Dusseldorf invitational hits Irish Open

TOUR SCENE NEWS ROUND-UP:TALK ABOUT being kicked when you're down . . . Eight of the world's top-40 players will be competing in Europe in the week of the Irish Open – but NOT at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in Co Kerry, the designated tour stop for the week of July 28th-31st.

Instead, the likes of US PGA champion Martin Kaymer, England’s Ian Poulter, Americans Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, Italian Edoardo Molinari and Spaniards Alvaro Quiros and Miguel Angel Jimenez will be playing in a two-day matchplay invitational tournament at Dusseldorf in Germany, as part of their sponsorship deal with German engineering giant Schüco.

It seems odd what is basically an exhibition tournament should clash directly with the Irish Open, one of the most historic titles on the PGA European Tour, but it would seem to be another example of money talking.

It’s a moot point that Kaymer, Poulter, Watson or Johnson would ever have made it to Killarney in the first place. But Molinari? Quiros? Jimenez? Gregory Havret? You never know.

Thankfully, the Irish Open – which is due to get a fillip at its official launch this afternoon with the announcement of the prizefund and a sponsorship tie-in – can bank on Ireland’s three Major champions: Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, and Pádraig Harrington, whilst defending champion Ross Fisher, of England, is also confirmed.

That Irish Open will actually kick-start one of the busiest periods for Messrs McIlroy, McDowell and Harrington as the tournament in Killarney will be followed by the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and, then, the US PGA at Atlanta.

McIlroy won’t be appearing on tour again until the British Open at Sandwich in just over a fortnight’s time, as he heads to the Kent links with his new status as a Major winner and movement up to a career high third in the official world rankings yesterday.

McIlroy paid a visit to the PGA European Tour headquarters in Wentworth yesterday, before moving on to Wimbledon where he availed of the offer of a place in the Royal Box. Of his visit to meet European Tour chief executive George O’Grady, Ryder Cup director Richard Hills and director of tour operations David Garland, McIlroy said: “The European Tour has done so much for me over the last few years, starting when I was an amateur, and they helped me getting into events to being part of the Ryder Cup team. I feel very much part of this Tour and it’s nice to come back and say ‘hello’ as the US Open champion.”

And McIlroy has his sights set on adding the number one in the world accolade to his Major triumph: “It’s another step towards my ultimate goal of being the best player in the world,” said the 22-year-old Ulsterman, adding: “I have two great players ahead of me in Luke Donald and Lee Westwood and I have overtaken another great player in Martin Kaymer, which underlines the strength of European golf right now . . . we’re working hard to beat one another and strive to be better than everyone else.”

Speaking to Sky Sports News, McIlroy said: “To have these 10 days off is very nice, now I can try to win the Open. A lot of things go into winning a tournament. Obviously there’s preparation and needing to play well . . . and you need a bit of luck. But I feel as if I’m playing well and have a really good chance of winning and that’s all you can ask for.”

While McIlroy has decided not to play in next week’s Scottish Open – which moves from Loch Lomond to the new links course at Castle Stuart – McDowell and Harrington will both prepare for Sandwich by competing in Scotland.

McDowell, incidentally, also has a trip to Wimbledon in his week’s plans; but not until Sunday’s men’s singles final. Currently at home in Portrush, McDowell remarked: “It’s great to be back home again and close to home for the next month or so. I had a nice break in Florida last week (after the US Open), and generally just relaxed after a very busy spell.”

There are seven Irish players competing in this week’s French Open at Paris National: Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Paul McGinley. Clarke is the only one exempt for the British Open but the French Open – apart from the €3 million purse – offers the leading players finishing in the top five in Paris and not already exempt a ticket to Sandwich.

Lawrie, the leading Irishman in last week’s BMW International in Munich in tied-18th place on his return to action following paternity leave, aims to build on that form. “Given how little time I was able to spend practising during my month at home, I was really pleased (in Munich). I had a lot of chances which I didn’t take, (but) that is a reflection of how good a shape my long game is in. It will need to be as good, if not better, this week in Paris.”

Colm Moriarty and Niall Kearney are in action in The Princess tournament at the PGA of Sweden on the European Challenge Tour, starting on Thursday.