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On the tee: Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

Reigning champion Russell Knox will start his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open defence in a group with Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry early on Thursday morning.

Lahinch Golf Club

The trio, with a combined ten European Tour victories, will tee off at 08:40 on the opening day of the competition at Lahinch Golf Club.

Knox won last year's event at Ballyliffin Golf Club with a dramatic play-off victory and this time he has been grouped with England's Fleetwood and home hope Lowry, who won the event as an amateur in 2009 and claimed victory at the first Rolex Series event of the year at January's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Presented by EGA.

Shane Lowry

Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex leader Matt Wallace tees off at 13:20 alongside 2017 Irish Open winner Jon Rahm and five-time European Tour winner Louis Oosthuizen.

Graeme McDowell, two weeks before playing the Open Championship on his home course of Royal Portrush, will start his Irish Open challenge at 08:30 alongside fellow Ryder Cup winners Martin Kaymer and Thorbjørn Olesen.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, the 2007 winner of the Irish Open, begins his first round at 13:10 alongside English duo Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton in a grouping that boasts a combined 30 European Tour victories.

Christian Bezuidenhout, fresh from his win at Real Club Valderrama last week, starts at 13:45 alongside Italian duo Andrea Pavan and Guido Migliozzi.

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