Golf News round-up
IRISH WOMEN'S OPEN:The revived Irish Women's Open, off the Ladies' European Tour schedule for almost a decade, will return next year as part of the build-up to the 2011 Solheim Cup, reports Philip Reid.
The event has been pencilled in for July 11th-13th next, although the venue has yet to be confirmed.
As part of its commitment to the Solheim Cup, the women's professional equivalent of the Ryder Cup, at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath, the AIB bank group yesterday announced it would be one of four "Global Partners" to the team competition that pits Europe's professionals against their United States counterparts.
A seven-figure sum has been agreed with the bank over five years which involves partnership status for the Solheim Cup and becoming title sponsors of the Irish Women's Open.
It is believed negotiations are at an advanced stage to determine the venue for next year's event. It will be staged around the country, before moving to Killeen Caste in 2010 as part of the build-up to the Solheim.
IRISH SENIORS OPEN:The Ballyliffin club, on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal, will host the 2008 Irish Seniors Open from June 20th-22nd, the first time the event has been hosted by a links course. It will be played over The Old Links.
DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC:Tiger Woods has confirmed he will play in the Dubai Desert Classic early next year, organisers said yesterday.
The 2006 Classic champion is still working out his 2008 schedule but has committed to play in Dubai at the Emirates Golf Club from January 31st-February 3rd.
Woods, who first appeared in the Desert Classic in 2001, finished tied for third in the 2007 edition of the European Tour event, two shots adrift of eventual winner Henrik Stenson, despite poor putting. Woods and his design company are developing a 7,800-yard, par-72 course called Al Ruwaya in Dubailand, the region's largest tourism and leisure project.
