West Waterford’s Seamus Power will make his first appearance on home soil in six years when the USA-based star plays in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai, at Lahinch Golf Club from July 4-7.
The Olympian enjoyed a glittering career in American collegiate golf, representing East Tennessee State University, before building a professional career in the States which has culminated in a consistent three seasons on the US PGA Tour.
However, the 32-year-old has made no secret of his grá for home and after putting together a string of sound results on the PGA Tour, he’s seized the opportunity to return home for what will be an overdue professional appearance on Irish soil for a player who’s represented us so proudly Stateside for years.
“I am thrilled to be making my home debut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and I cannot wait for it to come around,” said Power, who has twice played his home Open, once in 2005 as an amateur and again in 2013. “I have to thank Dubai Duty Free for extending this invite and for Paul McGinley to help make this happen.
“Although I play my golf in the USA, I am a very proud Irishman and it will be a really special moment for me to tee it up in front of my home fans as a professional, especially at a classic Irish links course like Lahinch Golf Club. Hopefully I’ll get great support from the fans and it promises to be a great week.”
Power joins a world-class field at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, alongside former Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood, Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and many more.
Power will add to a strong line up of home heroes which includes his 2016 Olympic golf team partner and three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry – the first Rolex Series Champion of the 2019 Race to Dubai following January’s win in Abu Dhabi – and former U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell.
Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin said, “We are very happy to extend a tournament invitation to Waterford man, Seamus Power to play in this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch.
“Seamus is a fine player who has worked hard on his game and who has had a lot of success on the PGA Tour in America. In 2016, he was the first ever Irish player to win on the Web.com Tour and proudly represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympics. We wish him well and hope that he will have a great week at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July.”
Northern Irishman, Cormac Sharvin, who has been playing on the Challenge Tour and has a European Tour top-20 finish under his belt in 2019 at March’s Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa, and Gavin Moynihan – winner of the 2018 GolfSixes for Team Ireland alongside Paul Dunne – have also received invites from Sport Ireland.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, said: “Sport Ireland is delighted to extend invites to Team Ireland Golf members Cormac Sharvin and Gavin Moynihan, to the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
“Cormac and Gavin have shown themselves to be two of Ireland’s brightest golfing talents and competing in a very strong field will be extremely beneficial to their continued development. Sport Ireland supports Team Ireland Golf to ensure Ireland continues to produce world-class golfers long into the future.”
Tickets for the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open are on sale at www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com
Children under 12 years of age are entitled to free entry when accompanied by an adult.
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