An extra 50 places will be on offer when the Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship takes place at Royal Dublin from May 14th to 16th. For the first time since the competition was revived, the field for this year's championship will be extended to 120 players. Previously the cut-off was made with the lowest 70 entries in handicap order, which last year was as low as .7 due to the calibre of the entry.

No strangers to staging major events, preparations at Royal Dublin are in hand with new tees at the 11th and 13th already under construction. Royal Dublin last hosted an amateur championship when they staged the Close in their centenary year, 1985, when John McHenry beat Paul Rayfus in the final.