Mcdowell fears Irish Open disappointment

GRAEME MCDOWELL knows that the Majors, Ryder Cup and Irish Open fade into insignificance compared to the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But as he tries to keep his extended family safe, his spirits up and his game ticking over in Orlando, the Portrush native admitted that golf ’s burning questions must remain unanswered for a little while longer.

Thanks to his early-season win in Saudi Arabia and his return to the world’s top 50, the Rathmore man (40) was set to forgo his defence of the Corales Puntacana

Resort & Club Championship this week to tee it up in the WGC Dell Match Play.

With no return date in sight, he’s struggling to find his laser-like focus during golf ’s global shutdown.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, still scheduled for Mount Juliet from May 28-31, is the next possible event on the European Tour calendar but Mcdowell, who is set to host the event for the next two years, admits plans for a scaled-down tournament were already on the cards.

“We are already talking about a reduced-type staging if the Irish Open goes ahead at all,” Mcdowell confessed.

“We just have to prepare the best we can, have a contingency plan if it looks like we can execute the tournament.

“If not, I will be extremely disappointed not to be able to host an Irish Open with the Open champion Shane Lowry, the number one player in the world in Rory Mcilroy and the Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington, Jon Rahm and others.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity, and I will be really disappointed if I don’t get that opportunity, but there are so many more important things right now than that.

“We have to hope for the best and get the world back on its feet again, keep people safe and worry about the Irish Open in due course.”