Brewin Dolphin Official Sponsor Irish Open

Leading investment management company Brewin Dolphin today announced that it will be an Official Sponsor for the Irish Open, one of The European Tour’s most prestigious titles, at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland from June 28 - July 1.

Brewin Dolphin, who have offices in both Belfast and Dublin and look after clients from all over Ireland, saw sponsorship of the Irish Open as an opportunity to raise awareness of the firm across the island.

This year Brewin Dolphin is celebrating its 250th anniversary with a number of exciting initiatives such as Chelsea Flower Show in London and the Commodores’ Cup in Cowes – so adding such a prestigious event like the Irish Open to the events calendar is very fitting.

The Irish Open returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 59 years this year, making this a very special occasion for players and spectators alike.

Among the players competing in this year's Irish Open are the three recent Northern Irish Major winners - Graeme McDowell (2010 US Open Championship) Rory McIlroy (2011 US Open Championship) and Darren Clarke (2011 Open Championship).

Philip Browne, Marketing Director at Brewin Dolphin said: “We are so pleased to be able to join the Irish Open on The European Tour and it gives us such a wonderful platform to highlight the presence of our two nearest offices in Belfast and Dublin.”

James Finnigan, The European Tour’s Commercial Director for the Irish Open, commented: “Brewin Dolphin is a welcome addition to The European Tour’s family of sponsors and we are delighted that they will be part of one of the most eagerly anticipated Irish Opens in many years.”

Rory Relishes Sawgrass Return

Rory McIlroy starts his third spell as world number one by returning to a tournament he opted to snub 12 months ago.

The Northern Irishman caused a major stir when he turned his back on the Players Championship last year having missed the halfway cut on his previous two visits to TPC Sawgrass.

The reigning US Open champion now admits he regrets making the decision to skip the event which - with a total purse of $5.8 million - is the richest in world golf.

"Looking back it wasn't one of my brightest moments," said the 23-year-old on Tuesday after arriving in Florida.

He once said: "I don't like the golf course for a start. I find it very awkward off the tee. You're hitting across fairways all the time.

"It's personal preference - some guys love Sawgrass and some guys don't like it so much."

Now the Northern Irishman declares himself "glad to be back", insisting: "For me it's a very big tournament and it's a tournament that I'd love to win one day."

He is hoping to go one better than last week, when he lost a play-off to Rickie Fowler at the Wells Fargo Championship.

"It gave me a bit of confidence for my first week back after a little (three-week) break," he said. "It was good to get into the play-off, but I would love to have that second shot back."

After Fowler had hit his approach to four feet on the first extra hole, McIlroy pushed his more than 20 feet wide and par was not good enough.

"I was in between clubs and went with the wedge instead of the sand wedge. Looking back on it - hindsight is a great thing - I didn't really have anything to lose with Rickie being in there close."

Few would argue with McIlroy being top of the rankings again given that he has had only two finishes outside the top-five in 15 starts since last August, but he still finds himself baffled by the system.

"If you go onto the website there's a page on it where it explains," he told one reporter. "I still don't understand it, but I don't think many other people do either. I think it's a good indication."

Pressed on what goes into becoming number one he said: "Wins, consistency, majors and scoring average - I think I'm number one in that as well!"

The US Open champion has replaced his five-wood with a two-iron to try to and guarantee more accuracy off the tee at Sawgrass this year.

"I'll hit it a lot off the tee just to try and keep it in play. I don't mind sacrificing distance as long as you're hitting from the fairways here.

"Hitting three-woods on some of these holes it still goes a little too far. I don't mind going into a green with a seven-iron instead of a nine-iron."