The 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will head to Lahinch Golf Club for the first time from July 4-7. We take a look at five things you should know before the historic tournament gets underway.
Lahinch's debut
The week will mark the first time that Lahinch Golf Club, described as ‘The St Andrews of Ireland’, has staged the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
The County Clare venue may be making its debut as a host to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, but the historic course has welcomed some of the most celebrated players in the game over the course of its 127-year history.
Lahinch Golf Club is home to the South of Ireland Championship, an amateur golf tournament which began in 1895. Notable winners include Joe Carr in 1969, Darren Clarke in 1989, Paul McGinley in 1991 and Graeme McDowell in 2000. Padraig Harrington, Europe's next Ryder Cup Captain, won the Irish Close Championship at Lahinch in 1995.
Fort Knox
Scot Russell Knox is set to tee up his title defence at Lahinch as he bids to become the first person since Colin Montgomerie in 1996-97 to win back-to-back Dubai Duty Free Irish Open titles.
The 33-year-old claimed his first Rolex Series title in ultimate style at Ballyliffin Golf Club last year, holing a 45-foot birdie putt to force a play-off before sinking an almost identical one on the first extra hole to claim victory over New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
He will need to outclass a world-class field if he is to replicate that triumph, with four-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace, 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open champion Jon Rahm and 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood just a few of the star names set to be in attendance.
Star-studded Pro-Am
It isn’t only golf’s biggest names who are set to tee it up at Lahinch this week. Some of Ireland’s most notable celebrities will also be heading to the links to compete in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am.
Former One Direction star and keen golfer Niall Horan is guaranteed to draw a crowd when he gets his round underway at Lahinch on Wednesday, with fellow Irish popstars Keith Duffy – formerly of Boyzone – and former Westlife singer Brian McFadden among the celebrities taking part.
In addition to world-renowned actor James Nesbitt, there are also a host of Irish legends from the sporting world set to compete, including rugby heroes Paul O’Connell and Keith Wood, superstar jockeys AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh and GAA Hurling stars Joe Canning of Galway, Cian Lynch of Limerick and Clare’s own Shane O’Donnell.
This week’s host…
Paul McGinley will take on hosting duties for the first time with sell-out crowds expected for the Lahinch spectacle.
The Irishman, who holed the winning putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup, is the first in a rotation of Irish golfing legends to take on the role, with homegrown heroes Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, who has hosted the past four editions, confirmed to host future editions of Ireland’s historic national open.
Festival atmosphere
In addition to the world-class golf on display, McGinley has also promised a festival atmosphere like no other, with live music acts Sharon Shannon, and rock superstars Chasing Abbey and Hermitage Green headlining the ‘Lahinch Live’ stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 5, 6 and 7) respectively.
Meanwhile this tournament will also see the addition of the Lifestyle Pavilion, with fitness and nutrition author and social media influencer Dr Hazel Wallace (The Food Medic) and BEO Bites – a popular wellbeing and nutrition event hosted by County Clare natives Aoibhín Garrihy and Sharon Connellan – taking centre stage over the course of the weekend.
