward. Donegal County Council have painted all the roundabouts and approach roads in the area with giant golf balls. There’s flags and bunting up everywhere. There’s a real sense of occasion and festival atmosphere around the whole area. Everybody is buzzing about it.”
While everything is now running smoothly off the course for Irish golf, inside the ropes, fortunes are not as sweet. In truth, a home win looks unlikely at Ballyliffin as victories by Irish players have dried up in recent years.
The three major successes by Dubliner, Padraig Harrington, who is now ranked 270 in the world, look a long time ago, as do the US Open and British Open triumphs by Ulstermen, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke, in 2010 and 2011. All three of those players are struggling significantly with their games and are in a battle with their advancing years.
The hope lies with the young Wicklow native, Paul Dunne, and Offaly’s Shane Lowry, who won the Irish Open as an amateur nine years ago.
McIlroy, of course, is the star player and will be under pressure from the Donegal faithful to produce a repeat of his 2016 victory at the K-Club. However, for getting the national Open back on track, the County Down man is surely already assured of his place in Irish golf fans’ hearts.
