Irish golf fans will have an early opportunity to sample some of the excitement of this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation, which takes place at the nearby K Club from May 19-22.
Shoppers at Kildare Village are being invited to participate in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Putting Challenge on Saturday and Sunday (April 9/10) for a chance to win tickets to Ireland’s biggest sporting event.
Some lucky golf fans might even pick up a few putting tips from Irish professional golfer and Dubai Duty Free golf ambassador Des Smyth, an eight-time winner on the European Tour who played in two Ryder Cups in 1979 and 1981 and was a vice-captain of Europe’s victorious 2006 and 2014 Ryder Cup teams.
The putting competition will take place outside the Nike store from 10am to 7pm on Saturday and from 11am to 7pm on Sunday with Des making a personal appearance at lunchtime on Sunday afternoon.
“Hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at The K Club is a wonderful opportunity for the entire region to get involved, have some fun and celebrate the arrival of some of the world’s best golfers to County Kildare, including of course our very own tournament host Rory McIlroy,” said The European Tour’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Championship Director Rory Colville.
“It’s great to see destinations like Kildare Village getting behind the tournament and this weekend’s putting challenge, hosted by one of Ireland’s finest golfers in Des Smyth, provides the perfect opportunity to bring some of that Irish Open excitement to thousands and thousands of shoppers ahead of the main event next month.
“We’re delighted to be holding the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at The K Club for the first time and it’s a really exciting time for The European Tour, all of our sponsors and partners, and for County Kildare as a whole,” added Rory.
