Irish Open (golf)

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (Irish: Comórtas Oscailte na hÉireann[1]) is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour. The title sponsor is currently Dubai Duty Free.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
Tournament information
LocationIreland – varies; in 2020:
Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Established1927, 94 years ago
Course(s)Galgorm Castle Golf Club
Par70
Length7,078 yards (6,472 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$1.25 million
Month playedSeptember (in 2020)
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Jon Rahm (2017)
264 Jon Rahm (2019)
To par−24 Jon Rahm (2017)
Current champion
John Catlin
Location Map
Galgorm Castle GC
Location in Ireland
Galgorm Castle GC
Galgorm Castle GC (Northern Ireland)

The Irish Open was first played in 1927 and was played annually, except for the war years, until 1950. There was a tournament in 1953, but the event was then not played again until revived in 1975. It has been contested annually since then. From 1963 to 1974 Carroll's sponsored a tournament, generally called the Carroll's International and in 1975 they became the sponsor of the Irish Open which became known as the Carroll's Irish Open.

The Irish Open is one of the European Tour Rolex Series events. The Rolex Series started in 2017, with each tournament in the series having a minimum prize fund of $7 million. The date was moved to early July, two weeks before The Open Championship.

Since 2014 (except in 2016), it has been one of the Open Qualifying Series with the leading three players who have not already qualified and who finish in the top ten, qualifying for The Open Championship.

History

Pub window art in Lahinch for the 2019 Irish Open

The first Irish Open in 1927 was played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 16 to 18 August. There were 18 holes played on the first two days with the leading 60 players and ties playing a further 36 holes on the final day. In a stiff breeze local professional Willie Nolan led after the first day with a course record 72.[2] On the second day Nolan faded after an 83 and the lead was taken by Henry Cotton on 146 with Jack Smith a shot behind. The cut was 165 and exactly 60 players qualified, including 6 amateurs.[3] Conditions were very poor on the final day with the refreshment and press tents blown down and rain falling in torrents. Jack Smith had an excellent 77 in the morning and with Henry Cotton taking 86, Smith had an eight-shot lead over Cotton and Archie Compston. Smith, however, went to pieces and had a final round of 91 and was overtaken by Cotton, who took 81. George Duncan, starting the final round 14 shots behind, scored 74 and finished with a total of 312, beating Smith by three and Cotton by one. Duncan's score of 74 was remarkable in that it was only two strokes over the new course record, on a day when his 74 and Smith's 77 in the morning were the only two rounds under 80 on the final day. Duncan took the Championship Gold Medal and the first prize of £150. Nolan was the leading Irishman, finishing fifth.[4]

After Duncan's win in 1927, the event was dominated by English golfers, the only other non-English winner before World War II being Bobby Locke in 1938. Ernest Whitcombe won in 1928, the first of four wins by the Whitcombe brothers; Ernest won again in 1935 while Charles won in 1930 and Reg won in 1936. Ernest Whitcombe had rounds of 68 and 69 on the first two days of the 1928 event, to take a seven stroke lead. Rounds of 73 and 78 on the final day were enough to give him a four stroke victory.[5] The 1929 championship was played again at Portmarnock and resulted in a three-way tie on 309, just 3 strokes better than Duncan's score there in 1927.[6] There was a 36-hole playoff the following day. Abe Mitchell and Archie Compston were level after the first round on 75 with Len Holland five behind. Mitchell scored another 75 in the afternoon to win by two strokes from Compston and ten from Holland.[7] Charles Whitcombe dominated the 1930 tournament, winning by 8 strokes from defending champion Abe Mitchell. Whitcombe led by four after the first two rounds and full away further on the final day.[8] the 1931 championship was won by a relative unknown, Bob Kenyon, who won by two after a final round 70. Five players tied for second place, including Ernest Whitcombe who finished with a course-record 66 on the Royal Dublin links.[9]

Alf Padgham won in 1932 with steady rounds of 71-71-71-70, one ahead of Bill Davies.[10] Bob Kenyon won for the second time in 1933. Defending champion Padgham had led after two rounds but had a disappointing third round 76 and finished runner-up, two behind.[11] Syd Easterbrook won at Portmarnock in 1934 with a total of 284, 25 better than the winning score there in 1929, to win by 7 strokes from the Irish amateur, Joe Brown, who.recorded the best finish by an Irish golfer at that time.[12] Two of the Whitcombe brothers, Ernest and Reg, tied in 1935. Bob Kenyon had a good chance to win for the third time but had 5s at the last two holes to finish a shot behind.[13] In the playoff Reg had a bad start, taking 7 at the first hole. He recovered to be level early in the second round but had another 7 and Ernest eventually won by three strokes.[14]

In 1932 and 1933, the Irish Open was preceded by an international match between teams of English and Irish professionals. England won the first match 16–2 and the second match 13–3 with two halves.[15][16] The matches followed the same form as the England–Scotland Professional Match that had been played just before the Open Championship.

After his playoff loss in 1935, Reg Whitcombe won in 1936, two ahead of Bill Davies who was a runner-up for the third time. Whitcombe had final day rounds of 68 and 69 for a record low total of 281.[17] Jimmy Adams seemed the likely winner at Royal Portrush in 1937 after finishing on 285. However Bert Gadd finished with two 3s (eagle-birdie) to win by a shot.[18] 20-year-old Bobby Locke, who had recently turned professional, broke the run of English winners in 1938. Henry Cotton had seemed the likely winner but finished 4-5-5-5 while Locke finished 2-4-4-4 and finished a stroke behind.[19] Arthur Lees won in 1939 with a total 287 with Reg Whitcombe two behind. 19-year-old Irish amateur Jimmy Bruen led after two rounds but scored 75 and 81 on the final day to drop into 6th place, leading amateur for the third successive year.[20]

When the event resumed at Portmarnock in 1946, Fred Daly became the first Irish winner. The tournament turned in a contest between Daly and Bobby Locke, Daly eventually winning by 4 strokes. No one else was within 10 shots of Daly.[21] There was a second Irish winner at Royal Portrush in 1947 when Harry Bradshaw won the title, two ahead of Flory Van Donck. Max Faulkner led after three rounds but a final round 76 dropped him down to third place.[22] Dai Rees won in 1948, his total of 295 being two better than Norman Von Nida. Faulkner again led after three round but a 77 left him tied for third place.[23] Bradshaw won for a second time at Belvoir Park in 1949. Bobby Locke came close to matching him but finished a stroke behind.[24] The 1950 tournament was won by the Australian Ossie Pickworth, two ahead of John Panton and Norman Von Nida.[25]

The event was not held in 1951 or 1952 but was held again in 1953 at Belvoir Park. Eric Brown won with a score of 272, a stroke ahead of Harry Weetman. 22-year-old Peter Alliss had taken an early clubhouse lead on 274 but was eventually beaten by Weetman and then Brown, finishing in third place.[26] After 1953, the event was not played again until 1975; plans to revive the tournament in 1970 were abandoned after backers Pepsi pulled out.[27][28]

Since 1963 Carroll's had sponsored a major tournament, the Carroll's International at Woodbrook Golf Club, which had been a European Tour event since the tour started in 1972. For the 1975 European Tour season the Carroll's International was dropped and Carroll's became the sponsor of the revived Irish Open, which took its place on the tour and was played at Woodbrook in the first year.[29] Christy O'Connor Jnr became the third Irish winner, finishing one ahead of Harry Bannerman, and took the first prize of £5,000.[30]

Venues

VenueCountyProvinceFirstLastTimes
PormarnockDublinLeinster1927200319
Royal County DownDownUlster192820154
Royal PortrushAntrimUlster193020124
Royal DublinDublinLeinster193119856
CorkCorkMunster193219321
MaloneAntrimUlster193319331
Belvoir ParkAntrimUlster194919532
WoodbrookWicklowLeinster197519751
KillarneyKerryMunster199120114
Mount JulietKilkennyLeinster199320214
Druids GlenWicklowLeinster199619994
BallybunionKerryMunster200020001
Fota Island ResortCorkMunster200120143
County LouthLouthLeinster200420092
Carton HouseKildareLeinster200520133
Adare ManorLimerickMunster200720082
The K ClubKildareLeinster201620161
PortstewartLondonderryUlster201720171
BallyliffinDonegalUlster201820181
LahinchClareMunster201920191
Galgorm CastleAntrimUlster202020201
  • Connacht province has never hosted the event

Tournament notes

The Irish Open has been played at a variety of dates from mid-May to the end of August, but since the start of the Rolex series in 2017 it has been held in early July, two weeks before the Open Championship.

The tournament enjoys one of the largest galleries on the European Tour. In 2010, the Irish Open at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club had an attendance of 85,179 over four days, second only to the BMW PGA Championship. In 2011, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club tallied in excess of 86,500 over four days. This was again the second highest on the European Tour to the BMW PGA Championship. In 2012, Royal Portrush Golf Club had a record attendance of 112,000 over four days; 131,000 over the six days. This was the only time a European Tour event had sold out prior to play on all four days and was the highest attendance ever recorded on the European Tour.

Since 2008, it has been the only European Tour event played in Ireland. The European Open was held at the K Club in Straffan for thirteen years from 1995 to 2007 while the 2007 Seve Trophy and the 2006 Ryder Cup were the last important men's professional team competitions played in Ireland.

Recent sponsorship

Following the departure of Nissan as title sponsor in 2006, Adare Golf Club, part of the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort in County Limerick, had planned to host the tournament for three years, from 2007 to 2009. After two years, it was announced in January 2009 that they could no longer sustain the losses incurred by hosting the event for a third year. In early March, the European Tour confirmed the national championship would return to County Louth Golf Club, Baltray, which had last hosted in 2004, with a new sponsor, 3 Mobile.[31]

Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority of the Republic of Ireland, agreed to sponsor in 2011, but with a reduced purse, cut in half to €1.5 million.[32] In 2015 the event was sponsored by Dubai Duty Free in conjunction with the Rory Foundation. In October 2015, it was announced that Dubai Duty Free had extended their sponsorship to 2018 along with the Rory Foundation.[33] In May 2018, it was announced that Dubai Duty Free would extend their sponsorship to 2022.

Winners

European Tour event (1975–)
European Tour (Rolex Series)2017–2019
European Tour (Regular)1975–2016, 2020
Pre-European Tour1927–1953
# YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ()
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
65th 2020John Catlin United StatesGalgorm Castle270−102 strokes Aaron Rai208,334
64th 2019Jon Rahm (2) SpainLahinch264−162 strokes Andy Sullivan
Bernd Wiesberger
1,034,478
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation
63rd 2018Russell Knox ScotlandBallyliffin274−14Playoff Ryan Fox998,425
62nd 2017Jon Rahm SpainPortstewart264−246 strokes Richie Ramsay
Matthew Southgate
1,019,362
61st 2016Rory McIlroy Northern IrelandThe K Club276−123 strokes Bradley Dredge
Russell Knox
666,660
60th 2015Søren Kjeldsen DenmarkRoyal County Down282−2Playoff Eddie Pepperell
Bernd Wiesberger
416,660
The Irish Open
59th 2014Mikko Ilonen FinlandFota Island271−131 stroke Edoardo Molinari333,330
58th 2013Paul Casey EnglandCarton House274−143 strokes Joost Luiten
Robert Rock
333,330
57th 2012Jamie Donaldson WalesRoyal Portrush270−184 strokes Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Anthony Wall
Fabrizio Zanotti
333,330
Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland
56th 2011Simon Dyson EnglandKillarney269−151 stroke Richard Green250,000
3 Irish Open
55th 2010Ross Fisher EnglandKillarney266−182 strokes Pádraig Harrington500,000
54th 2009Shane Lowry (a) IrelandCounty Louth271−17Playoff Robert Rock500,000*
Irish Open
53rd 2008Richard Finch EnglandAdare278−102 strokes Felipe Aguilar416,600
52nd 2007Pádraig Harrington IrelandAdare283−5Playoff Bradley Dredge416,600
Nissan Irish Open
51st 2006Thomas Bjørn DenmarkCarton House283−51 stroke Paul Casey366,660
50th 2005Stephen Dodd WalesCarton House279−9Playoff David Howell333,330
49th 2004Brett Rumford AustraliaCounty Louth274−144 strokes Pádraig Harrington
Raphaël Jacquelin
316,660
48th 2003Michael Campbell New ZealandPortmarnock277−11Playoff Thomas Bjørn
Peter Hedblom
300,000
Murphy's Irish Open
47th 2002Søren Hansen DenmarkFota Island270−14Playoff Richard Bland
Niclas Fasth
Darren Fichardt
266,600
46th 2001Colin Montgomerie (3) ScotlandFota Island266−185 strokes Darren Clarke
Niclas Fasth
Pádraig Harrington
266,600
45th 2000Patrik Sjöland SwedenBallybunion270−142 strokes Freddie Jacobson267,319
44th 1999Sergio García SpainDruids Glen268−163 strokes Ángel Cabrera233,320
43rd 1998David Carter EnglandDruids Glen278−6Playoff Colin Montgomerie223,988
42nd 1997Colin Montgomerie (2) ScotlandDruids Glen269−157 strokes Lee Westwood159,090
41st 1996Colin Montgomerie ScotlandDruids Glen279−51 stroke Andrew Oldcorn
Wayne Riley
178,571
40th 1995Sam Torrance (2) ScotlandMount Juliet277−11Playoff Stuart Cage
Howard Clark
155,550
39th 1994Bernhard Langer (3) GermanyMount Juliet275−131 stroke Robert Allenby
John Daly
138,271
Carroll's Irish Open
38th 1993Nick Faldo (3) EnglandMount Juliet276−12Playoff José María Olazábal135,282
37th 1992Nick Faldo (2) EnglandKillarney274−14Playoff Wayne Westner106,784
36th 1991Nick Faldo EnglandKillarney283−53 strokes Colin Montgomerie85,344
35th 1990José María Olazábal SpainPortmarnock282−63 strokes Mark Calcavecchia
Frank Nobilo
81,036
34th 1989Ian Woosnam (2) WalesPortmarnock278−10Playoff Philip Walton61,296
33rd 1988Ian Woosnam WalesPortmarnock278−107 strokes Nick Faldo
José María Olazábal
Manuel Piñero
Des Smyth
54,166
32nd 1987Bernhard Langer (2) West GermanyPortmarnock269−1910 strokes Sandy Lyle50,174
31st 1986Seve Ballesteros (3) SpainPortmarnock285−32 strokes Rodger Davis
Mark McNulty
44,380
30th 1985Seve Ballesteros (2) SpainRoyal Dublin278−10Playoff Bernhard Langer28,000
29th 1984Bernhard Langer West GermanyRoyal Dublin267−214 strokes Mark James25,662
28th 1983Seve Ballesteros SpainRoyal Dublin271−172 strokes Brian Barnes25,662
27th 1982John O'Leary IrelandPortmarnock287−11 stroke Maurice Bembridge18,742
26th 1981Sam Torrance ScotlandPortmarnock276−125 strokes Nick Faldo18,659
25th 1980Mark James (2) EnglandPortmarnock284−41 stroke Brian Barnes16,730
24th 1979Mark James EnglandPortmarnock282−61 stroke Ed Sneed14,000
23rd 1978Ken Brown ScotlandPortmarnock281−71 stroke Seve Ballesteros
John O'Leary
14,000
22nd 1977Hubert Green United StatesPortmarnock283−51 stroke Ben Crenshaw11,200
21st 1976Ben Crenshaw United StatesPortmarnock284−42 strokes Brian Barnes
Billy Casper
Martin Foster
9,800
20th 1975Christy O'Connor Jnr IrelandWoodbrook275−211 stroke Harry Bannerman7,000

(a) indicates an amateur golfer. In 2009 the winner's share was awarded to leading professional, Robert Rock.

Source:[34][35]

Pre-European Tour (1927–1953)
#YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share (£)
Ref
Irish Open
1954–74: No tournament
19th 1953Eric Brown ScotlandBelvoir Park2721 stroke Harry Weetman700[26]
1951–52: No tournament
18th 1950Ossie Pickworth AustraliaRoyal Dublin2872 strokes John Panton
Norman Von Nida
400[25]
17th 1949Harry Bradshaw (2) IrelandBelvoir Park2861 stroke Bobby Locke400[24]
16th 1948Dai Rees WalesPortmarnock2952 strokes Norman Von Nida400[23]
15th 1947Harry Bradshaw IrelandRoyal Portrush2902 strokes Flory Van Donck[22]
14th 1946Fred Daly Northern IrelandPortmarnock2884 strokes Bobby Locke[21]
1940–45: No tournament due to World War II
13th 1939Arthur Lees EnglandRoyal County Down2872 strokes Reg Whitcombe[20]
12th 1938Bobby Locke South AfricaPortmarnock2921 stroke Henry Cotton150[19]
11th 1937Bert Gadd EnglandRoyal Portrush2841 stroke Jimmy Adams[18]
10th 1936Reg Whitcombe EnglandRoyal Dublin2812 strokes Bill Davies[17]
9th 1935Ernest Whitcombe (2) EnglandRoyal County Down292Playoff
(36 holes)
Reg Whitcombe[13][14]
8th 1934Syd Easterbrook EnglandPortmarnock2847 strokes Joe Brown (a)[12]
7th 1933Bob Kenyon (2) EnglandMalone Golf Club2862 strokes Alf Padgham[11]
6th 1932Alf Padgham EnglandCork Golf Club2831 stroke Bill Davies[10]
5th 1931Bob Kenyon EnglandRoyal Dublin2912 strokes Bill Davies
Bert Hodson
Abe Mitchell
Mark Seymour
Ernest Whitcombe
[9]
4th 1930Charles Whitcombe EnglandRoyal Portrush2898 strokes Abe Mitchell[8]
3rd 1929Abe Mitchell EnglandPortmarnock309Playoff
(36 holes)
Archie Compston
Len Holland
[6][7]
2nd 1928Ernest Whitcombe EnglandRoyal County Down2884 strokes Archie Compston150[5]
1st 1927George Duncan ScotlandPortmarnock3121 stroke Henry Cotton150[36]

In the 1929 playoff Mitchell scored 150, Compston 152 and Holland 160. In the 1935 playoff Ernest Whitcombe scored 148 while Reg Whitcombe scored 151.

(a) indicates an amateur golfer

Multiple winners

Name Wins Years
Colin Montgomerie 3 1996, 1997, 2001
Bernhard Langer 3 1984, 1987, 1994
Nick Faldo 3 1991, 1992, 1993
Seve Ballesteros 3 1983, 1985, 1986
Jon Rahm 2 2017, 2019
Sam Torrance 2 1981, 1995
Ian Woosnam 2 1988, 1989
Mark James 2 1979, 1980
Harry Bradshaw 2 1947, 1949
Ernest Whitcombe 2 1928, 1935
Bob Kenyon 2 1931, 1933

Future venues

References

  1. "Cailleadh galfaire aitheanta na hÉireann, Christy O'Connor Jnr. sa Spáinn aréir". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (in Irish). 6 January 2016.
  2. "Golf - The Irish Open Championship". The Times. 17 August 1927. p. 5.
  3. "Golf - The Irish Open Championship". The Times. 18 August 1927. p. 5.
  4. "The Irish Open Championship - G Duncan the first holder". The Times. 19 August 1927. p. 6.
  5. "Irish Open Golf Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 1 June 1928. p. 7.
  6. "Irish "Open" Title". The Glasgow Herald. 12 July 1929. p. 3.
  7. "Mitchell Wins his First Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 13 July 1929. p. 2.
  8. "Irish Open Title". The Glasgow Herald. 7 June 1930. p. 14.
  9. "Unknown Wins". The Glasgow Herald. 28 August 1931. p. 10.
  10. "Padgham's Fine Victory". The Glasgow Herald. 26 August 1932. p. 3.
  11. "Kenyon Again Wins Irish Open Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 29 July 1933. p. 17.
  12. "Success of Syd Easterbrook". The Glasgow Herald. 20 July 1934. p. 7.
  13. "Brothers Tie for Title". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1935. p. 3.
  14. "Replayed Golf Final". The Glasgow Herald. 27 July 1935. p. 4.
  15. "International at Cork". The Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1932. p. 3.
  16. "England beat Ireland". The Glasgow Herald. 26 July 1933. p. 6.
  17. "Record Round in Irish "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 17 July 1936. p. 19.
  18. "Gadd's Winning Round". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1937. p. 6.
  19. "Locke Comes From Behind To Win Irish "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 22 July 1938. p. 4.
  20. "Arthur Lees Wins His First Big Tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 21 July 1939. p. 19.
  21. "Daly Wins Irish Golf Title". The Glasgow Herald. 19 July 1946. p. 7.
  22. "Bradshaw Wins Irish Open Golf Title". The Glasgow Herald. 11 July 1947. p. 6.
  23. "Rees Gains First National Title". The Glasgow Herald. 10 July 1948. p. 6.
  24. "Bradshaw Wins Irish Open Title". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1949. p. 2.
  25. "Pickworth Wins Irish "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 15 July 1950. p. 2.
  26. "Irish Title for Brown". The Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1953. p. 2.
  27. "Boost for Irish golf". Drogheda Independent. Drogheda, Leinster, Republic of Ireland. 7 February 1969. p. 20. Retrieved 2 June 2020 via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. "Sponsors withdraw". Drogheda Independent. Drogheda, Leinster, Republic of Ireland. 7 November 1969. p. 19. Retrieved 2 June 2020 via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. "Irish Open to be staged again". Glasgow Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. 29 September 1969. p. 23. Retrieved 2 June 2020 via Google News Archive.
  30. "Irish Open 1975". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  31. "Irish Open prize money increased". BBC Sport. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  32. "Purse is down but Rory will be there". Irish Times. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  33. "Dubai Duty Free extends Irish Open sponsorship until 2018". PGA European Tour. 12 October 2015.
  34. "Irish Open: Tournament History". European Tour. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  35. "The Irish Open". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  36. "Irish Open". The Glasgow Herald. 19 August 1927. p. 11.

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