McIlroy, the career Grand Slam winner, claimed his first Irish professional title when winning the Irish Open by three strokes at the venue back in 2016.

Tee off times for round 1

McIlroy happy to be back

Remembering that victory, the County Down-native admitted:

“It’s lovely to be back. I’ve got some great memories of the K Club. I came here to watch the Ryder Cup in 2006 with my dad and to win my only Irish Open here nine years ago. It’s got a lot of great memories for me, and hopefully I can add to them this week.”

The five-time Major Champion will join fellow Irish golfers Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Séamus Power at the Palmer North Course as action gets underway on Thursday morning.

The former winner will start at 8am on the tenth hole as part of group 17.

Amgen Irish Open Ticket Information

Easy for Lowry to motivate himself

Lowry, like McIlroy, will attempt to win the Irish Open for a second time, having taken the title as an amateur at Baltray 16 years ago.

Speaking ahead of the start of this year’s Amgen Irish Open, the Offaly man, who tees off at the 10th hole at 7.50am Thursday morning with American Brooks Koepka and Frenchman Martin Couvra, said:

“I’m very excited. It’s good to be back here at a place I know pretty well. I get to stay in my own bed for a few days, which is nice. Things have been going pretty well and the week has been going very nice so far.

“I’ve got an exciting few weeks ahead, starting with this week. I think, as a golfer, as an Irish golfer, as a European golfer, if I can’t get myself motivated and ready and up for what’s to come over the next month, starting with Thursday at the Amgen Irish Open, I should pack it in.”

30 not out for Harrington

Three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington will make his 30th consecutive appearance in the Irish Open.

Thinking ahead to the tournament, Harrington, who tees off at 7.40am on Thursday morning on the 10th hole, stated:

“I kind of now know that if I go out there tomorrow and I smile and don’t get too stressed, don’t get angry or anything like that, I pretty much can hit any shot, and they’ll still like me out there and still give me a few claps. I’m a little bit more relaxed about it. I’d love to play well and compete, but if that doesn’t happen, I will wave to the crowd, smile and wave at the crowds and enjoy it.”

Event Information & FAQs:

All the details you need, to be prepared for the #AmgenIrishOpen this week!

— Amgen Irish Open (@IrishOpen_) September 2, 2025

To win would mean everything to Power

Waterford golfer, Séamus Power, spoke today of his delight at playing in front of a home crowd.

The US-based golfer said:

“I don’t get to play in front of Irish fans that often but when I do it’s always great. They’re cheering you on every step of the way. Seeing friendly faces and stuff in the crowd, it goes a long way. In the afternoon with a rough stretch or something like that, it will keep me going. I suppose it’s rare for me, so that makes it even more special.

“It would mean everything to win this week. We were talking last night and going through Shane Lowry’s win at this event in 2009, and winning that, it would mean everything for me. I feel like in Ireland we really, really appreciate our own sports people. Golf is actually a sport that’s so popular now, and just to be part of the heritage of the tournament would be amazing. It would be a dream come true.”

Ryder Cup Captain Donald competing

Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald is also in this week’s field. The Englishman made his Captain’s Picks at the beginning of the week, and will be joined by three of the 12 players who will make up his team in New York later this month – McIlroy, Lowry and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton.

Birdies for Wishes Campaign

Title Sponsor Amgen have once again partnered with the DP World Tour for the Birdies for Wishes campaign, with Amgen and the DP World Tour donating €300 combined to Make a Wish Ireland for every birdie or better carded by the field on the first hole during the four tournament rounds.

The three Amgen ambassadors – Harrington, Lowry and Power – have committed to the fundraising effort, pledging to donate €500 for every birdie and €1,000 for every eagle they card during the week.

The post Strong Irish challenge for Amgen Irish Open at The K Club appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Mount Juliet last year hosted the Irish Open for the first time since 1995 and for just the fourth time in the event’s history. Australia’s Lucas Herbert won in 2021 in front of sell-out crowds at the County Kilkenny venue. The best place to get some advice on who might win the event is by going to Golfforecast.co.uk, they are top class. 

After a hugely successful hosting in 2021, tickets for the 2022 edition went on sale in December, sparking record demand during the festive period. The final 500 tickets were advertised to fans through Horizon Irish Open platforms in recent weeks and were  snapped up. No general admission tickets now remain for the final day of the event. When people are waiting to buy tickets they can log onto best Irish online casinos where they can find hours of entertainment. 

Saturday and Friday are also on course to sell out. Tickets also remain for the first tournament day, Thursday, and Celebrity Pro-Am Wednesday.

“The Irish golf fans are some of the best in the world so it is no surprise that they are relishing the opportunity to return to their national open at the spectacular Mount Juliet Estate this summer,” said Simon Alliss, the DP World Tour’s Championship Director for the Horizon Irish Open.

“With a strong field expected, an increased prize fund thanks to the Strategic Alliance with our partners at the PGA TOUR and a world-class venue in Mount Juliet, it is shaping up to be an unmissable week and we look forward to welcoming the Irish people back through the gates.”

Prior to the 2021 edition, Mount Juliet hosted the Irish Open for three consecutive years in 1993, 1994 and 1995, won by Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance respectively.

CLICK HERE TO BUY IRISH OPEN GOLF TICKETS

The post How to buy Tickets for 2022 Horizon Irish Open Golf appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

“It’s looking fabulous,” admitted McIlroy, “Wonderful weather. Great golf course. It’s great. I’ve never played here before. I’ve been here to watch when the World Golf Championships were here in 2002 and 2004; we came down to watch, but a little different playing it. And, yeah, obviously the vantage point is a little different, as well.”

Previous Irish Open host

For four consecutive seasons from 2015, the Irishman put his name to his home open as the tournament host and was credited with helping revive the event’s fortunes to reclaim its status as one of the most eagerly-awaited fixtures on the Irish sporting calendar.

The 32-year-old, who claimed the famous trophy in 2016, is relishing the opportunity to be welcomed home by the Irish spectators at the sold-out event – which is one of a select number of pilot test events as crowds return to live sport in Ireland.

McIlroy, whose last appearance on home soil came at The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, will play alongside his fellow 2018 Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood and John Catlin – who defends his title having added his name to the prestigious list of winners at Galgorm Castle Golf Club last September.

McIlroy “encouraged” by recent performance

Speaking about his recent US Open performance the US-based Irish golfer said:

“I was very encouraged walking away from Torrey Pines, to have a share of the lead on the final day through a few holes. I gave myself a good chance. Looking back, the one thing that I kicked myself about, it wasn’t the double on 12, you’re going to get some bad breaks and I got a bad break but it was the three-putt on 11 that stopped the momentum.

“I made a really good putt for par on ten and then probably hit my best shot of the day into 11. Great 5-iron into the middle of the green. And then, you know, that three-putt was just pretty sloppy, and that killed the momentum to go on from there. But I thought the week was a real positive on whole and I’m looking forward to these next three weeks.”

John Gatlin set to defend title

Last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner John Catlin is relishing the chance to defend his title:

“I’m very excited to defend, this is my first opportunity to defend my win,” the American said. “Even on the Asian Tour I didn’t have an opportunity to defend any of my wins so I’m really excited, a lot of the memories from last year coming back – different golf course but I’m definitely drawing on some of those shots I hit down the stretch and the confidence that gives me.

Commenting on his own game right night, Catlin stated:

“The game is pretty good. I’ve been putting in some good work when I was at home, with Noah my coach, just tightening some things up. I’m always trying to get a little better that I was before and I feel like I was close last week, I just couldn’t quite figure out the greens. I’m missing too many short putts and I missed the cut by a couple but that happens to everybody and I’m looking forward to this week.”

Round One tee-off times here.

The post Former winners Rory McIlroy and John Catlin among Dubai Duty Free Irish Open field appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The tournament returns to Mount Juliet Estate from May 27-31 and will be hosted by 2010 U.S. Open winner and Portrush native Graeme McDowell.

Paul O’Connell said;

“I played in last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am at Lahinch and everything about it was brilliant. The sun shone all day, my son Paddy caddied for me and my golf wasn’t too bad so I’m delighted to be back again this year.

Hopefully this year is a little easier as we don’t have the Atlantic sea breeze to contend with. I’m really looking forward to playing the course at Mount Juliet Estate. I’ve played it a few times previously and it’s just beautiful.”

2019 Open champion Shane Lowry will join host McDowell at Mount Juliet Estate and make his first appearance on home soil since claiming his maiden major title when he competes at this year’s Dubai Duty Irish Open.

Further player announcements and the rest of the Pro-Am line-up will be announced over the coming weeks.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open takes place from the 27th to the 31st May. Tickets are available from www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com.

See footage of Paul O’Connell at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2019 at Lahinch – https://we.tl/t-s99x3Bfkua

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