6/17/2014

Strong Irish Open Field for Fota

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An impressive international field comprising seven Major Champions and players from 23 different nations will gather at Fota Island Resort, in Co. Cork, for the 2014 Irish Open, from June 19-22.

The tournament takes place the week after the US Open Championship at Pinehurst and will, of course, include two former US Open champions in Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, as well as fellow Major winners Darren Clarke, John Daly, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and José María Olazábal. Together they have amassed 12 Major Championship between them, bringing a wealth of quality and experience to Cork when the tournament visits Fota Island for the first time in 12 years.

There will also be 14 players in the field who have represented Europe in The Ryder Cup, including Englishman Paul Casey who defends the title he won by three strokes at Carton House 12 months ago, and Dane Søren Hansen, champion when the tournament last visited Fota Island in 2002. 

With entries now closed for the tournament, the field also includes France’s Victor Dubuisson and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, the two players who finished runner-up to Thongchai Jaidee after a play-off in last week’s Nordea Masters.

Gallacher, who successfully defended his title in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, and Dubuisson, the finalist in the WGC- Accenture Match Play, are joined in the €2million event by another Ryder Cup hopeful, Dutchman Joost Luiten, the defending champion in this week’s Lyoness Open presented by Greenfinity, who is also currently ranked inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

All three will be under the watchful eye of Irishman Paul McGinley, Ireland’s first Ryder Cup captain, who can be assured a passionate send-off from the Cork galleries as he makes his last appearance on home soil before leading Europe at Gleneagles in September.

There are ten players in the field who have already tasted success so far on The 2014 European Tour Race to Dubai, with Morten Ørum Madsen, Pabalo Larrazábal, Ross Fisher, Alejandro Cañizares, Marco Crespi, Alexander Levy, Felipe Aguilar and Daniel Brooks joining McIlroy and Gallacher.

Larrazábal and Cañizares, along with Olazábal, are part of a strong looking Spanish challenge, which also includes Rafa Cabrera-Bello, the two-time European Tour champion, and big-hitting Alvaro Quiros, who will be seeking a seventh European Tour title having finished tied fifth at Carton House last year.

Italian Matteo Manassero, the player McIlroy succeeded as winner of the BMW PGA Championship last month, also features, along with compatriot Edoardo Molinari, with the aim of becoming the first continental European to win the Irish Open since Denmark’s Thomas Björn in 2006.

The last non-European to win the title was New Zealand’s Michael Campbell at Portmarnock in 2003, but there will be strong representation from outside the continent this year, including multiple European Tour winners Branden Grace of South Africa, Brett Rumford of Australia and Jeev Milkha Singh of India.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director of The Irish Open, said: “The Irish Open is always one of the most popular tournaments on The European Tour’s Race to Dubai, attracting impressive galleries each year, and our players are looking forward to playing at Fota Island for the first time since 2002.

“With a number of players in the field coming from the US Open at Pinehurst, this year’s Irish Open promises to be another celebration of golf, and another special occasion.”



Fota Eyes are Smiling


After the excitement of another European victory in the US open Championship – the fourth in five years - the golfing spotlight now falls on Fota Island Resort and the Irish Open in Co.Cork.


As they packed their bags to fly back to Europe after the thrills and spills of Pinehurst, many of the leading contenders were already turning their attention to one of the top events on The European Tour International Schedule.

Although they didn’t figure in the shake-up, which carried Martin Kaymer to his second Major title, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell couldn’t resist sneaking a look forward to this week’s action.

McIlroy, who closed with a 73 for a tie for 23rd place three years after his Kaymer-esque performance in Washington, said: “I don’t know Fota at all and I’ve never been to Cork, unbelievably. It’s going to be good. Irish Opens are always great events – they are always so well supported and so well attended, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ve heard great things about the course, so I’m really looking forward to getting down there and seeing it for myself. I vaguely remember watching the Irish Open on TV when it was there in 2002. It’s a parkland golf course, which will be nice after last week at Pinehurst, where I made only nine birdies in four rounds.

“I’m a little disappointed I didn’t do better this week, but I’m really happy with where my game is right now and it’ll be the first time playing in Europe since I won the BMW PGA Championship.

“I’m going there third in The Race to Dubai so there’s a lot to play for and hopefully I’ll have a great week.”

McDowell added: “The Irish Open is always special to us as Irish players. Fota Island was my Irish Open debut and it’s got good memories, good thoughts, a great venue. Everyone is going to be very excited and very pumped up. It should be a great Irish Open. I’m very excited about it and I’m going there with my game in decent shape.”

Tied on 28th spot with McDowell was Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who is fast becoming a big attraction on The European Tour after a dazzling year in which he has established himself as a leading contender for big titles.

“I have never played there but everyone I speak to about it can only say good things.” commented the Frenchman.” I’m excited about going back to play in Europe as I’ve only played once there so far this year – in Sweden. The crowds are always very good in Ireland and they appreciate good golf.”

Germany’s Marcel Siem was unable to reproduce the brilliant golf of his countryman Kaymer, but he hopes to takes that inspiration to Fota Island Resort, where he played in the Irish Open 12 years ago.

“I played there in 2002, which was my first year on Tour, and fell in love with it” declared Siem, whose final round of 70 helped him to a tied 12th finish in America alongside defending champion Justin Rose. “When I heard the Irish Open was going back there this year I was very happy. It’s a great course and generally a good place to be. The Irish Open is one of the best-attended events on Tour so I’m looking forward to feeling that atmosphere again.”

Irish golf fans are also poised to enjoy the professional debut of hugely talented English youngster, Matthew Fitzpatrick, who concluded his glittering amateur career with a closing round of 69 at Pinehurst to claim the amateur silver medal.

Fitpatrick has all the credentials to reach the peak of the pro game and he enthused: “I’ve never played there but I’ve heard great things about it and I’m excited to see for myself. It’ll be very different from Pinehurst, that’s for sure.

“I’m really looking forward to making my debut as a professional and it’s great to be able to do it in such a strong field. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are world-class, but there are so many other great players playing too. It’s exciting stuff.”