The 2026 Men’s West of Ireland Open Championship start list has been confirmed with a handicap index cut of +2.5 for the main field and +0.9 for the qualifier at County Sligo Golf Club.
The number of remaining starting places allotted to the qualifier will be eight. The tournament gets underway from April 3-7.
Defending champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones) will be looking to become the first player since Rory McIlroy in 2005 and 2006 to successfully defend the West when he returns next month.
Holmes is one of a host of stellar Irish names looking to strike gold under the watchful eye of Ben Bulben including last year’s beaten finalist Colm Campbell who will have the bit between his teeth to try and edge closer to a Provincial Grand Slam of his own. He needs the West and the North to complete the set and join his friend Caolan Rafferty in the history books.
Former West winner Rafferty is also in the field as is Matthew McClean who clinched the 2024 Irish Amateur Championship at Rosses Point.
Reigning East of Ireland champion David Howard and reigning South of Ireland champion, Jonathan Keane are also pencilled in to compete.
Former champions Joe Lyons (2007) and Keith Egan (2024) former Irish Close winners Thomas Abom and Quentin Carew are part of a strong field that includes a blend of youth and experience as 2010 runner up Eddie McCormack joins young guns William O’Riordan, Mark Cadden, Conor Hickey, Alex Kerins and others.
Former North of Ireland champion James Fox, former South winner and Sligo local TJ Ford, Dylan Keating, Liam Abom, Jordan Boles, David Kitt, Paul Coughlan and David Shiel complete a strong field out West.
The total field size is 126.
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