Dubai Duty Free Irish Open could still tee off at Mount Juliet – just ‘fore’ months later

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open could yet come to county Kilkenny this year as organisers are frantically trying to reschedule the event.

The major global sporting event which was meant to be in full swing this weekend at Mount Juliet Estate and Golf Resort close to Thomastown. But like every other major sporting event it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Now it is believed a weekend in October is being considered for a rescheduled event.

Yesterday, the European Tour, the group which oversees the European golfing calendar announced they are restarting the tour on the weekend of July 22 with the British Masters. A six-week programme of tournaments has been announced, all to be held in the UK for the first six weeks of the resumption of the tour.

It is understood the Mount Juliet event may take place on the first weekend of October, but the European Tour said a number of dates are being considered.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is one of the jewels in the European Tour being a part of the Rolex Series which the tour is looking to prioritise. This year’s Irish Open comes with a prize fund of €7 million.

European Tour chief Keith Pelley speaking about their plans to reboot the tour in July said of the county Kilkenny event: “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is still absolutely critical and it is very much part of our plans.

“I don’t want you to think that the Irish Openis any less important . . . we currently have three or four date options for it.”

“We could have announced it today but it wouldn’t have been 100% and I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that,” Pelley concluded.