The Horizon Irish Open is to return to The K Club in County Kildare three times over the next five years as part of a long-term deal with the DP World Tour.
The K Club, a previous Ryder Cup venue, will host the island of Ireland’s national open in 2023, 2025 and 2027 as part of the agreement with the DP World Tour.
Also, as part of its commitment to the development of Irish professional golf, The K Club will host the Irish Challenge in the second tier Challenge Tour in the intervening years. This will begin this July and will occur again in 2024 and 2026 and will be played on the K Club’s second Arnold Palmer-designed course, Palmer South.
Following hard on the heels of a six-year title sponsorship deal signed in February with Horizon Therapeutics, the announcement continues the momentum surrounding Irish golf and the country’s biggest event.
It also adds to the growing anticipation of the 2027 Ryder Cup to be held at Adare Manor in County Limerick.
The K Club is one of Ireland’s top golf and spa resorts, with the stunning five-star venue having already hosted the Irish Open. Rory McIlroy claimed a famous victory there in 2016 which still lives in the memory of Irish sports fans.
The Kildare course also became the first Irish venue to host the Ryder Cup in 2006 when Europe marched to a convincing win over the USA under the leadership of captain Ian Woosnam.
Tucked away in the Kildare countryside in Ireland’s Ancient East, yet just on Dublin’s doorstep, The K Club recently changed ownership. While remaining firmly anchored in old-school Irish hospitality in a delightfully relaxed way, it has embarked on a multi-year investment programme.
Set in lush countryside and overlooking formal gardens and two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, the resort is renowned for offering some of the best golfing experiences in Ireland.
General Manager Paul Heery said: “The K Club has always been well known as a venue for hosting successful, international golf events and now with the guidance and fresh energy from new ownership, we are delighted to be back hosting tournaments of this calibre once again.
“The K Club is evolving. We are on a journey to establish a new legacy at the resort where supporting the golfing community in Ireland is an extremely important focus for us. The team at The K Club are incredibly proud to be making this long-term commitment to Irish golf which will see us host six years of high profile tournaments in Ireland.”
The Irish Open was first played in 1927 and it has been won by some of Europe’s greatest players including Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal and Jon Rahm.
The 2022 Horizon Irish Open, which takes place at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny, is expected to attract a star-studded field once again. Irish major winner Shane Lowry and fellow countryman Séamus Power, a winner on the PGA Tour last year, have already confirmed they will play.
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