McIlroy and Harrington to go head to head

ubu

From the Irish times here:

Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy are set to face each other in a $300,000 (€221,230) prize match after details were announced today of the inaugural Lough Erne Challenge in July.

The new Nick Faldo-designed golf resort in Enniskillen will host the “ head to head” event on Wednesday July 22nd, just three days after the British Open concludes at Turnberry.

Harrington will be going for a third straight Open crown on the Ayrshire coast, while McIlroy will be making his return to the event in which he won the silver medal for top amateur at Carnoustie in 2007.

World No. 17 McIlroy, who is sponsored by Lough Erne, said the event would be an important part of his summer.

“The opportunity to play against Pádraig on what is in some ways my home turf is exciting. He is a fantastic player – a real role model for someone like me starting out on my career. Jim Treacy has been a real support to me and I have watched the development of the Championship course at Lough Erne with great interest. It is spectacular. To play Pádraig in the inaugural event will be very special.”

Speaking from Orlando, where he preparing for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Harrington also enthused about the clash with the 19-year-old sensation.

“It is good to be promoting this part of the island through the establishment of this event and I hope the North’s golf fans will come out to see myself and Rory compete on the shores of the Lough.”

Ryder Cup captain Faldo has taken a keen interest in McIlroy’s development with the Holywood native having won his Faldo Junior Series event in the past. He believes that his lakeside creation will prove a fine test for the pair.

“Pádraig and Rory are among the very best in the world right now and they have massive global reputations which will help attract interest in Lough Erne and Fermanagh as a whole. I believe the golf course will emerge to be a top golfing location but it is important to emphasise the extraordinary beauty of the whole area and staging this event should help to bring this message to a wider audience. I look forward to officially opening the golf course.”

A limit of 4,000 tickets has been set for the event, while the match will be filmed by European Tour Productions for delayed broadcast.

staker

surprised their PR management let it go ahead tbh.
must be worth a few moolas in appearance fees...

Mister Sifter

I'd be pretty sure any appearance fees pale in comparison to the $3m that Tiger Woods is getting for playing in the Ozzie Masters.