McIlroy eyes record prize at St Andrews

RORY McILROY will receive a record €1,615,000 in prize money if he successfully defends his Open Championship crown at St Andrews next month.

It follows yesterday’s announcement by the R&A of an overall increase of €1.25m in the total prize f und, bringing i t up to €8,850,000.

At Hoylake last year, McIlroy scooped a cheque for €1,370,000 as champion golfer.

‘This increase is appropriate for an event with The Open’s global appeal,’ said R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.

The winning prize at St Andrews is €10,000 more than Jordan Spieth received for his US Open triumph last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer will look to bounce back from a disap- pointing defence of his US Open title last week by giving home fans something to cheer in the BMW International.

Kaymer, who led from start to finish on his way to an eight-shot victory at Pinehurst last year, missed the halfway cut at Chambers Bay by a single shot, with most of the damage done by a triple-bogey seven on the 10th in a second round of 74.

‘It is special when you play in your own country,’ Kaymer said. ‘Obviously for me the expectations are quite high from the spectators and as well as f rom yourself because you want to perform a little bit better than other weeks.’

PHILIP QUINN