IRELAND. Leading Spanish golfer Jon Rahm was crowned champion at the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Sunday, after shooting a thrilling 62 in the final round at the spectacular Lahinch Golf Club. It is the second time that Rahm has captured the title after his win at Portstewart in 2017.
The event provided a further boost to Dubai Duty Free’s media exposure, with millions watching around the world as well as 20,477 (a sell-out) at the venue on the final day. A total of 86,793 spectators attended the tournament over the five-day event (including Wednesday’s Pro-Am), which was hosted by Irish golfer Paul McGinley.
This is the fifth year that Dubai Duty Free has been the title sponsor of Ireland’s biggest sporting event, and the retailer has committed to backing the tournament until 2022.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin said; “That was another fantastic edition of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and Jon Rahm is a worthy winner. I would like to thank the people of County Clare for their warmth, hospitality and engagement in this tournament which we are delighted to call The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. This has been a wonderful week of sport, festivity and fun, there were massive crowds and a fantastic atmosphere both at the golf and in the village.
“Coming to this part of the world is like a homecoming for our operation as Shannon Duty Free was the very first duty free in the world, so County Clare has a very special place in our hearts. I would also like to thank and congratulate Paul McGinley, Lahinch Golf Club, the European Tour, Clare County Council, the local community and all who worked so hard and partnered with us to make this tournament so special.”
McLoughlin, alongside his wife Breeda and Senior Vice President of Marketing Sinead El Sibai, hosted 60 guests each day in the Dubai Duty Free VIP Chalet which overlooked the 18th green.
The event began with the Pro-Am tournament last Wednesday, with the afternoon session also won by a team led by Jon Rahm.
Some 50 teams took part, and well-known faces included were singer Niall Horan, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, actor James Nesbitt, former Boyzone star Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, formerly of Westlife. Sports stars who played included All Ireland winning Limerick hurler, Cian Lynch, Kerry footballers Tomás Ó Sé and Kieran Donaghy, hurlers Shane O’Donnell, Joe Canning and Davy Fitzgerald, Olympic silver medallist and head of Sport Ireland John Treacy, rugby players Paul O’Connell, Shane Byrne, Keith Wood and Luke Fitzgerald, and horse racing legends Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy.
The Moodie Davitt Report also attended, with President Dermot Davitt playing in the Pro-Am tournament in a team led by last year’s champion Russell Knox, alongside Sunil Tuli and John Sutcliffe. Click here for our Blog coverage from Martin Moodie and Dermot Davitt.
Dubai Duty Free also hosted several other events throughout the week. The airport retailer invested heavily in flags and bunting for traders and community organisations around Lahinch to support and engage with local communities and businesses and to help create a festive atmosphere. It also supported a Best Dressed Window Competition with a prize fund of €3,000 for the top three entrants, with the winner named as Murphy’s Total Health Pharmacy, Ennistymon.
Before the tournament, Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Golf Ambassador and Irish golfing legend Des Smyth joined European Tour representatives to visit schools in the local area with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open trophy. Smyth also invited members of the public to ‘Beat the Pro’ in a longest drive competition in the Tented Village where Dubai Duty Free had a promotional marquee, activation area and putting green.
Dubai Duty Free also hosted a spectacular party in the private gardens of Moy House, Lahinch on the Friday night. Some of the tour’s top players attended the party including Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Shane Lowry, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, where they enjoyed a birds of prey display and had the opportunity to meet some Irish Wolfhounds.
Speaking about the impact of the event at a media conference on Friday, McLoughlin said: “Lahinch has been fantastic. It has been great for the region, with the support of our host Paul McGinley and the work undertaken by Clare County Council. From a Dubai Duty Free point of view, to see all the colour and the bunting for miles around in our colours has been great. It’s my job to get people talking about Dubai and Dubai Duty Free and we think we have achieved that this week.”
McLoughlin said he was pleased with the turnout of international stars for the event, despite competition in the golfing calendar.
“We have six of the top 30 players here, which I’m happy with. Rory McIlroy isn’t here, which is disappointing, but we must remember that he was instrumental in regenerating the event with Dubai Duty Free several years ago and he doesn’t owe the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open anything. I’m sure he will take part again in future.
“When we began our partnership this event had around US$1 million in prize money. Now it’s up to US$7 million and I see that continuing to rise.”
He underlined the value of sports sponsorship for the company in its promotion of its own business and of Dubai.
“We spend 2.5% of our bottom line on sponsorship and marketing. Last year this event was valued at $160 million in terms of media exposure for us. Our tennis events run even higher. The men’s tournament was valued at US$980 million last year and we think this year – with Roger Federer winning his 100th tournament – may go to US$1 billion once we get the final figures, such was the interest that it generated. Our ambition for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open golf is to get close to that kind of exposure and attention.”
As reported, Colm McLoughlin was awarded Honorary Overseas Life Membership by Lahinch Golf Club last week, in tribute to his services to the region. Click here for full story.
