When does it take place?
The Amgen Irish Open of 2024 is scheduled for September 12th-15th, at the Royal County Down, located in Newcastle, Co Down. It forms part of the DP World Tour. Despite losing its Rolex Series status, the event remains significant on the agenda. Only five DP World Tour events hold a larger prize pool. It also provides an opportunity to earn early Ryder Cup points for 2025.
How can it be viewed?
Audiences can tune into RTÉ2 for the Irish Open from 12:45 pm on the first day, and from 7:55 am on the second, with a break between 1:05 pm and 4 pm, resuming again from 4 pm to 6 pm. The remaining weekend coverage starts at 12:30 pm. Sky Sports also offers coverage from 1 pm on day one and 8 am on day two on both Golf and Main Event. However, due to the Solheim Cup, the coverage switches to the Sky Sports Golf red button from midday on Saturday and moves to Sky Sports Xtra on Sunday also at midday.
What details are there on the tee-times?
Information regarding the tee-times will be shared here once available.
What are the conditions of the Royal County Down Golf course?
Royal County Down is highly regarded, often known as one of the best globally. This prestigious title has been bestowed on it numerous times by Golf Digest magazine. Situated along the northeast coastline, with views of Slieve Donard and the Mourne Mountains, it offers an ideal combination of picturesque scenes and a thoughtfully designed course. The course’s level of difficulty can increase drastically, especially during poor weather conditions. For example, McIlroy’s opening round was scored at 80 when the Irish Open was last hosted there in 2015. Soren Kjeldsen became the champion after a close playoff round, finishing just two under, and only five players ended up below par, a rare occurrence in non-Major professional tournaments.
Will Rory McIlroy be participating?
Indeed, Rory McIlroy looks forward to playing on one of his preferred courses located not far from where he grew up – it’s quite a homey event for him. He is optimistic that it will be much more successful than his 2015 Irish Open experience in which he did not make the cut. Despite a season of ups and downs where he claimed two victories, he remained frustrated by some missed putts that unfortunately became the defining moments of his year. Nevertheless, a win at the Irish Open at RCD would certainly be a significant triumph for him.
Which other Irish players are featured in this tournament?
Leading the Irish line-up is Shane Lowry, who describes this year as the high point of his career after his second best year. Following a top 10 finish at the FedEx Cup, his present form is impressive and he has his eyes set on winning another Irish Open title. Other Irish who will join him include Séamus Power, who’s been establishing a solid status on the PGA Tour, several-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington, and North local favourite Tom McKibbin. The Irish roster also includes professionals Mark Power, Conor Purcell, Gary Hurley, Simon Thornton, and amateurs Max Kennedy and Sean Keeling.
Who else is joining the competition?
The next major attraction in the tournament, after the Irish players, would be Robert MacIntyre from Scotland. With two PGA Tour titles this season, including the Scottish Open that took place on a links course, the Scotsman has a strong presence. Nicolai Hojgaard from Denmark, a member of the European Ryder Cup team, will also be participating. Notably, though, there seems to be less prominent players compared to earlier years due to the unfortunate last-minute pull out of Billy Horschel due to injury.
Are tickets still obtainable?
Yes, tickets can still be acquired. They cost £55 for a spot on both Thursday and Friday, and £60 for Saturday or Sunday. For those seeking a unique experience, Wednesday offers a Pro-Am event featuring Patrick Kielty, Johnny Sexton, and Tommy Bowe playing with the professionals for £30.
What’s the prize for the winner of the Irish Open?
The champion of the Irish Open stands to win just shy of a million euros, an impressive sum of €951,046, while the runner-up receives €615,383.
What is the weather expected to be like?
The forecast predicts a somewhat parched but cold week in Newcastle with temperatures hitting only 11 degrees on Thursday, quite contrasting to last year’s 25 degrees at the K Club. Regular rain is anticipated on the Irish coast as per usual. Additionally, do expect strong winds on Thursday and Saturday, with speeds reaching up to 32km/h.