One of the PGA’s golfing characters, John Daly, will be visiting our championship Golf course in Cork this June when he takes on the best of European and world golf at the Irish Open.
Daly is a two-time Major winner and is immensely popular with golf fans across the globe and in particular with the Irish Open galleries since his second placed finish following his debut in the championship back in 1994.
Daly’s unorthodox approach to the game is often compared to that of recent Masters champion Bubba Watson which has garnered a healthy support from golfers on both sides of the Atlantic. The American’s clothing wardrobe in particular is often a subject of debate amongst golf fans with a striking array of golf attire guaranteed at each tournament.
Daly is the only player to win two Major golf championships but not participate in The Ryder Cup, but he is looking forward to meeting up with European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and all of the other Irish players in Cork. Daly stated:
‘I can’t wait to get over there. I always love my time in Ireland, which is a place of great golf courses and brilliant fans’
Also, Major winners Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley will form part of an elite home challenge when the Irish Open returns to the luxury golf hotel in Cork between the 19th & 22nd June.
The stars of Irish golf have combined to win an extraordinary seven Majors in just seven years and continue to be the star attractions each year at their national tournament. The field will also include former Irish Open champion Shane Lowry and European Tour winners Michel Hoey, Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane, and it’s a 2014 Open that a partisan home crowd will not want to miss.
Current World Number 11, McIlroy said:
‘I’ve never been to Fota – in fact, I’ve never properly visited Cork – so I don’t know the area too well, but I do know that the Irish Open was a great success when it was hosted there in the past.
‘It should be a good venue for us again and it is great that they are moving the Irish Open around. The Irish Open is a big part of The European Tour schedule and has been for a long time now, so to still keep it going is important and I want to lend my support to it as much as I can.
‘It is the week after the US Open, so I would love to get a few more international players along, but it is a strong event in itself anyway and it’s great that all of Ireland’s Major Champions are supporting it once again.’
The 2014 Irish Open takes place on the Jeff Howes-designed course at Fota Island Resort, offering great value for a full day’s entertainment with advance tickets priced at €30 for an Adult Day Ticket (€35 on the gate) and €70 for Adult Season Tickets (€80 on the gate). Children under 16 go free.
For tickets, prizes and more info, visit www.irishopen.ie.
