A new three year agreement has been struck by Dubai Duty Free to remain title sponsors of the Irish Open.
In addition, four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will continue as the tournament host on behalf of his charitable foundation over those three years, starting with the 2016 tournament which will be played at The K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22.
The 2015 championship at Royal County Down in May was labelled a huge success with the tournament sold-out, attracting more than 100,000 fans in Dubai Duty Free’s first year of involvement.
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The European Tour has also announced that the prize fund for the 2016 championship will increase by 60 per cent, rising from €2.5million this year to €4million for next May’s edition.
It means the Irish Open will have one of the highest prize funds on The 2016 Race to Dubai outside the Major Championship and World Golf Championship events.
McIlroy welcomed today’s announcements saying: “The Irish Open has always meant so much to me, so I am really excited to announce my commitment to host the tournament, on behalf of the Rory Foundation, for the next three years.
“I would like to thank Colm McLoughlin of Dubai Duty Free and Keith Pelley of The European Tour for supporting my vision to develop the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into one of the leading events on The European Tour’s schedule over the next three years.
We have some VERY exciting news RE: the 2016 #DDFIrishOpen! http://t.co/tmykPx0kC1 pic.twitter.com/xpzFNX2CaR
— DDF Irish Open (@DDFIrishOpen) October 12, 2015
“I was delighted with the support I received, not only from the players who competed this year, but also from the fans who came along.”
McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free, added: “We are delighted to announce our title sponsorship of the Irish Open after a terrific inaugural sponsorship year in Northern Ireland earlier this year.
“The fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision moving forward.
“The staging of the 2016 tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive. With all these things combined, we are looking forward to a great event next May.”
It will be the first time The K Club has hosted the championship and will come ten years after staging the 2006 Ryder Cup, where Ian Woosnam memorably led Europe to a record-equalling 18½-9½ victory over the United States and 25 years since it opened.
Sir Michael Smurfit, owner of The K Club, said: “I am delighted that in conjunction with The European Tour, the Rory Foundation and Dubai Duty Free have chosen The K Club as the venue and home for the 2016 Irish Open.”
Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen won last year’s event after prevailing in a three-man play-off with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Englishman Eddie Pepperell.
