2014 European Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley has backed the KPMG Women’s Irish Open to go from strength to strength after a successful return to the Ladies European Tour schedule last year.
Ireland’s National Open returned to the calendar to much acclaim at Dromoland Castle where, after a ten year hiatus, Klara Spilkova captured the title despite a rousing effort from home favourite Leona Maguire.
The event returns to the stunning Clare venue in a new date this year from August 31 to September 3 and McGinley has no doubt the tournament can build on last season’s success at a venue that consistently showcases the very best of Ireland.
“It was great to see the tournament back on the schedule last year,” said McGinley, no stranger to the pristine 450-acre estate set on the magical shores of Lough Dromoland.
“Dromoland Castle is a wonderful place. Having stayed there and played the course, it was always going to look great on television and the crowds turned out to support the event which was brilliant to see.
“It’s in a new date this year, slightly earlier in the schedule and given it’s a Solheim Cup year, it should attract a really strong field and it promises to be a real festival of golf.”
Through his work with Sky Sports, McGinley is casting a keen eye over women’s golf on both sides of the Atlantic, not least because the analyst will be covering this year’s Solheim Cup for the network.
Known to be meticulous in his preparation, there’s not a day that goes by when McGinley’s not making notes and with the Irish Open just three weeks out from this year’s Solheim at Finca Cortesin, McGinley expects a strong European contingent at Dromoland.
“I’m covering the Solheim Cup this year for Sky. It’s one of my ten events on the schedule and I can’t wait for that,” McGinley said.
“The Women’s Irish Open looks to have a key date on the schedule leading into it and hopefully we’ll have at least one Irish player on the team.
“I know Leona very well, and Stephanie [Meadow], but particularly Leona. I communicate a lot with her and she was obviously a star on Catriona Matthew’s winning side in 2021.
“I’ve been following a lot of women’s golf as part of my prep for covering Solheim later in the year and I’ve no doubt it’s going to be a great event.
“So I’ll be following the Irish Open closely and hopefully there’ll be a number of players from the European team teeing up at Dromoland.”
The 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open takes place from August 31st to September 1st, and tickets can be purchased through the official event website HERE
Hospitality packages are also now on sale, providing;
- Official VIP admission ticket with access to the 18th
- green hospitality suite
- Access to the viewing terrace overlooking the 18th green Continental breakfast each morning
- 3 course lunch menu served with selected wines
- Fully staffed bar serving complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks
- Easy access VIP parking
- Daily professional player visits to hospitality for meet and greet
- Access to the “Toast to the Champion” event *Sunday only after play*
To keep up to date with the latest player announcements for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, please visit www.kpmgwomensirishopen.ie
For further details, please contact:
- Eimear McManus – emcmanus@forefrontsports.ie
- Cian Branagan – cbranagan@forefrontsports.ie
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