The 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington and
PGA TOUR winner Séamus Power headline the event in front of full-capacity Irish crowds.

For Power, it will his first appearance in his national Open since 2019, and his first since winning a maiden PGA TOUR title at last year’s Barbasol Championship.

Shane Lowry won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 while for US Senior Open champion Pádraig Harrington it will be his first tournament since claiming his first Senior major title last weekend.

Mount Juliet Estate is hosting the Horizon Irish Open for the second successive year. The  championship was played in front of limited-capacity crowds in 2021.

The County Kilkenny course previously hosted the Irish Open from 1993 to 1995 inclusive. Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance were the respective winners during those years.

Mount Juliet Estate twice hosted the WGC-American Express Championship, in 2002 when Tiger Woods was victorious with a one-stroke victory over South African Retief Goosen. In 2004 when the event returned, Ernie Els was the winner by one shot ahead of Thomas Bjørn.

Lucas Herbert is the defending champion here at Mount Juliet this week, having claimed a wire-to-wire success last year. The Australian claimed a three-stroke victory in 2021 for his second DP World Tour title.

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He had hoped to bring his family to Kilkenny with him but strict travel restrictions made this tough and impractical with the golfer instead opting to go alone and play in the Scottish Open next week.

This will be followed by the Open Championship in two weeks time, giving the golfer a run of three tournaments in three weeks.

“I just felt like it wasn’t fair to put them through what they would have to go through to be here with me, so plans changed very quickly,” said McIlroy.

The 32-year-old has never played at Mount Juliet before but is enjoying his time there.

He did go to the course as a child to watch the WGC-American Express Championship in 2002 and 2004 and has fond memories of his time there.

He was on the 18th green for the prize ceremony when Tiger Woods won the tournament in 2002 and even managed to close to the American golfing icon.

“His glove was still in the back pocket and I could have reached and got it and ran – it would have been a great story to tell him.”

Working with coach Pete Cowen has got Rory back into his stride at times and he is eyeing up silverware for the second half of the 2021 season.

His win at Quail Hollow last month is a positive sign that their work is coming together nicely.

After getting himself into contention at the US Open, he wants to chase another major with the Open only two weeks away.

McIlroy also cited the FedEx Cup, the Race to Dubai and the Ryder Cup as challenges he wants to tackle.

The current number 10 in the world feels confident after his promising Torrey Pines performance.

“I went out at Torrey on Sunday at least with a plan….previously over the last couple of years it has been more of a wishful, hopeful sort of thing.”

However, he is still looking forward to the Irish Open and many are confident that he will get the win on Sunday.

McIlroy noted similarities between the course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the course at the K Club, where he won in 2016.

Parkland courses are something McIlroy plays often overseas on the PGA Tour.

Following in the footsteps of his hero Tiger Woods and join the list of Major winners with a victory at Mount Juliet is something that McIlroy wants to do.

“I hope to continue that trend for sure.”

Irish Open tee times for Irish players and TV details are available here.

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The event which will raise money for Covid-19 relief efforts in the United States follows on from last weekend skins competition which involved Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff also playing for charity.

In 2018, Phil Mickelson defeated Tiger Woods to claim a prize of $9 in a matchplay event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In tonight’s event Tom Brady will partner Mickelson, while Peyton Manning will be Woods’ team-mate.

The competition will take place behind closed doors at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, with no caddies allowed. As a result, all players will be permitted to drive their own golf buggies.

The golf begins at 8pm Irish time with live coverage on CNN International which is channel 506 on Sky and channel 205 on Virgin Media Ireland.

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