Top European golfers bound for Newcastle

Top European golfers bound for Newcastle

IT has been confirmed that Royal County Down Golf Club will host next year’s Irish Open.

Last week’s announcement brings to an end months of speculation that the tournament would return to Newcastle for the first time since 1939.

The 2015 tournament is expected to feature Northern Irish stars Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell amongst other top players.

Dr. Peter Brown, captain of Royal County Down, said he was confident the course will be a great venue for the players.

“We have a fantastic links course here,” he said. “Last year it was ranked fourth in the world behind Augusta, Pine Valley and Cypress Point, so we are pretty living in pretty hot company,” he said.

“Having the Irish Open here can only improve the profile of golf in Northern Ireland and golf throughout the world.

“I think having the success of Rory, Darren and Graeme, it’s been great for everybody in north and south of Ireland and I think it will be great to have them and hopefully other top players in the world coming to play on this fantastic links.”

As well as sporting stars, the tournament is likely to bring a huge amount of visitors to Newcastle.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We’ll be certainly in the region of 20,000 I would have thought per day.”

Championship Director Antonia Beggs says there will be more stands next year than were present when the championship was staged at Royal Portrush in 2012.

“We will be building more grandstands than we did at Royal Portrush.

“I would love to see quite a few more seats on the golf course, it helps with the movement of the crowds.

“And we would also envisage this potentially becoming all ticket because we will cap the numbers which is something we would potentially not do at other venues. We want to protect the course.”

Former world No. 1 McIlroy has certainly given Newcastle the thumbs-up.

“Royal County Down is another great links course, which I know particularly well, and it is one which I am very proud of as a Northern Irishman,” he said.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play an Irish Open there. I’m sure the fans will come out and support us again and make it another week to remember.”

2010 US Open winner McDowell said: “There are few better courses in the world than Royal County Down.”