UAE/IRELAND. Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, has been named the host venue for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
The second Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai will take place from May 28 to 31.
It is the first time in 25 years that Mount Juliet will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The resort provided the backdrop for Ireland’s national open in 1993, 1994 and 1995, with tournaments won by Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance, respectively.
The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Mount Juliet has a history in hosting major golf events and producing world-class champions. In 1997, Mount Juliet played host to Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, a challenge match between Tom Watson and Fred Couples, won by the latter. In 2002 and 2004, the course hosted the world’s best players for the WGC-American Express Championship. Tiger Woods took top honours in 2002, beating Retief Goosen by one stroke, while Ernie Els claimed the 2004 edition. The par-72 course will host many of the world’s finest golfers for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, capping one of the most successful years in Ireland’s golfing history. Shane Lowry became just the fifth Irish winner of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush last July. Later that month, Ireland was announced as the host nation for The 2026 Ryder Cup. This year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open also became the first to sell out at the weekend since Royal Portrush in 2012. |
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “We are very pleased that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will be held at the Mount Juliet Estate in 2020. The estate, on the outskirts of Kilkenny, will be an easily accessible and exciting venue for both the players and the fans.
McLoughlin noted the tournament’s growth since Dubai Duty Free became involved in 2015. The event is part of the Rolex Series with a prize fund of US$7 million.
“We also agree with the strategy, which both the European Tour and the previous hosts, Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley, have employed of moving the tournament around the island of Ireland to include north and south, links and parkland and this has been very successful.
“It has had a very positive effect on tourism and business in these regions which is testament to the interest that the public have in this tournament. Mount Juliet Estate itself is a fantastic venue and is well known as an excellent ‘spectator course’ as it offers fans a second to none viewing experience.
“We are looking forward to coming to Kilkenny and are looking forward to working with the team at the European Tour and Mount Juliet,” McLoughlin said.
Mount Juliet Estate is owned by Tetrarch. The company’s Chief Operations Officer Damien Gaffney commented: “We are absolutely delighted that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will be returning to Mount Juliet Estate after a gap of 25 years.
“We made a commitment to the staff and to the members when we bought Mount Juliet Estate, that we would do our best to bring the tournament back. We’ve worked very closely with the European Tour in recent months and we’re thrilled to be finally announced as hosts for the event.”
Gaffney described the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open as “one of the great sporting events in the Irish calendar”. “It’s a very special moment for Mount Juliet Estate, and a true testament to the superb condition of the estate’s facilities and the golf course in particular,” he added
European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley added: “We are thrilled to bring the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to Mount Juliet Estate, a venue which boasts a world-class golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and a history of hosting prestigious tournaments.
“Our second Rolex Series event of the 2020 season is sure to be another spectacular occasion, following the success of last year’s edition at Lahinch, which epitomised the growth of this tournament since Dubai Duty Free came on board as title sponsors in 2015.
“Our sincerest thanks go to Colm McLoughlin and his team at Dubai Duty Free for their continued commitment, not only to this tournament but also in their role as Official Partners to the European Tour, as well as the team at Mount Juliet Estate for hosting us next May.”
