McIlroy X-Factor draws Dubai Duty Free to sponsor Irish Open

Tournament has been without a title sponsor since 2010

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, and George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, put pen to paper on the contract which sees Dubai Duty Free become the title sponsor of the 2015 Irish Open hosted by The Rory Foundation at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, and George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, put pen to paper on the contract which sees Dubai Duty Free become the title sponsor of the 2015 Irish Open hosted by The Rory Foundation at Royal County Down Golf Club. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho

Rory McIlroy's X-factor has brought on board a title sponsor for the Irish Open for the first time in five years, with Dubai Duty Free – who also sponsor the Irish Derby – coming on board for the golf tournament which takes place at Royal County Down on May 28th-31st.

McIlroy, the world number one, is already committed to hosting the tournament through his charity The Rory Foundation and, in a video link from the United States where he is continuing his preparations for next month's US Masters, he said the new sponsor "will bring a lot to the event and add to its already great prestige."

The tournament, which has a prize fund of€2 million, has attracted a great entry with Ireland's four Major champions –McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke – all committed along with international stars including Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els.

Without a title sponsor since 2010 when telecommunications giant 3 ended its involvement, the Irish Open has adopted a multi-sponsorship approach in the interim.

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Dubai Duty Free’s involvement with golf sponsorship also includes the DP World Tour Championship – the season-ending finale to the European Tour – and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, won earlier this year by McIlroy. It’s other main sporting sponsorships include horse racing and tennis.

Philip Reid

Philip Reid

Philip Reid is Golf Correspondent of The Irish Times