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Martin Kaymer: The German star is among the latest big names to join a stellar line-up for this month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open |
IRELAND. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation looks set to bring together a stellar golfing line-up plus record prize money when it takes place at the K Club in County Kildare on 19-22 May.
Led by reigning Masters Champion Danny Willett, the field includes eight Major champions among 12 top-50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Rory McIlroy heads up the Irish contingent of Major champions, which includes 2007 Irish Open Champion Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, with Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Korea’s Y.E. Yang and South Africa’s Trevor Immelman making up one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin said: “The terrific inaugural tournament at Royal County Down last year, plus the fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision to extend our sponsorship to 2018.
“We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, The European Tour has announced an increase in prize money from €2,500,000 to €4 million, making it one of the highest purses on the 2016 Race to Dubai and very appealing for international players to participate. The staging of the tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive. With all these things combined, we are looking forward to a great event.
“By sponsoring the Irish Open it lifts the significance of the event considerably. At last year’s event it felt to me a bit like the re-birth of the tournament, with Dubai Duty Free and the Rory Foundation behind it. Having been without a title sponsor for a number of years it’s been a great boost for the event. The Dubai Duty Free brand is well recognised around the world and we certainly have a global reach. We believe that being involved in golf, is a good thing, particularly with golf being one of Ireland’s biggest attractions.”
Colm McLoughlin opens up on Dubai Duty Free’s latest sporting sponsorship |
Rory McIlroy said: “The support we had last year from all our ongoing sponsors, including fellow Dubai sponsors Emirates Airline and Jumeirah Golf Estates, fans, volunteers and Royal County Down with a ‘sell-out’ tournament, attracting more than 100,000 spectators was incredible. It exceeded all expectations. I’ve got a good relationship with Colm McLoughlin and Dubai Duty Free and I’ve got a long-standing history with Dubai. I’ve got to know Colm over the years just by playing tournaments in the UAE. With our Foundation being involved it aligned very well with their charitable Foundation. It just seemed like a good fit.
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At a special Dubai Duty Free Irish Open press conference were Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin, Vice President, Marketing Sinead El Sibai and European Tour Director Nick Tarratt |
“I was absolutely delighted when Colm and Dubai Duty Free came on board. They have a great sponsorship history in the Middle East and in Ireland and England, and the association has given the tournament that extra kudos. Coming together to benefit the lives of young people can only be a good thing. The other important thing for me is that I can learn a lot from Colm and his extensive experience doing charitable work.
“I would like to thank Colm McLoughlin and Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour for supporting my vision to develop the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into one of the leading events on The European Tour’s schedule, over the next three years. I am sure The K Club, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the club and their 10th anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup, and having held 11 European Opens, will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open.”
McLoughlin added: “Rory has done a remarkable job in attracting the top golfers to play in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and bringing his Foundation into the mix has been a great initiative.”
Keith Pelley said: “The Irish Open is one of the most prestigious and most eagerly anticipated tournaments on The Race to Dubai, and having two powerful global brands in Dubai Duty Free and Rory McIlroy supporting the event as well as a record prize fund, will ensure that continues. We are delighted that Dubai Duty Free have pledged themselves to the tournament through until 2018 and we thank them for their continued commitment and vision, not just to the Irish Open but to The European Tour as a whole.”
As reported earlier, Martin Kaymer is the latest major golf champion to add his name to a strong line-up for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
Kaymer will be making his fourth appearance in the €4 million tournament, with a tied tenth finish at Adare Manor in 2008 his best performance to date.
Kaymer said: “It’s going to be a big summer for a lot of players, and I’ll be looking to get off to the perfect start at the Irish Open. I’ve only played The K Club once, in the 2007 European Open, and although it maybe wasn’t my best week on the course, I can remember being really impressed by it.
“The Irish people love their golf and really get behind the players, so it should make for a great atmosphere, especially with such a strong field there. The crowds always turn up and show their support, and that’s one of the main reasons why I enjoy playing in Ireland.”
The K Club hosted a memorable Ryder Cup in 2006, while Kaymer ensured a European victory in the team tournament at Medinah in 2012 by holing the winning putt.
Other Ryder Cup hopefuls at this year’s Irish Open will include Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, the English trio of Matt Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood, defending champion Søren Kjeldsen of Denmark and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.
