World number one Rory McIlroy on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
With the tournament in full swing, here are a few things you may not know about the Irish Open.
The tournament started life 88 years ago after officers from Portmarnock Golf Club, Dublin, suggested to the Golfing Union of Ireland that Ireland should have its own open championship.
The first Irish Open was played at the club in 1927 and was won by Scotland's George Duncan.
The prize fund in 1927 was £750. The prize fund in 2015 is 2.5m euros (£1.78m).
The first time the Irish Open was held in Northern Ireland was in 1928, when it was hosted by Royal County Down Golf Club. The winner was Englishman Ernest Whitcombe.
In 2009, Irishman Shane Lowry became the first amateur to take the title, beating England's Robert Rock in a sudden death play-off.
Patrick Kielty and AP McCoy at the 2015 Irish Open Pro Am tournament
Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and world number one Rory McIlroy are favourite to win at Royal County Down.
The 2015 Irish Open, and the 2012 Irish Open held at Royal Portrush, County Antrim, are the only two times in European Tour history that an event has sold out prior to play on all four days.
According to tourism chiefs the 2015 competition is expected to generate £10m for the local economy.
The Irish Open will return to Northern Ireland in 2017, when it will be played at Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
- Published28 May 2015
- Published26 May 2015
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