Whereas McIlroy will appeal to a lot of the eye in Doonbeg, he should fend off a high-quality discipline if he’s to hitch European legends Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie on three Irish Open wins.
As at all times, there’s a robust Irish contingent. Shane Lowry, who memorably gained his nationwide title as an novice in 2009, is chasing his first particular person win in 4 years. The 2019 Open champion completed tied fifteenth final yr.
Tom McKibbin arrives in first rate kind. The 23-year-old was in competition for final month’s British Masters earlier than a triple bogey early within the ultimate spherical meant he needed to accept tied sixth.
Three-time main champion Padraig Harrington and two-time PGA Tour winner Seamus Energy add additional Irish curiosity.
Past the house hopes, there are a bunch of notable names. Two-time main winner Jon Rahm joins McIlroy in chasing a 3rd Irish Open win after successes at Portstewart in 2017 and Lahinch two years later.
The Spaniard tees it up in Eire amid ongoing uncertainty round LIV Golf’s future. The breakaway tour, which launched in 2022, ended its season early following the withdrawal of the Public Funding Fund’s monetary backing.
McKibbin, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann are among the many different LIV gamers in Eire this week.
As well as, there’s a robust European Ryder Cup flavour within the type of captain Luke Donald, Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka and twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, who pipped McIlroy to the 2024 Irish Open at Royal County Down.
5-time main winner Brooks Koepka additionally returns after lacking the reduce on his Irish Open debut final yr.
