History
The 72-hole event has been played in many locations on the island; it was last played at Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim in Northern Ireland in 2012. The 2013 tournament is scheduled for County Kildare at Carton House, which hosted the event in 2005 and 2006. The Irish Open was first played in 1927 and continued until 1950, when the tournament experienced financial problems. Except for a single event, held in 1953, there was a 25-year hiatus until the Irish Open returned in 1975.
The Irish Open enjoys one of the largest crowd attendances on the European Tour. In 2010, the Irish Open at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club had an attendance of 85,179 over four days. This was second to the BMW PGA Championship. In 2011, the Irish Open at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club had an attendance in excess of 86,500 over four days. This was again the second highest on the European Tour to the BMW PGA Championship. In 2012, the Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club had a record attendance of 112,000 over four days; 131,000 over the six days. This was the only time a European Tour event has sold out prior to play on all four days and the highest attendance ever recorded on the European Tour.
The Irish Open was formerly played the week prior to the European Tour's "home tournament," the BMW PGA Championship. For 2010, the tournament was moved to July 29 – August 1. The event's 2005 rating in the Official World Golf Rankings system was high enough for the winner to qualify for the WGC-NEC Invitational. As of 2011, it is the only European Tour event played in Ireland. The European Open, held at the K Club in Straffan for thirteen years (1995–2007), moved to its new home near London in 2008.
Read more about this topic: Irish Open (golf)
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