The last week featured two major golfing events in Ireland, with the Irish Open at Mount Juliet quickly being followed up by the JP McManus Pro-Am.
While both were fine tournaments, it was noticeable just how much difference there was in the quality of the fields. While the Ireland Open largely featured lesser well known European Tour players, the event in Limerick featured perhaps the best playing pool you will see in world golf this year outside of a major championship.
Of course, there are many reasons for that. The Irish Open is a European Tour event, meaning there is little to no incentive for big names players from across the Atlantic to take part. Meanwhile, the JP McManus Pro-Am is not a competitive event, with golfers choosing to take part in aid of charity.
There have been a number of suggestions in recent times to make the flagship tournament in Ireland a more attractive proposition.
Shane Lowry suggests Irish Open change
One of those would involve the tournament becoming 'co-sanctioned'. That would essentially meant the event was considered as part of both the PGA Tour and European Tour, as we will see at the Scottish Open this week. Such a move would encourage more participation from American players, although Shane Lowry is not convinced by that suggestion.
Speaking in his new role as global ambassador for Jameson, he said he feels it is unlikely that the co-sanctioned route is something either tour is keen to explore, with one unintended side-effect being that Irish and amateur players could be pushed out of competing.
I don't know. I don't think the PGA Tour and European Tour are trying to go about things to be honest.
The Scottish Open works perfectly because a lot of the American golfers want to come over anyway and play the week before The Open and it's always very close to where The Open is. I think it's really good. Going forward, I think we should possibly talk about trying to find a new date for the Irish Open...
Even if you look at the Scottish Open, and there are a number of European Tour players who are not in the field because it’s co-sanctioned and there’s a lot of PGA Tour players taking part.
Rightly so they are in the field and taking their spots. If the Irish Open was co-sanctioned there would be less starts for the European Tour players, and Irish players as well. Amateurs as well. I’m not sure if it would necessarily be a good thing for the tournament.
7th July 2022: Shane Lowry pictured at the launch of his ambassadorship with Jameson, at Jameson Distillery, Bow St, Dublin. Two living legends, Shane Lowry and Jameson, are coming together for a three-year global ambassadorship.
The Scottish Open will feature perhaps the strongest field among European Tour events in 2022 (outside of The Open), with many top players making their way across to Ireland and Britain in recent days to play at Adare Manor and The Renaissance Club this week.
As hinted at above, the Irish Open could take advantage of that fact with a small change to the calendar.
Lowry believes that moving the tournament to the week after The Open could see more big names commit to taking part, especially when you consider the way they enjoyed their trip to Ireland to play in JP McManus' event.
I don’t like to get too involved in what tours are doing, but I would love to see it the week after The Open.
Imagine the week after The Open, players come and stay in Dublin. I’m sure that would appeal to some of the American players. I know this sounds like I am dropping in, but you get to come to places like this [Jameson Distillery]. If they come they can do all that, the sightseeing around Dublin.
I’ve always said Hilton Head is my favourite part of the year because I can have a little holiday with my family and play the tournament (the RBC Heritage takes place a week after The Masters).
I’m sure that would appeal to the American players. Even talking to some of them, they’ve never really spent much time in Ireland. They loved their time here and that would entice them to come back, especially if it’s somewhere near Dublin or even down the country.
Somewhere that could create a festival of golf, and not so serious of a tournament.
It would certainly be a huge boost to the Irish Open if a few more big names players would play in the event.
The JP McManus Pro-Am gave a glimpse at the appetite for top level golf in this country, something it would be foolish not to take advantage of moving forward.
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Jameson is proud to announce Irish professional golfer Shane Lowry as their newest brand ambassador. Two living legends, Shane Lowry and Jameson, are coming together for a three-year global ambassadorship. To find out more about Jameson visit www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-ie/. Follow the conversation on social #WidenTheCircle @jamesonwhiskey.
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