The European Challenge Tour’s return to the Republic of Ireland for the first time in six years, for the Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort, was officially launched today (Wednesday, August 19) at the prestigious Carlow venue, where Commissioner Phil Hogan was in attendance along with course designer and Irish golfing legend Christy O’Connor Jnr.
The Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) and the Irish Sports Council – also in attendance - have also come on board as partners for the event.
The tournament, which takes place from October 8–11, will mark the first time the stunning Christy O’Connor Jnr-designed Championship course at Mount Wolseley - located one hour from Dublin - will host a major professional event under the auspices of The European Tour.
O’Connor Jnr, whose two-iron shot at the 18th hole of The Belfry on the way to Europe retaining The 1989 Ryder Cup is remembered as one of the greatest shots in the tournament’s long history, was present at Mount Wolseley to officially launch the event.
He said: “Mount Wolseley is truly one of my proudest creations as a course designer so I am thrilled that it will play host to some of Ireland, Europe and the world’s most promising young stars for such a prestigious event right at the business end of the European Challenge Tour schedule.
“It is an idyllic and lush parkland course that is sure to test every facet of the players’ games while also providing plentiful enjoyment for hugely talented golfers who travel the globe and play on some of the best courses in the world.
“The Challenge Tour has produced many superstars of the game – the likes of Thomas Bjørn, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson spring to mind – while a lot of Ireland’s finest players have also passed through that system on the way to the top.
“I am sure that a host of the young up and comers playing at Mount Wolseley in October will go on to very big things in future, perhaps even winning Major titles and competing in Ryder Cups.”
Tetrarch Capital, the new owners of Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, have committed to hosting the event at Mount Wolseley in 2016 and 2017 after signing a three-year deal, partnered by the CGI and the Irish Sports Council.
A host of Ireland’s most promising up and coming stars are expected to join a field which will also comprise many of Europe and the world’s most talented young players.
The Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort is ideally placed in the Challenge Tour’s schedule for a week of golfing drama - the third last event of the season - as the race for the top 15 in the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman Rankings nears its thrilling climax.
The last time a Challenge Tour event took place in the Republic, Englishman Robert Coles emerged victorious after a play-off with former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium to win the Challenge of Ireland in 2009.
The announcement comes at an opportune time for Irish golf, as 24 year old Derryman Ruaidhri McGee continues to impress on the Challenge Tour – currently just outside the all-important top 15 in the Road to Oman Rankings – while a host of promising young players including Paul Dunne, Jack Hume, Gary Hurley, Gavin Moynihan and Cormac Sharvin are rising through the amateur ranks with great distinction.
McGee, for one, is thoroughly excited at the prospect of returning to the Emerald Isle for a second time this season.
He said: “I’ve never been lucky enough to actually play Mount Wolseley yet but I’ve heard great things about it so I cannot wait to see it for myself in October”.
“It’s fantastic to play in front of your home crowds and it’s great that we now have a tournament in the Republic of Ireland. The Northern Ireland Open has shown how strong the appetite for golf is at the moment, and we have a lot of Irish players on the tour so it makes sense to have another tournament of our own, and a chance to showcase Irish talent.
“The public in Ireland love their golf - I’m surprised we haven’t had a Challenge Tour event for so long until now really because the fans are brilliant - and it’s good for golf at home as well, encouraging more youngsters and showing them first-hand what professional golf is like.
“Given where it is in the calendar, just two events before the Grand Final, it should be the strongest field possible. Everyone will be playing it to get a better position in the Road to Oman Rankings, so that will add to the atmosphere and to the tournament as a whole . I’d really encourage the public to come out and support the home grown talent that will be on show.”
The Challenge Tour provides the perfect opportunity for players turning professional to make their mark in the paid ranks, and direct graduation to The European Tour is the rich reward for those who succeed.
That is the reason why many of world’s finest players have chosen to begin their professional careers on Europe’s top developmental tour - with recent BMW PGA Championship winner Byeong-hun An of Korea, as well as the last two respective European Tour Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award winners Koepka and Peter Uihlein, crossing the Atlantic to begin their careers on the Challenge Tour.
