Sport Irish Open

Irish Open

Lowry backs McIlroy over Irish Open decision 

Shane Lowry has backed Rory McIlroy's decision to skip the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this year.

'People have short memories' - Shane Lowry backs Rory McIlroy in Irish Open controversy 

Shane Lowry has defended Rory McIlroy's decision to skip the Irish Open later this year, stating that the tournament would likely no longer be on the...

Dermot Gilleece: 'Lahinch's time to shine' 

They're doing some serious spring cleaning down around Lahinch these days. In fact, local endeavour is positively transforming the West Clare resort in preparation for what is being viewed...

Dermot Gilleece: 'It's disappointing to lose McIlroy, but we should respect his decision' 

Rory McIlroy has a problem with Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour. Without knowing the facts behind that particular situation, it is...

Fears grow Rory McIlroy will skip Irish Open but Paul McGinley still 'hopeful' 

Fears are growing Rory McIlroy will miss next year's Irish Open after announcing his plans to pare down his 2019 European Tour involvement yesterday.

Clarke begins Senior service with Irish Open plans in mind 

Darren Clarke begins his PGA Tour Champions career in Seattle on Friday but he's already looking to 2020 and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Lahinch planning to host Open party to remember 

Rory McIlroy would love to turn up in Lahinch for next year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open as the Masters champion and the first European to complete the career Grand Slam.

Russell Knox sinks monster putt to win Irish Open following dramatic play-off 

Scotland's Russell Knox defeated Ryan Fox in a play-off to win the £5.3million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in amazing fashion at Ballyliffin. Knox...

Live Irish Open Day Four: Russell Knox holds his nerve to win Irish Open after dramatic play-off 

South African Erik Van Rooyen has a four shot lead to protect going into the final round of the Irish Open. We'll bring you all the updates from...

Beauty and the beast: Ballyliffin drawing the best out of world elite 

These precious days are producing a truly memorable chapter in an event dating back to 1927. Even the European Tour have been prompted to acknowledge this particular Dubai Duty Free...

Van Rooyen pulls clear as Irish challenge fades away 

A location once referred to sympathetically by John Hume as "the forgotten peninsula", has been thrust into world-wide golfing consciousness by the $7m Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. And a South African...

'I would win every week I played. Simple as that' - Rory McIlroy predicts what would happen if he finds putting form 

Rory McIlroy admits his game is stuck in neutral in his last competitive start before the Open, but...

Live Irish Open Round Three: McDowell and McIlroy look to make up ground on leaders at Ballyliffin 

Five Irish players have made it through to the weekend at the Irish Open at Ballyliffin. We'll keep you up to date with their scores and much more...

Home heroes believe they can solve Ballyliffin puzzle 

The sun-scorched Glashedy Links left them scratching their heads but home stars Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell still believe they can solve an intriguing Ballyliffin puzzle and...

Irish Open as it happened: Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington lose ground on the leaders at Ballyliffin 

Rory McIlroy did not enjoy the second round he was hoping for as he fired a 73 to back up his 70 from the opening day and Padraig Harrington is also...

'It sort of just got into my head a little bit' - Rory McIlroy rues missed putts but cards solid round at Irish Open 

Rory McIlroy has admitted that the his putting performance got into his head during his first...

Padraig Harrington cards a 68 in Round One and describes his pre-tournament odds of 66/1 as 'strange' 

Two days after telling anyone who would listen that he was "good value" to win a second Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Padraig Harrington proved his...

The Irish Open LIVE: Good day for the Irish at stunning Ballyliffin 

There are 14 Irish golfers battling for their share of the €6m prize fund on offer on the Inishowen peninsula at this year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Follow the progress of Rory McIlroy, Shane...

I need to get back playing like a teenager - Rory McIlroy 

Rory McIlroy wishes he could turn back the clock and play like a teenager again as he bids to end his four-year Major drought this summer.

'I've cut back from a few things off the golf course' - Rory McIlroy has 'no excuses' ahead of Irish Open 

Rory McIlroy insists he will not lose any sleep over his major championship drought, even if it continues for the rest of his career.

'The bookies don't normally get it wrong' - Padraig Harrington miffed over his odds for Irish Open 

Padraig Harrington is ranked 268th in the world and seeking a first win since 2016, but believes he should still be among the favourites for a second...

Irish Open 2018: Everything you need to know about the tournament at beautiful Ballyliffin and a hole-by-hole guide 

With the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation jalmost upon us, here's our...

Ballyliffin braced for Open season 

Back in 1968, Ballyliffin Golf Club signalled its long-term ambitions by splashing £5,000 on 360 acres of wonderfully promising linksland. Fifty years on, the fruits of those intrepid plans have led them to spearhead a remarkable outlay of €500,000 in bringing the $7m Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to...

Ballyliffin Golf Club set to host some of golf’s biggest stars for the Irish Open 

It was confirmed today that Rafael Cabrera Bello will compete in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation this July, along...

McGinley hopes for carnival atmosphere as Irish Open circus comes to Lahinch 

Paul McGinley wants Lahinch to be a "major" party when he hosts the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the iconic County Clare links.

Lahinch Golf Club to host 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 

Lahinch golf club in co. Clare has been chosen to host the Irish Open next year.

McGinley puts Lahinch in Irish Open frame 

Paul McGinley wants to take the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to Lahinch when he plays host to the $7million Rolex Series event next year.

New Spanish superstar claims Irish title 

The world of golf is a far better place with a swashbuckling Spaniard prowling the fairways, destroying course records, and playing sublime golf.

Spain's Jon Rahm storms to resounding victory in Irish Open 

Spain's Jon Rahm consolidated his status as the hottest property in golf with a resounding victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, his second win in just his 25th event as a professional.

Next year's Irish Open confirmed for Donegal - thanks to Rory McIlroy 

RORY McIlory’s connections with Ballyliffin golf club helped secure the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for one of the ‘best kept secrets’ in Irish golf.

Live Irish Open LIVE: Jon Rahm storms to victory at Portstewart 

Welcome to the final day of our live blog from the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club. Shane Lowry and Gavin Moynihan are best of the Irish at -8 while Padraig Harrington is -7. But they are too far...

McIlroy influence helping put Inishowen on the golf map 

On a trip to Boston last September, John Farren managed to get a quick chat with Rory McIlroy during his victory surge in the Deutsche Bank Championship. The upshot was pledged support...

Rahm makes hay while sun shines as Irish fail to fire 

A stunning location was clad in its finest apparel yesterday, for the third round of the $7m Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart. It became the perfect setting for a moving-day surge from the...

'Players were more skilful in my day' 

As he extended his hand in a corridor of the Portstewart clubhouse, our meeting got off to a rather fraught start. "You had my score wrong," chided Peter Alliss, in a reference to a piece I had written about the 1951 Open Championship. "It was 69 not 79."

Irish challenge fades as Jon Rahm and Daniel Im mount charge for Irish Open 

THE sight of Padraig Harrington disappearing into the huge swathes of gorse to the right of the first fairway did not augur well for an Irish charge...

Live Irish Open Day Three: As it happened 

On Friday, we lost Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke, all three of whom missed a very competitive cut at -4, so the local hopes now rest on the shoulders of the likes of Paul Dunne (-8), Padraig Harrington (-7) and Shane Lowry (-5).

Irish Open aims to join world's elite with $10m fund 

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is set to be a $10 million tournament by 2020.

Rory McIlroy misses cut at Irish Open while Paul Dunne and Padraig Harrington mount challenges 

A deflated Rory McIlroy admitted he needs to eliminate "silly mistakes" from his game after missing the cut in the Dubai Duty Free Irish...

Irish Open, as it happened: McIlroy's weekend over but Harrington and Dunne among Irish in contention 

Welcome to our live blog from some featured groups on day two of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club.

Dermot Gilleece: Teacher enjoys seeing his pupils navigate Irish Open at Portstewart 

Like a latter-day Mr Chips, Des Giffin has been observing some of his star pupils during the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart. Most...

Paul Dunne and Graeme McDowell lead the Irish charge as Rory McIlroy has frustrating day at the Irish Open 

Graeme McDowell and Paul Dunne were among the best of the Irish on day one of the Irish Open at Portstewart, carding five under par rounds after...

Comment - There is a good reason why the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry come to Padraig Harrington for advice 

Rory McIlroy turned to his wife, Erica, and asked her to change the password on his Twitter account.

Irish Open As It Happened: All the action from Day One in Portstewart 

Rory McIlroy aims to defend his Irish Open title in Portstewart and we will bring you all the action over the four days right here.

'I realised that it's okay to be a winner' - McIlroy heeds lessons from Tiger Woods' infamous fall 

Rory McIlroy yesterday revealed how he has changed from being an ambitious rising star to a winner with a ruthless streak on the fairways.

Grounded Dunne looks to build on French positives 

What a difference a week makes to a professional golfer.

Woman hospitalised after being hit in the head with a golf ball at Irish Open ProAm event 

A woman was taken to hospital after she was struck by a golf ball at the Pro Am event at the Irish Open course today.

Dermot Gilleece: In this age of self-centred, unthinking celebrities, Rory McIlroy is one of the good guys 

While we discussed various aspects of the build-up to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Portstewart's tournament director, Michael Moss, showed me...

Pics: Rory McIlroy and Pep Guardiola joined by host of stars at Irish Open ProAm 

Screen actors Jamie Dornan, Aidan Quinn and James Nesbitt were vying with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and racing legend AP McCoy at...

Irish Open ProAm 

Watch: Irish Open 2017 - Drone footage gives spectacular hole by hole preview 

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open tees off tomorrow and ahead of the big event, here is a hole by hole preview comprised entirely of drone footage.

'I sort of regretted sending it' - Rory McIlroy reveals Twitter row with Steve Elkington made him give up social media 

Rory McIlroy has banned himself from social media following his row with former US PGA champion...