Amgen Irish Open: Five things to know

The DP World Tour Back 9 gathers pace as Rory McIlroy and a host of local stars tee it up on home soil at the Amgen Irish Open. Here are your five things to know.

Rory returns to a venue close to home

Almost a decade on from his foundation hosting the last edition of the Irish Open to be held at Royal County Down, Rory McIlroy is again the star name in his home county. Close to where he grew up in Holywood, the prestigious links venue was the scene of his final appearance as an amateur at the 2007 Walker Cup. Two years earlier, he made his debut at the island of Ireland’s national open, and he has been a regular return visitor, winning the title at The K Club in 2016. As is always the case around the world, the four-time Major winner will take with him huge crowds as he goes in search of an 18th DP World Tour title and second this season, following his record fourth triumph at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January. Having competed at the Tour Championship on the PGA TOUR earlier this month, this week’s homecoming will be the first of five upcoming starts for the 34-year-old before the end of the DP World Tour season – alongside the BMW PGA Championship, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship.

MacIntyre targets piece of history

After dramatically winning his national open in July, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre has the chance to realise something no other player has done before by also winning the Irish Open in the same season. Twice a winner this year worldwide, having also won the RBC Canadian Open, the 2023 Ryder Cup star should be brimming with confidence after finishing tied 17th on the FedExCup Standings in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR. Sitting 16th on the Official World Golf Ranking, the 28-year-old now turns his attention to enjoying a strong finish to the DP World Tour campaign and starting to amass Ryder Cup points as he looks to retain his spot in Team Europe for next year’s edition at Bethpage. This will be his third start at the Irish Open, having made the cut on both his previous appearances with a best finish of tied 13th in 2022.

Norrman looking for 2023 magic

Vincent Norrman burst on to the DP World Tour scene last season with a victory at the Barbasol Championship and followed it by lifting the trophy on a dramatic final day of this event. He began Sunday six shots off the lead but picked up six birdies in eight holes around the turn either side of a lengthy weather delay to surge into contention. A closing birdie handed him a flawless 65 and a 14-under-par total but he faced an anxious wait as a host of world-class stars made their own moves. "It means everything," he said. "Obviously such a cool event to play. The fans have been incredible. I've really had a fun week. Obviously if you win, you're doing something good. It's a world-class event, and honestly I can't believe it's happened." He has not made a weekend since the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed on home soil in June but will be hoping to take inspiration from his defence this week.

Irish stars set to shine

While McIlroy will prove a huge draw for the home fans, he will not be the only one taking a big gallery with him as a host of superstars from both sides of the Irish border tee it up this week. Open champion from 2019 Shane Lowry, who won the PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside McIlroy earlier this season and was his team-mate at the Olympic men's golf competition, is in the field alongside two fellow Amgen ambassadors. Two-time Major champion and 2021 Ryder Cup Captain Pádraig Harrington will be looking to use all his links prowess to win this title for a second time, while fellow Irishman Séamus Power hunts a first DP World Tour title. Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin will he hoping to bring his excellent form home with him and Ireland's Max Kennedy - currently seventh in the Global Amateur Pathway Rankings - aims to impress in just his second DP World Tour start.

A storied venue

Royal County Down is one of the most highly regarded golf courses in the world and has topped surveys and rankings as the very best layout on earth. It also has a rich history of hosting high-class events, having played host to the Amateur Championship, the Women's Amateur, the Curtis Cup, the Palmer Cup and that star-studded 2007 Walker Cup that saw future Major Champions McIlroy, Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson all play along with the likes of Horschel and Rickie Fowler. It has also previously hosted four Irish Opens but only one since the DP World Tour's inception in 1972, with Søren Kjeldsen lifting the trophy nine years ago.