Rory McIlroy will be the big draw when he tees it up in Northern Ireland for the first time in five years this week.
McIlroy headlines a field at the Irish Open that also includes the likes of Shane Lowry, Seamus Power, Robert McIntyre and Nicolai Hojgaard but none of the elite Americans, who have opted out of taking on the challenging links at Royal County Down.
Regularly voted the best course in the world, it is a lay-out that can destroy the best – as evidenced by McIlroy’s opening-round 80 when the DP World Tour last visited in 2015.
The Ulsterman is relishing the chance to return, however, and play in front of friends and family.
He told UTV: “To be home and stay in my own house and see my friends and all that – I’ve only been here for a day – but it’s been great.
“Obviously, really looking forward to the week. I love coming back and playing, even if it’s just with my mates, coming playing at RCD or playing Portrush, so to be able to play a tournament… I didn’t do so well last time so I’m trying to improve on that.
“I always appreciate the unbelievable support that I get from home and everyone around here. But I haven’t played as well as I want to when I come back and play these events at home. So hopefully, this year that can change.”
Royal County Down 😍
“The golf course you play in your dreams.”#AMGENIRISHOPEN PIC.TWITTER.COM/DOQCN3MGAW
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
Who is the favourite?
bet365 have McIlroy as favourite, followed by Lowry and Aaron Rai. All odds correct as of 1pm on September 10.
Rory McIlroy 13/2
Shane Lowry 11/1
Aaron Rai 16/1
Robert McIntyre 18/1
Bernd Wiesberger 25/1
Nicolai Hojgaard 25/1
Thriston Lawrence 28/1
Ryan Fox 30/1
Thomas Detry 30/1
Seamus Power 33/1
How to Watch
You can catch all the action on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf.
The coverage starts on Thursday at 1pm UK BST and continues throughout the weekend.
Prediction
While predicting the winner of events on the PGA TOUR is relatively straightforward – you just plump for Scottie Scheffler – the DP World Tour is a different animal.
Add in the fact it’s a links course and wind is forecast and it becomes something of a lottery.
With balls being blown off course and unpredictable lies, the ability to scramble becomes all the more important.
With that in mind, McIntyre may be a good shout. The lefty ranks 15th in the scrambling category on the PGA TOUR and has plenty of experience on links courses given his Scottish heritage.
Ryan Fox is another to watch, as is Power.
The real winner, however, is likely to be the TV viewer, who can sit back, relax, take in the scenery and watch some of the world’s best take on one of the hardest tests in the game.
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