Rory McIlroy will make a much-anticipated return to the Irish Open when the new world No.1 tees it up at Mount Juliet Estate from May 28-31.
McIlroy, who controversially gave the tournament a miss when it was held at Lahinch last year, will join his fellow Northern Irishman and tournament host Graeme McDowell in a field which will also include defending champion Jon Rahm and the reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry.
McIlroy will be targeting a second victory in an event which he himself hosted from 2015-2018 – helping elevate the historic national open to become one of the European Tour’s eight premier Rolex Series events.
The 30-year-old famously lifted the trophy in 2016, delighting the home crowds with a swashbuckling display down the stretch to hold off Russell Knox and Bradley Dredge.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” said McIlroy. “It’s a bit different going back for a May date as opposed to July, and at a parkland course at Mount Juliet. I’ve never played the course before, but I’ve got good memories of the place, as it was the first time I ever watched Tiger Woods play in person. My dad drove me down and we watched the WGC there, and that was really cool, so it’ll be exciting to tee it up there myself and try to win a tournament there.”
The only official sales channel to purchase tickets for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is via the ticketing platform Eventbrite (click here).