GOLF:WHEN YOU get the hottest property in world golf on board, you know things are looking up. So, although the Irish Open may be without a title sponsor or a confirmed venue, at least the official confirmation that Rory McIlroy will definitely be competing at next year's tournament from June 28th-July 1st represents a massive boost for the event.
Staged at Killarney over the August bank holiday weekend for the past two years, the Irish Open has been moved forward a month to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games in London.
The shift in dates means the tournament will now take place two weeks after the US Open – which McIlroy defends – and three weeks ahead of the British Open.
The switch to the earlier date in the tour schedule brought with it a clash with the ATT National on the US Tour at Congressional, where McIlroy won his maiden Major in record-breaking fashion earlier this season.
In confirming he will be playing in the Irish Open, McIlroy said: “There has been a lot of speculation on whether or not I will play the Irish Open next year, so I am happy to announce that I will definitely play the tournament next season.
“For me, the Irish Open has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most important events on the global golf calendar. It’s our national open and it’s obviously a title that I would love to win at some stage in my career.
“With Irish golf on such a high in recent years, it is important that we put on a good show not only for the home fans, but also for the global golf audience who will be watching the event on TV next summer.
“A lot has been made of me joining the PGA Tour again next year, but in reality, it’s not a drastic change to the schedule I have played in recent seasons. It just means that I will be adding a few more events to my schedule in America in 2012.
“Taking my PGA Tour card again does not mean that I’m going to neglect my European Tour status. I’ll continue to play a similar schedule of events in Europe and will obviously fulfil my commitment to the European Tour,” he said.
McIlroy enters this week’s Hong Kong Open still with an outside chance of pipping Luke Donald to the European money list title.
Fanling has previously proved to the Northern Irishman’s liking; he lost in a thrilling play-off to Lin Wen-tang in 2008 before again finishing runner-up the following year to Gregory Bourdy.
“I’ve come close a couple of times,” said McIlroy, who finished sixth last year. I was involved, for me, in one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a golf course in 2008 in the play-off with Lin Wen-tang.
“It was getting dark, we both hit a couple of incredible shots from the trees, it was a really fun play-off to be part of but it didn’t quite work out for me.
“You feel like you go out on this golf course and the worst you can shoot is 66 but it never really turns out that way . . . .
“Ian (Poulter) proved last year that you can go very low . . . I think he won with 22 under par.
“That’s the sort of golf you need to win around here. You need to get off to a good start but I’ve played some good golf here and I feel like I can do it again.
“I’ve played very, very well this year, climbing to number two in the world rankings is a big achievement for me, and to get another win a few weeks ago in Shanghai was nice.
“It would be great to finish off the season well with a good result here. It’s a tournament I’ve wanted to win for a few years.
“It’s been a great year, there’s been a few changes on the golf course, off the golf course, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Pádraig Harrington, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey have descended on Hong Kong for what is the penultimate event of the European Tour season.
But it will, in fact, actually be the final tournament in terms of deciding the fate of those seeking to retain their tour cards, with Maybin and, to a lesser extent, McGrane falling into this latter category.
Harrington, who is currently 67th in the Race to Dubai money list, will be hoping to make it into the top 60 and qualify for next week’s finale.
