Northern Ireland welcomes champions home

Portrush, 28 June: After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over. Current Open champion Darren Clarke, former US Open champions Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell – all from Northern Ireland – are lined up to play alongside Ireland’s three-time major winner Padraig Harrington at the sold-out Irish Open starting today Thursday, 28 June in Portrush, Northern Ireland.
First opened in 1888, Royal Portrush Golf Club is renowned as one of the best and most challenging links courses in the world. Located on County Antrim’s world-famous Causeway Coast, iconic attractions such as the Giants Causeway, the Old Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are close by.
It is the first time since 1953 that the Irish Open will be played in Northern Ireland. This week’s ‘homecoming’ will be particularly special for two of Portrush’s Honorary Members, McDowell, who learned his game on the famous links as a starry-eyed youth, and Clarke, a Portrush resident and Honorary Member of the club who has played there since his teenage years.
Northern Ireland’s trio of Major Champions will be the undoubted stars of the show this week, but a supporting cast led by Ireland’s three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, reigning US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, the newly crowned Amateur Champion Alan Dunbar – a Portrush native – and a host of other Major Champions, Ryder Cup stars and European Tour winners, including another home favourite Michael Hoey, will add so much to what promises to be a fantastic event. 

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