Rory McIlroy to play in the Irish Open

Dubai Desert Classic Champion Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy cannot wait to return to his roots when he tees it up in The 3 Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club, Baltray from May 14-17

Rory Mcilroy Irish Open

After thrilling golfing galleries across America in the last two months, Rory McIlroy cannot wait to get back to his first love, links golf at The 3 Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club, Baltray, from May 14-17.

The Northern Irishman has taken the golfing world by storm since his maiden European Tour victory at the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the year, and has since gone on to make a huge impression across America with outstanding performances at the Masters, finishing tied 20th, and the WGC – Accenture Match Play, where he made it through to the quarter-finals before losing to World Number Four Geoff Ogilvy.

But McIlroy is keen to get back to business on The European Tour, and where better to do so than on the classic links at Baltray, where he will surely be afforded a hero’s welcome alongside three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington.

“We don’t play that much links golf on The European Tour so it’s great that The 3 Irish Open is returning to Baltray,” said McIlroy.

“I am looking forward to playing it so much because I love links golf. The 3 Irish Open is one of the oldest tournaments on The European Tour and I would love to win at Baltray. Returning to links golf after a couple of months in America where I played courses like Augusta and Doral will be a test but it’s a test I’m relishing.”

McIlroy, who turns 20 this coming Monday, will return to his homeland after The PLAYERS Championship next week in search of a second European Tour victory of the season that would,given the impressive €3 million prize fund on offer at The 3 Irish Open, see him make significant strides in his quest to win the inaugural Race to Dubai.

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Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor

Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.