Dubai: Dubai Duty Free extended its title sponsorship of golf’s Irish Open by three years to 2018 on Monday. The announcement was made following the success of the brand’s initial sponsorship of the event in a tentative one year agreement this year, where more than 100,000 fans flocked to Royal County Down in May see Denmark’s Soren Kjeldson crowned champion.
In addition to this, four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will continue to host the event on behalf of his self-titled charitable foundation for the next three years, starting with next year’s tournament at The K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22.
In a further move for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation, The European Tour has also announced that the prize fund for the 2016 championship will increase by 60 per cent, rising from €2.5 million (Dh10.4 million) to €4 million. It means the tournament will have one of the highest prize funds on the 2016 Race to Dubai outside of the Major Championship and World Golf Championship events.
McIlroy said: “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.
“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 to the Irish Open at Royal County Down in May – they made it another sell-out tournament. I am sure The K Club – on the 10th anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup – will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open.”
Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free said: “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. We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, The European Tour has announced an increase in prize money to €4 million making it very appealing for international players to participate. 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.”
