Bon Jour as McIlroy Commits to France

McIlroy - Getty Images

Rory McIlroy will miss the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in America this summer to play at the 100th Open de France.

The clash between the two tournaments has occurred following a re-working of the PGA Tour's 2016 calendar to accommodate the Rio Olympics in August, where golf will return again to the programme.

Moving the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational forward a month has caused friction between the European and PGA Tours.

Four-time Major winner McIlroy won the prestigious Bridgestone event in Akron two years ago, but he feels playing at Le Golf National near Paris - the host venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup - from June 30-July 3 will help his Open chances at Royal Troon.

"I feel that playing in the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National will be the best way to get ready for The Open, which is just two weeks after the French Open," McIlroy said.

"Le Golf National might not be a pure links course, but it is traditionally firm and fast and can throw up some tricky conditions during the French Open.

"It's a great test of golf and I think playing there, as well as staying in Europe, will offer the best conditions to prepare for The Open at Troon."

Northern Ireland star McIlroy has previously played twice in the French Open, in 2008 and 2010.

The world number three failed to defend the Bridgestone Invitational title he won in 2014 last August after rupturing ankle ligaments caused during a football game with friends.

McIlroy's decision will come as a huge boost for the European Tour which was annoyed by the PGA Tour moving the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational into the same week as the French Open, continental Europe's oldest national championship.

Last summer the European Tour withdrew its sanction for the WGC event.

That means the Bridgestone Invitational is not part of the 2016 European Tour international schedule, and money won in it will not count towards The Race to Dubai or for Ryder Cup points.

This year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation takes place at The K Club on May 19 - 22, 2016.

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Irish Open for Donald and Kaymer

European Tour

The Irish Open received another boost with the news that Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald will join Patrick Reed at this year’s event.

The tournament is hosted by the Rory (McIlroy) Foundation, and sponsored by Dubai Duty Free will take place in Royal County Down from May 28-31. The addition of Kaymer, Donald and Reed to an already strong field, the tournament sponsors have increased the prize fund by 25pc to €2.5 million, with the winner banking €416k.

The field already including some long time absentees such as Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Lee Westwood. Others like Ernie Els and Rickie Fowler will join the very strong Irish contingent from Augusta: Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry.

McIlroy has been inspirational in attracting some of the world’s best golfers to this year’s event and he expressed his delight with the addition of three more.

“It’s great to see Martin, Luke and Patrick adding their names to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – to have another three truly world class players at the tournament can give the Irish Open fans a better experience at Royal County Down so I’d really like to thank the guys for supporting the event.”

On the increase in prize money, McIlroy added: This is our first year to sponsor the Irish Open and we want to invest in the tournament and work with the European Tour and the Rory Foundation in order to attract the best players in the world.”

Two-time Major winner Kaymer added: There is definitely a good feeling about this year’s Irish Open and I think Rory has done a great job to get such a great field for the event and to create a really nice atmosphere about the tournament. He is very passionate about the tournament and also the golf course at Royal County Down, so I am sure it will be a great week.”

More than 80,000 fans are expected to attend over the four days and tournament organisers have said that Sunday is already close to being a sellout.

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Rory McIlroy Launches 6 Bags

Rory McIlroy has started The Rory Foundation and among the first projects is to bring attention to children by putting the name of charities on his bag when possible. 

The world's No. 1 player starts his season next week in Abu Dhabi.

The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland is geared toward work like this. Two years ago, he went to earthquake-ravaged Haiti the week before the U.S. Open to try to raise the spirits of children. He then won his first major at Congressional, setting a U.S. Open record at 16-under 268.

"When I was younger my parents sacrificed everything to allow me to play the game I love," McIlroy said. "Having that support from my family gave me the opportunity to chase my dreams. But I know that every child is not so fortunate. My aim is that The Rory Foundation will support children's charities big and small, around the world, that try to give kids that helping hand."

He starts with "The 6 Bags Project," in which he will display the name of a children's charity in each of the first six tournaments he plays. During the tournament, the bag will be auctioned through www.roryfoundation.com, with the money going to that charity.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children will be on the bag at Abu Dhabi.

"This association with Rory will not only have a significant impact on children and young people who look up to Rory and are inspired by him, but will also help to maintain Rory's very important links to Northern Ireland and he moves increasingly into a global circuit," said Gillian Cleery, the CEO of the charity.

McIlroy said he would have Boys & Girls Club of Tucson for the Match Play Championship in Arizona; Child Protection Team of Palm Beaches for the Honda Classic, First Tee Miami-Dade Amateur Golf Association for the Cadillac Championship and Chinquapin School for the Houston Open.

Still be to decide is a children's charity near Augusta, Ga., for the Masters.

In the case of the Houston Open, McIlroy contacted tournament director Steve Timms, who provided him a list of options from which McIlroy chose a charity. The Chinquapin School is for students who excel from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. The students serve as standard-bearers at the tournament.

"It's going to be awesome," Timms said. "I thought it was one of the most novel things I've ever encountered. ... Notwithstanding the money he raises, because we don't know how much that will be, it creates such an awareness with the No. 1 player in the world at this time showcasing the (charity)."

More innovative fundraisers are in the works.

"I had a childhood - a great childhood - and if The Rory Foundation can help one child achieve a better quality of life, then job done," McIlroy said.

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