Rory McIlroy’s ‘Rory Foundation’ has hosted the European Tour stop since 2015 and will do so again when the $7 million Rolex Series event is decided at famed Ballyliffin G.C. in Co. Donegal from July 5-8. But from 2019, the DDF Irish Open will follow the model that has seen the British Masters revived as former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and major champions Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and McIlroy serve as hosts on a rotation.

Related: Ballyliffin Golf Club

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, has welcomed the move after confirming DDF had extended its sponsorship until 2020 with a further two year option. Jon Rahm will be back to defend his title at Ballyliffin with McIlroy, fellow 2016 Ryder Cuppers Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett and Chris Wood also confirmed for the Rolex Series event.

“We have enjoyed working with the European Tour and seeing the tournament grow dramatically in such a short space of time, with it now part of the Rolex Series. We are happy with the plans to rotate the hosting of the tournament from 2019 onwards and delighted that Paul McGinley will be the first to take on that role,” said McLoughlin.

“I would like to thank Rory and his Foundation for hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open since 2015. Rory’s involvement in the tournament was a key factor in our decision to become the title sponsor at that time.”

The precise future rotation is still to be finalised beyond 2019 when McGinley will do the honours at Lahinch Golf Club (pictured above) in County Clare. Des Smyth, one of McGinley’s vice-captains during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, has been unveiled as tournament ambassador, a role which will see him help in the marketing and promotion of the event for the next four years as well as aid a successful transition between each of the hosts.

Related: Dubai Duty Free Irish Open preview

“Today’s announcement is yet another exciting development in the history of one of our great tournaments,” said European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley.

“Ireland has been blessed with many legendary golfers over the years and to have five of them agree to host the country’s national Open over the next five years shows a terrific commitment both to their homeland and to the European Tour.”

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By Kent Gray
Title sponsor Dubai Duty Free has hailed a move that will see the Irish Open hosted by the proud golfing nation’s biggest names on an annual rotation from 2019.

Rory McIlroy’s ‘Rory Foundation’ has hosted the European Tour stop since 2015 and will do so again when the elite $7 million Rolex Series event is taken to the famed Ballyliffin G.C. links in County Donegal from July 5-8. But from 2019, the DDF Irish Open will follow the model that has seen the British Masters revived as former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and major champions Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and McIlroy serve as hosts on a rotation.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, has welcomed the move.

“We have enjoyed working with the European Tour and seeing the tournament grow dramatically in such a short space of time, with it now part of the Rolex Series. We are happy with the plans to rotate the hosting of the tournament from 2019 onwards and delighted that Paul McGinley will be the first to take on that role,” said McLoughlin.

“I would like to thank Rory and his Foundation for hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open since 2015. Rory’s involvement in the tournament was a key factor in our decision to become the title sponsor at that time.”

The DDF Irish Open is the second of three successive Rolex Series events leading into the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie from July 19-22. Ballyliffin is sandwiched between the Open de France (June 28-July 1) on the 2018 Ryder Cup venue, Le Golf National, and the Scottish Open (June 12-15) at Gullane in East Lothian.

The precise future rotation of players and years will be revealed in due course, along with the venue for 2019.

“Today’s announcement is yet another exciting development in the history of one of our great tournaments,” said European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley.

“Ireland has been blessed with many legendary golfers over the years and to have five of them agree to host the country’s national Open over the next five years shows a terrific commitment both to their homeland and to the European Tour.

“I cannot use the word commitment without paying special thanks to Rory McIlroy, who has worked tirelessly alongside our fantastic tournament sponsor Dubai Duty Free over the past four years to raise the tournament to an entirely new level, and I am delighted he will return to the role of host in a future year.”

Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open champion from Royal St George’s and patron of the local MENA Tour, gave a hint of what is in store for future DDF Irish Opens to EuropeanTour.com.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been asked to host the Irish Open and I’m looking forward to working with Colm McLoughlin and his team at Dubai Duty Free to continue the great work that Rory and the European Tour have done for the event over the last four years.

“Everyone has seen what a success the British Masters has become with Ian [Poulter], Luke [Donald], Lee [Westwood] and Justin [Rose at Walton Heath this October] all hosting the event. I think it’s great that we have Rory, Graeme and myself from Northern Ireland and then Paul and Padraig from the South. There will be a natural rotation of the tournament around Ireland and I’m sure there will be a fair bit of competition between the lads to see who can put on the biggest and best tournament when we are the tournament host!

“For me, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open should have a real festival atmosphere. Our fans are some of the best in the world and one of my main goals of hosting the Irish Open will be to make sure everyone – from the players and their families to the fans, to the caddies, the volunteers, marshals and officials – has an unforgettable week.”

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