Post by earl on Jun 3, 2008 13:51:17 GMT
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is to hold discussions with the European Tour about the possibility of the Irish Open being played in Northern Ireland.
The event is again scheduled to be played at Adare Manor next year but no venue is yet set in stone for 2010.
"We are keen to forward on this," acknowledged Northern Ireland Tourist Board official Willie Lougheed.
"We will have to sit down with the European Tour and find out what's required and if we could deliver it."
Lougheed told the Sunday Independent that the "idea of staging such a prestige event...is very appealing to us".
The Irish Open has been without a main sponsor since Murphys ended their support of the tournament in 2002. Since then, the European Tour has largely been bankrolling the event.
Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell both spoke enthusiastically in favour of the tournament moving north last month and the European Tour has also hinted that it would have no difficulty with the event being played in Northern Ireland.
"We would have no problem with the Irish Open being played anywhere in Ireland," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.
The Irish Open was last staged in Northern Ireland in 1953 when the event was won by Eric Brown at Belvoir Park.
Royal Portrush and Royal County Down would be obvious choices to host the event although the likes of Belvoir Park, Royal Belfast, Hilton Templepatrick and Malone might also be possibilities.
The Irish Open has slipped in prestige in recent times although last month's event at Adare Manor was regarded as being the most successful for several years.
Speaking at Adare Manor last month, Harrington said that a move north might be the answer.
"If I was running the event, it would be up north - definitely. It would be a tremendous event. There is a great golfing public up there," he said.
Harrington added that Royal Portrush would be an "ideal" venue for the event.
"But there are plenty of good golf courses there," the Open champion continued.
The event is again scheduled to be played at Adare Manor next year but no venue is yet set in stone for 2010.
"We are keen to forward on this," acknowledged Northern Ireland Tourist Board official Willie Lougheed.
"We will have to sit down with the European Tour and find out what's required and if we could deliver it."
Lougheed told the Sunday Independent that the "idea of staging such a prestige event...is very appealing to us".
The Irish Open has been without a main sponsor since Murphys ended their support of the tournament in 2002. Since then, the European Tour has largely been bankrolling the event.
Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell both spoke enthusiastically in favour of the tournament moving north last month and the European Tour has also hinted that it would have no difficulty with the event being played in Northern Ireland.
"We would have no problem with the Irish Open being played anywhere in Ireland," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.
The Irish Open was last staged in Northern Ireland in 1953 when the event was won by Eric Brown at Belvoir Park.
Royal Portrush and Royal County Down would be obvious choices to host the event although the likes of Belvoir Park, Royal Belfast, Hilton Templepatrick and Malone might also be possibilities.
The Irish Open has slipped in prestige in recent times although last month's event at Adare Manor was regarded as being the most successful for several years.
Speaking at Adare Manor last month, Harrington said that a move north might be the answer.
"If I was running the event, it would be up north - definitely. It would be a tremendous event. There is a great golfing public up there," he said.
Harrington added that Royal Portrush would be an "ideal" venue for the event.
"But there are plenty of good golf courses there," the Open champion continued.