Irish Olympian Seamus Power will make his first appearance on home soil in six years when the USA-based star plays in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai, at Lahinch Golf Club from July 4-7.
The Waterford player enjoyed a glittering career in American collegiate golf, representing East Tennessee State University, before building a professional career in the States which has culminated in a consistent three seasons on the US PGA Tour.
The 32-year-old will finally make a professional appearance on Irish soil when he joins a world-class field at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, alongside former Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood, Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and many more.
Power will add to a strong line up of home heroes which includes his 2016 Olympic golf team partner and three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry – the first Rolex Series Champion of the 2019 Race to Dubai following January’s win in Abu Dhabi – and former U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell.
“I am thrilled to be making my home debut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and I cannot wait for it to come around,” said Power, who has twice played his home Open, once in 2005 as an amateur and again in 2013. “I have to thank Dubai Duty Free for extending this invite and for Paul McGinley to help make this happen.
“Although I play my golf in the USA, I am a very proud Irishman and it will be a really special moment for me to tee it up in front of my home fans as a professional, especially at a classic Irish links course like Lahinch Golf Club. Hopefully I’ll get great support from the fans and it promises to be a great week.”
Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin said, “We are very happy to extend a tournament invitation to Waterford man, Seamus Power to play in this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch.
“Seamus is a fine player who has worked hard on his game and who has had a lot of success on the PGA Tour in America. In 2016, he was the first ever Irish player to win on the Web.com Tour and proudly represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympics. We wish him well and hope that he will have a great week at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July.”
Northern Irishman Cormac Sharvin, who has been playing on the Challenge Tour and has a European Tour top 20 finish under his belt in 2019 at March’s Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa, and Gavin Moynihan – winner of the 2018 GolfSixes for Team Ireland alongside Paul Dunne - have also received invites from Sport Ireland.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, said: “Sport Ireland is delighted to extend invites to Team Ireland Golf members Cormac Sharvin and Gavin Moynihan, to the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
“Cormac and Gavin have shown themselves to be two of Ireland’s brightest golfing talents, and competing in a very strong field will be extremely beneficial to their continued development. Sport Ireland supports Team Ireland Golf to ensure Ireland continues to produce world-class golfers long into the future.”
Lahinch Golf Club, perched on the famous Wild Atlantic Way coast of Ireland, is expected to provide a festival atmosphere unlike any other, with the popular tourist village of Lahinch on the doorstep of the famous links course.
The 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open provided one of the most dramatic finales in the tournament’s 91-year history, as Knox holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to clinch a place in a play-off alongside New Zealander Ryan Fox.
The Scot then sank an almost identical putt on the first play-off hole to seal his maiden Rolex Series title and send the huge Irish crowds into raptures.
With blazing sunshine and a star-studded field, a total of 94,239 people attended the event at Ballyliffin Golf Club.
Tickets for the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open are on sale at www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com and begin at €23 for Pro-Am Wednesday, with single tickets for Thursday or Friday costing €30 and day tickets for each weekend day costing €35 each. An adult season ticket, which covers five days of world-class golf from Wednesday to Sunday, begins at a special price of just €110.
Children under 12 years of age are entitled to free entry when accompanied by an adult, day junior tickets for those between 12 and 17 years of age are €10 (€30 for a season ticket) while those aged between 18 and 21, as well as students with valid student cards and over 60s, can avail of a concession ticket - €20 for a day (€80 for a season).
The only official sales channel to purchase tickets for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is via the ticketing platform Eventbrite. The resale of Dubai Duty Free Irish Open tickets on unofficial platforms contravenes the European Tour’s ticket terms and conditions and such sales render the ticket void.
Official Hospitality tickets are also available on the ticketing page, or alternatively contact the European Tour’s dedicated Hospitality Sales Team, who will be happy to answer any queries and discuss the various hospitality options, on hospitality@europeantour.com or +44 (0) 1344 840681.
