Big names for Irish Open?

Tones69

Just wondering could we have this thread for confirmed irish open players, and rumors of which big names are playing, ive seen an article there that Bubba might be coming, i reckon a lot more of them will cone this year as it would be a great warm up for The british open a few wks later Dustin johnson perhaps? Cant wait for it either way, il keep this going and il add confirmed players later and also new ones confirmed and rumors etc, cos we know theres gonna be a few threads opened on this topic in the next few weeks

Rory mcilroy - Confirmed
GMAC - Confirmed
Padraig harrington - Confirmed
Darren Clarke - Confirmed
Michael Hoey - Confirmed
Bubba watson - TBC
Luke donald?
Lee westwood?

Aidric

The Open doesn't take place until three weeks after the Irish open. The French & Scottish are in between.

No doubt that it's good links preparation, however.

Whyner

Bubba!!!

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/4/11/bubba-for-irish-open-maybe.html

Tones69

Whyner wrote: »

Bubba!!!

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/4/11/bubba-for-irish-open-maybe.html

Lol yeah dude i said that, read that this morn, would be great! Tiger perhaps no???

Whyner

Tones69 wrote: »

Lol yeah dude i said that, read that this morn, would be great! Tiger perhaps no???

My speed reading ain't what it used to be

Leslie91

Westwood is a No right?. What about the likes of Poulter?. Or Louis Oosthuizen, Schwartzel has been before... Of the Americans would be good to see Bubba, Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler.

PRAF

Tones69 wrote: »

Just wondering could we have this thread for confirmed irish open players, and rumors of which big names are playing, ive seen an article there that Bubba might be coming, i reckon a lot more of them will cone this year as it would be a great warm up for The british open a few wks later Dustin johnson perhaps? Cant wait for it either way, il keep this going and il add confirmed players later and also new ones confirmed and rumors etc, cos we know theres gonna be a few threads opened on this topic in the next few weeks

Rory mcilroy - Confirmed
GMAC - Confirmed
Padraig harrington - Confirmed
Darren Clarke - Confirmed
Michael Hoey - Confirmed
Bubba watson - TBC
Luke donald?
Lee westwood?

I heard big Phil was going to come but the women of Ireland objected based on his comments at the 1991 Walker Cup in Portmarnock:)

big_drive

Would be hoping Luke Donald & Justin Rose consider playing it

mike12

I'd say a lot of the big European players will decide nearer the time depending on where they are in the Ryder cup quailifying. Westwood has said on twitter he is a no as he hates the weather in Ireland think he missed the scottish open for the same reason last year.
Could see a few of the americans making the trip if it was a week closer to the open not sure seen as it is 3 weeks before.
Mike

PRAF

Westwood won't play because of the weather - definite sign of mental weakness. Not a good omen for his prospects of getting a major

L.O.F.T

Aidric wrote: »

The Open doesn't take place until three weeks after the Irish open. The French & Scottish are in between

3 weeks before The Open is the main reason why the field wont be as big as it could be. It needs to be in at least the French Open slot(July 5th - 8th) to have any chance of attracting the strongest ranked field in world golf.

mike12 wrote: »

Westwood has said on twitter he is a no as he hates the weather in Ireland.
Could see a few of the americans making the trip if it was a week closer to the open not sure seen as it is 3 weeks before.
Mike

The Americans will stay away for the same reason as Westwood as our weather is not what they want or are willing to put up with regardless of the preparation factor it serves for The Open and as above we are too far out from the Open.
A few big names will be over for the Scottish Open and that's as early as they will commit to with alot of the other big names doing practice throughout the links of Ireland & Scotland the week before The Open on their own terms and not competitively. We are just too far out for the really big names.

AGC

Probably a thread elsewhere but Keegan Bradley is committed to playing in Portrush. Big boost.

big_drive

Big boost. Both Molinari brothers confirmed too, neither played last year

dvemail

Just saw it there, thats a massive coup for the Irish Open.

Tones69

Ooh Keegan Bradley just confirmed hes playing this year

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012046/news/newsid=159689.html#bradley+joins+fellow+major+champions+irish+open

big_drive

If they could get another 2 or 3 big names it would have the makings of a super tournament

Tones69

big_drive wrote: »

If they could get another 2 or 3 big names it would have the makings of a super tournament

Dustin johnson would top it off for me and rickie

mike12

The small prize fund will keep a few away if they are looking to qualify for the ryder cup there are bigger prize funds awailable else where.
Mike

Tones69

mike12 wrote: »

The small prize fund will keep a few away if they are looking to qualify for the ryder cup there are bigger prize funds awailable else where.
Mike

If it doesnt bother bradley and guys like that who are big names but have nowhere near the riches woods and michelson and the likes possess, i dont see why they would be put off?

mike12

Tones69 wrote: »

If it doesnt bother bradley and guys like that who are big names but have nowhere near the riches woods and michelson and the likes possess, i dont see why they would be put off?

Keegan is coming because he has Irish roots, most of the events on during the summer have 4 million prize funds so guys like Westwood, Poulter and Donald won't bother playing. I'd say it would be easier to get the likes of Tiger and Phil to come than the europeans who play in America.
Mike

Tones69

mike12 wrote: »

Tones69 wrote: »

If it doesnt bother bradley and guys like that who are big names but have nowhere near the riches woods and michelson and the likes possess, i dont see why they would be put off?

Keegan is coming because he has Irish roots, most of the events on during the summer have 4 million prize funds so guys like Westwood, Poulter and Donald won't bother playing. I'd say it would be easier to get the likes of Tiger and Phil to come than the europeans who play in America.
Mike

Il settle for tiger and phil no prob, even though all tiger will do is throw clubs

Jul3s

dvemail wrote: »

Just saw it there, thats a massive coup for the Irish Open.

Hardly a coup, more than likely big appearance money involved.

poteen

Jul3s wrote: »

Hardly a coup, more than likely big appearance money involved.

would have to agree with you here. Id say there is alot of work and pressure been done behind the scenes to drive get players there that wasnt done for Killarney.

charlieIRL

thread here AGC, will merge these threads in a few mins.

Jimmy Iovine

mike12 wrote: »

Keegan is coming because he has Irish roots, most of the events on during the summer have 4 million prize funds so guys like Westwood, Poulter and Donald won't bother playing. I'd say it would be easier to get the likes of Tiger and Phil to come than the europeans who play in America.
Mike

Phil almost never plays outside of America. The only time he does is for the Scottish Open and the British Open. The Scottish one because his sponsor is Barclays but they're not sponsoring the tournament any more so I reckon it's unlikely that he'll come over for it. I also think he's won two or three times outside of America so I doubt he likes it too much.

It's unlikely that he'll come over. I'd say there's more chance of Tiger coming over. It'd be great if he did but I can't see either of them playing.

thewobbler

If a couple more big names arrive, there'll be some calls to keep it at Portrush next year.

Just a few more and the world ranking points might be worth winning.

stockdam

mike12 wrote: »

Keegan is coming because he has Irish roots,

He'd better not spit on the hallowed turf of RP.

charlieIRL

Threads merged.

JerryHandbag

thewobbler wrote: »

If a couple more big names arrive, there'll be some calls to keep it at Portrush next year.

Its already been awarded to Carton House for 2013 so I doubt that will change.

Zardoz

Advance day tickets for the Irish Open are available for £30, a saving of £5 on the gate price,

£30-35 is a bit saucy.

moycullen14

big_drive wrote: »

If they could get another 2 or 3 big names it would have the makings of a super tournament

I'm still waiting for my invite but I'll play, I suppose. I presume I can get my usual deal of +10 shots and be able to play off the forward tees? I mighet even waive the appearance money

EauRouge79

moycullen14 wrote: »

I'm still waiting for my invite but I'll play, I suppose. I presume I can get my usual deal of +10 shots and be able to play off the forward tees? I mighet even waive the appearance money

Give me a shout so if you need a partner for the pro am. bought a batch of re-conditioned Pro-V'S at the weekend and mad to have a lash off them.

Bishop22

Where is the best place to buy tickets anyway lads? Like grandstand for the Sat or Sun (like everyone else) !

link_2007

Bishop22 wrote: »

Where is the best place to buy tickets anyway lads? Like grandstand for the Sat or Sun (like everyone else) !

www.irishopengrandstandticketsforthesaturdayorsunday.ie

Or if they're sold out I would imagine the official European tour website would be the safest place. They're pricier than I thought they would be

http://tickets.europeantour.com/Event/THE-IRISH-OPEN/Royal-Portrush-Golf-Club/609924

Bishop22

Thanks for the link. The grandstand is sold out, apart from the Thursday. My better half is travelling so a seat is a good thing to have. Maybe one of those small fold up seats would do the job fine........

link_2007

Bishop22 wrote: »

Thanks for the link. The grandstand is sold out, apart from the Thursday. My better half is travelling so a seat is a good thing to have. Maybe one of those small fold up seats would do the job fine........

Well I'm sure if you looked around you would still get a grandstand ticket although you will probably end up paying 'tout' prices.

It's a long shot but it might be worth checking the sports section of www.toutless.ie I have got lucky there a few times getting concert tickets at cost price.

JerryHandbag

Just seen on his twitter that John Daly will be in Portrush.

Jul3s

Isn't the thread tiltle "big names" not "has beens".

Pighead

Jul3s wrote: »

Isn't the thread tiltle "big names" not "has beens".

Big names doesn't have to mean 'currently successful'. Like him or loathe him, John Daly is a big name in the world of golf.

I'd be pretty sure that way more casual golf fans know Daly ahead of say Keegan Bradley.

dvemail

Just after looking at the Irish Opens page on the European Tours website and they seem to have sponsors coming out there ears for it this year.
Bringing it back up to Portrush could be the start of a renaissance for it again. Obviously having 4 major champions from the island helps too of course.

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012046/index.html

AGC

Great to see. It's safe to say the North will get to hold the Irish Open again in the near future

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/tickets-almost-gone-for-irish-open-3123418.html

big_drive

Any final confirmed list of those taking part?

andyoz

Whyner wrote: »

Bubba!!!

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/4/11/bubba-for-irish-open-maybe.html

Just watched the Letterman Show interview in that link - like Bubba even more now.

How far we have come from the Woods era...

DaEvilTwin

big_drive wrote: »

Any final confirmed list of those taking part?

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012046/teetimes/index.html

The quality of the field is only slightly better than the last two years. I suppose the prize fund has something to do with it.

dvemail

Definitely a better quality field compared to last years. And if this years is anywhere near as good as the last two Opens in Killarney then next years field should be better again.

Just saw there as well that Bill Murray is playing in the pro-am. Bigger draw than Tiger imo.