Irish stars guide O'Grady's strategy for Irish Open

GOLF:TRUE TO his word, George O'Grady, the Europe Tour's chief executive, hasn't allowed the grass to grow under his feet in securing the future of the Irish Open for next year.

These past few days, the tour’s chief has had a think-tank of sorts with Ireland’s leading touring professionals, picking their brains and outlining his own strategy for survival.

One thing has emerged: the Irish Open will definitely feature on the 2011 tour schedule. And whether it stays in Killarney or moves to Royal Portrush or finds another home entirely, the unanimous agreement among the Irish tour players has been they would do all in their powers to help, with three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington even offering to work on a strategy, in conjunction with IMG, to bring in a title sponsor where he would possibly act as tournament host.

In revealing his management company IMG have put out “some feelers” and that it was a matter to “wait and see” if they lead anywhere, Harrington remarked: “I met with George and there is a plan in hand but the tour badly need to get a (title) sponsor.

“You have to understand, there is potential with the Irish Open as 3 have got it to a state that it’s a big event again in Europe.

“It’s on at a quality time of the year. It was exciting in Killarney, the crowds were superb, and it was a profitable gate. So it’s not like they are trying to find a sponsor for a weak event. They are trying to find a sponsor for one of the bigger events.”

He added: “What we don’t want to do is take a step backwards. So, if we could hold the ground for a few years, we would be okay.

“But in a perfect world, it would need a big international sponsor to come in . . . you have to stop focusing on the Irish context, it is a global event which attracts global coverage.”

While Harrington, through IMG, has put out “feelers” to potential title sponsors – with the tournament due to be pencilled in for July 28th-31st next year, the week ahead of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational – O’Grady has also talked with Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.

With no bar on the tournament being staged in the North, Clarke claimed he would help in any way he could.

Of any move to play the event in his neck of the woods, Clarke remarked: “It would be fantastic if we could get a tournament to Royal Portrush at some stage, whether it is the Irish Open or something else.

“I would do anything to get it to Portrush. With the new tees, the course is sensational and they haven’t had a big tournament for a long time. The crowds would be phenomenal.”

Although he conceded it would be a “hard ask” to keep the prize fund at its current level of €3 million, Harrington is of the opinion that the tournament’s date in the calendar is deserving of a big-money tournament.

However, McIlroy said, “Just to keep it on the schedule would be a great feat . . . if it was a €1.5 million or €2 million event, it would still be very good.”