Irish Open eyes US$10 million purse
PORTSTEWART, United Kingdom: Irish Open organisers are looking to increase the prize fund to US$10 million dollars in a bid 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$7 million and is hosted for a third year running by four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy.
If the drive to increase the prize fund is successful, it would make the Irish event the richest on the European Tour.
McIlroy managed to persuade current World No. 2 Hideki Matsuyama to Portstewart along with Spanish sensation Jon Rahm and reigning Olympic Gold medal winner Justin Rose, respectively No.11 and No.13 ranked in the world.
The only Americans in the competition are three European Tour-based players in Daniel Im, Paul Peterson and David Lipsky, with Im sharing 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. It is understood he will be joining noted Irish entrepreneur’s JP 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.
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 prize money the likes of Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will travel to contest the event.
“As title sponsor we have this year a prize fund of US$7m but it would be terrific if we increased that to US$10m we may be able to attract the leading American stars.” — AFP