Irish golf received yet another boost today after the Sports Council agreed to support the staging of a European Challenge Tour event this summer.
The Challenge of Ireland at Glasson will be held for the second time from July 31st to August 3rd at the Co Westmeath hotel and country club.
The Sports Council already supports Irish players on the Challenge Tour - Europe's second tier for professional golf - through the Team Ireland Golf Trust. But after the success of last year's inaugural event, Sports Council chief executive John Treacy hopes the event will assist upcoming talent in Ireland to make the grade.
"It is essential that a Challenge Tour event is hosted in Ireland. It enhances our players' opportunities for success on the Tour and showcases Ireland's outstanding golf courses," he said.
Belfastman Michael Hoey, who recorded a third Challenge Tour victory at last week's Moroccan Classic, is due to be among a number of Irish golfers in the field.
Former British Amateur Champion and a member of the triumphant 2001 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, is hoping that his win along with recent success for Graeme McDowell, Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke and Peter Lawrie can inspire similar success among his countrymen on the Challenge Tour.
Hoey said: "Padraig Harrington really set the ball rolling with his win at The Open, which gave everyone in the country a big boost and inspired the players to follow his lead. Golf's massive in Ireland, and it put the sport onto the back pages again. We then had to wait a while for another win, and now three have come along in as many weeks. There's definitely a feel good factor in the country at the moment, and hopefully we can keep that going for a little while longer yet.
Ulster Bank and Grant Engineering are also providing financial support for the event.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)