Recent Sponsorship
Following the departure of Nissan as title sponsor in 2006, Adare Golf Club, part of the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort in County Limerick, had planned to host the tournament for three years, from 2007 to 2009. After two years, it was announced in January 2009 that they could no longer sustain the losses incurred by hosting the event for a third year. In early March, the European Tour confirmed the national championship would return to County Louth Golf Club, Baltray, which had last hosted in 2004, with a new sponsor, 3 Mobile.
Under 3 Mobile, the purse was increased to €3 million. The event moved to Killarney in 2010, but the company elected not to continue past 2010, which again left the Irish Open sponsorless and cancellation was probable. Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority of the Republic of Ireland, agreed to sponsor in 2011, but with a drastically reduced purse, cut in half to €1.5 million.
As of late May 2012, the Irish Open lacked a title sponsor, but attracted a host of official partners; the purse was scheduled to be €2 million. Sensing the importance of the 2012 event for the future of professional golf in Northern Ireland, reigning Open Champion Darren Clarke opted not to play for a month, including the U.S. Open in San Francisco, in order to heal a groin injury and be ready to play at Royal Portrush in late June.
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