Defending champion Adrian Meronk will be joined at the Horizon Irish Open by fellow Ryder Cup hopefuls Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard and Yannik Paul at The K Club from September 6-10, 2023, with tickets on sale here.
The 30-year-old made history last year as he became the first player from Poland to win on the DP World Tour, securing an historic three-stroke victory at Mount Juliet.
He has since won two further national opens, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and DS Automobiles Italian Open, and is hoping to make a Ryder Cup debut three weeks after defending a title for the first time his career at the County Kildare venue in the company of four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy, 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington, two-time Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton and a host of DP World Tour stars.
General admission tickets on for what promises to be a thrilling final day are almost sold out, with fans urged to act quickly to avoid disappointment. Click here to purchase.
Also joining the field at the popular tournament are the Højgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus, who have won six DP World Tour titles between them, with Nicolai triumphing at the Italian Open in 2021 at Ryder Cup host venue Marco Simone, and Paul, who secured his maiden DP World Tour win last year at the Mallorca Golf Open.
With just three counting events remaining, Paul is currently fourth on the European Points list in the race for qualification as he bids to become just the third German player in history to tee it up for Team Europe. Meronk is currently fifth on the European Points list, followed closely by Rasmus Højgaard who occupies eighth place.
The top three competitors on the European Points and World Points lists at the conclusion of the Omega European Masters, the week prior to the Horizon Irish Open, will automatically qualify for this year’s Ryder Cup. Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have already confirmed their places via the European Points list, leaving one place available.
Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, also set to tee it up at The K Club, will confirm his team at the start of the Horizon Irish Open week when he makes his six Captain’s Picks on Monday September 4, the day after the first six automatic qualifiers for his team will have been confirmed.
Meronk, who became the first Polish member on the DP World Tour after graduating from the European Challenge Tour in 2019, has written his name into the record books on a number of occasions. In May, he became the first player from Poland to break into the Top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking and he is also the first player from his nation to compete at all four Major Championships.
“I cannot wait to return to Ireland and defend my Horizon Irish Open title,” said Meronk. “There have been a number of firsts throughout my career, but becoming the first DP World Tour winner from Poland was incredibly special.
“To do it at such an historic tournament, in front of the passionate Irish crowds, was amazing and to see my name alongside some of Europe’s greatest ever golfers as a winner of the event is still very surreal.
“I haven’t played at The K Club before, but I’ve heard some great things about the venue. I’m really looking forward to the week and everything that comes with defending a title.”
Meronk was one stroke behind New Zealander Ryan Fox with four holes left to play, but finished in style with two birdies and an eagle on his closing holes, tapping in for par on the 18th green to win by three. He added his name to a roll of honour that includes the likes of Seve Ballesteros, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Pádraig Harrington and recently-announced Ryder Cup Vice Captain José María Olazábal.
There will be world-class entertainment on and off the golf course in September, with Scouting for Girls and The Stunning headlining the main stage in the tournament village at the weekend. Scouting for Girls will headline on Saturday September 9, with The Stunning bringing the curtain down on Sunday September 10. The two groups will perform after the final putt has dropped.
