Under the shadow of the Mourne Mountains, some of the biggest names in golf will today begin their pursuit of the Irish Open title at Royal County Down.
From early morning on Thursday, people have been making their way to Royal County Down for the first of four days of golfing action.
Many of the golfers have been out on the championship links since Monday, familiarising themselves with the fairways that has seen the course rated one of the finest in the world.
Just a few months ago, Golf Digest heaped praise on the Newcastle venue, ranking it among the top four courses in the world alongside Royal Dornoch, St Andrews and Royal Portrush.
“On a clear spring day, with Dundrum Bay to the east, the Mountains of Mourne to the south and gorse-covered dunes in golden bloom, there is no lovelier place in golf,” said Golf Digest.
Daily crowds at this year’s Amgen Irish Open are being limited to around 16,000, approximately 6,000 less than when the famous Newcastle links last hosted the tournament in 2015.
Golfers from around the globe are competing for the coveted Irish Open title, including 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry, PGA Tour winners Aaron Rai and Robert MacIntyre.
Team Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and Irish legend Padraig Harrington are also among the top golfers in action.
It will also be an opportunity for rising star Tom McKibbin from Holywood to show what he has got as he also competes to win the £780,000 prize fund.
However, it will be another Holywood golfer who is expected to draw one of the biggest crowds throughout the day.
Playing in his home county, and the first time competitively in Northern Ireland for more than five years, Rory McIlroy has said he hopes his game will run smoother than at the 2015 competition at Royal County Down when he missed the cut.
Speaking on Wednesday, McIlroy said: “You know, the couple Irish Opens that I’ve played in Northern Ireland, the one Open Championship I played in Northern Ireland, hasn’t gone so well.
“It’s on me to try and relax and go about my business as I would at any other time of the year.
“It’s great to play in front of them (the fans) but I have to manage my own little world around me to try to get the best out of myself as well.”
As the competition got underway on Thursday, John McGrillen, chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland, said it is “already shaping up to be another unmissable tournament”.
“Newcastle is buzzing today and the atmosphere at Royal County Down is fantastic as fans enjoy the opportunity to watch a star-studded line up of world class golfers in action, in the shadow of the magnificent Mourne Mountains,” he said.
“Alongside the tournament, there’s plenty happening in Newcastle with a full programme of activities taking place across the town that both golfing spectators and local families can enjoy.”
He added: “Major events such as the Amgen Irish Open present us with the opportunity to showcase a very positive image of the north to a global audience, not only as a golf destination, but also as a place with a truly magnificent landscape and a must see region on the island of Ireland”.
Rory McIlroy's History at the Irish Open
Rory McIlroy will try to win the Irish Open for the second time in his career this week. The Ulsterman Since teeing off for the first time in 2010, McIlroy has passed on the Irish Open only thrice in his career. However, his record on home turf doesn’t reflect his passion.
From his 11 appearances, McIlroy has only two top-tens. Before the 35-year-old tees off at Royal County Down, here are the most memorable moments from his decade-long relationship with the Irish Open.
2013: A Missed Cut Amidst a Rollercoaster Year
2013 was a roller-coaster ride for McIlroy. He landed at Carton House after a T41 at the U.S. Open. Starting with a 2-over 74 in the first round, McIlroy never really recovered. His Friday was better, an even-par 72, but two strokes short of the cut-line. The four-time major winner struggled off the tee and failed to make the most out of his comparably stronger iron game. Little did the world know this was the start of a horrendous streak at the Irish Open.
2015: A Disappointing Performance at Royal County Down
Expectations were high from Rory McIlroy when he teed up at the 2015 Irish Open. At Royal County Down, in front of a boisterous home crowd, the Ulsterman opened with an 80. That proved to be the fatal blow amid a rain-soaked weekend in Northern Ireland. McIlroy tried to feed off the crowd and posted a level-par 71 on Friday. But of course, that was never going to be enough for a weekend spot.
This was McIlroy’s fourth missed cut in five years. The Ulsterman was on the verge of cutline on Friday. He almost moved on the right side of the line before succumbing in the 6th at Portstewart and then carding a double bogey at the penultimate hole.
The worst part of that day was Rory McIlroy was hosting the tournament to draw more eyeballs and big names in the field. His playing mate, Jon Rahm went on to win the Irish Open, his first DP World Tour victory.
2016: A Triumphant Win at The K Club
The 2016 Irish Open was (and still is) Rory McIlroy’s only quantum of solace. There is no need to reiterate the importance of the occasion. On top of it, the final round of the 2016 Irish Open was a Rory McIlroy masterclass.
Trailing Russell Knox by one shot with three holes left to pay, the four-time major winner made a spectacular birdie on the 16th to put pressure on the Scotsman. In the 72nd hole, the Ulsterman was one shot ahead of Knox. McIlroy went on to eagle the final hole to seal the victory once and for all.
So, when McIlroy said this week that the 2024 Irish Open triumph will be one of the ‘biggest’ victories of his career, he wasn’t exaggerating it. The Ulsterman has cherished the opportunity of teeing up in front of the home crowd. Unfortunately, it has not rewarded him even-handedly. McIlroy, of course, believes fate would definitely change.
Can Rory McIlroy Finally Conquer the Irish Open?
Rory McIlroy's performance at the Irish Open is a fascinating case study of a golfer seeking to conquer his home turf. His history at the event is marked by both disappointment and triumph, making this year's tournament all the more intriguing.
As the competition unfolds at Royal County Down, all eyes will be on the Ulsterman as he aims to prove his dominance. Can he finally silence the whispers that he struggles to perform in front of a home crowd? Will the challenge of the championship links, combined with the pressure of expectations, prove too much for him to overcome?
Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain: the stage is set for another captivating chapter in the story of Rory McIlroy and the Irish Open.
