Rory McIlroy was coy on the potential quality of field at next year’s Irish Open as the tournament moves from its September date back to the resented late June, early July slot before the Scottish Open and Open Championship because of the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor.
Although the Irish Open, when it returns to the K Club next year, will be part of the qualifying process the quality of field could be diminished as plenty of big names have favoured the Scottish Open as the week before the Open. McIlroy himself skipped the 2019 Irish Open in Lahinch for the same reason but confirmed he will play next year.
“Every tournament needs a great sponsor, and Amgen stepped up. Yeah, they have been amazing the last few years. I think the venues that we’ve had, as well, have been good, too.
“And then I think it’s a better date in the calendar. Looks like it won’t be this date next year because of Ryder Cup, but I think this date in the calendar has done well for the tournament.
“[Next year] field wise I’m not sure. Scottish will be the week after so a lot of guys are going to play that. I get it. The Ryder Cup is in Ireland next year and something had to give. This tournament gets pushed back to the end of June look I’ll be there, Shane will be there it would be nice to get some of the big names there but we’ll see.”
After the Irish Open returns to the K Club in 2027 for the third and final time since 2023 as part of an alternate year agreement with the DP World Tour, the big question will be where does the tournament go the following year?
McIlroy, who won back to back West of Ireland Championships in 2005 and 2006, would be supportive if County Sligo was mooted as a venue and a first for Connacht.
“Geez, I haven’t been there since 2007. I guess Sligo could hold it in terms of it’s a big enough town to have infrastructure around it and the roads in and out.
“They’ve done some work to the golf course as well in the last 20 years, so I’m probably not the best person to judge whether it is good or not, but I’ve certainly good memories from it.”
As for returning to Trump’s Doonbeg, McIlroy said the venue was a treat for the players even if it didn’t play like a true links with the soft conditions.
“I think it’s been a really good week,” he said. “From a player perspective, most players can stay on site. There’s accommodation. Even with the US president visiting, it’s been pretty seamless.
“It hasn’t been that hard to get in and out. It’s a good venue. I mean, it was a shame it was so soft, just with all the rain.
“I think if it had played like a true links course, it would have been a truer links test, I guess.
“Again, from a player’s perspective, everything’s worked really well this week.”
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