Golf: McIlroy confirms return to Royal County Down for 2024 Irish Open
The World number two will compete at the tournament in September
Last updated 25th Jan 2024
Rory McIlroy will tee it up on home soil later this year after confirming his appearance at September’s Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.
Royal County Down will host the tournament for the second time in its history from September 12-15 as the island of Ireland’s national open returns to Newcastle for the first time since 2015.
Four-time Major Champion McIlroy, who last year claimed his fifth Race to Dubai title after topping the season-long standings, will return to his home County where he honed his skills as a junior and to the venue where he represented Great Britain & Ireland at the 2007 Walker Cup.
The Holywood man will bid for a second Irish Open crown after claiming victory at The K Club in 2016.
“Since making my first appearance at the Irish Open nearly 20 years ago, it has been such a special tournament to play in, but it will be doubly so for me this time round,” said McIlroy.
“I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to play in this year’s Irish Open at a venue so close to home. Royal County Down is a fantastic venue and I still have some great memories from the 2007 Walker Cup.
“The crowds are always so supportive of all the Irish golfers taking part and the atmosphere is unlike any other we have at a golf tournament. Time and time again the fans prove that they are some of the best in the world and I can’t wait to see them out in support of us again.”
McIlroy has started his 2024 season in fine fashion, finishing runner-up in his first start of the year at the Dubai Invitational and then successfully defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title this past weekend, winning the tournament for a record fourth time.
The 34-year-old will join fellow former Irish Open winner, Major Champion and Ryder Cup star Shane Lowry in the event which assumes a key position on the DP World Tour’s 2024 Global Schedule as part of the ‘Back 9’.
The ‘Back 9’ encompasses nine of the Tour’s most historic tournaments and national opens, running from August to October and will give members their final opportunities to secure their playing rights for 2025 and also advance to the season-ending ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’.
Last year, Sweden’s Vincent Norrman claimed his second DP World Tour title as he fired a final round 65 at The K Club to win by one stroke, to secure his second victory in the space of just six worldwide starts. First played in 1927, the Irish Open is one of the world’s most celebrated national opens, with a list of former champions that includes Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance.