Destination Newry News - The Irish Open 2012
The tournament will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club
, and all three developed their links golf on the course.
Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy say it would rank alongside their Major Championship triumphs.
McDowell spent his youth honing his game on the fairways of Royal Portrush, which hosts the event from June 28 to July 1, and is relishing the thought of an "extra special" week as the Irish Open visits his home town - the first time the tournament has been played in Northern Ireland since 1953.
The 32 year old has won seven European Tour titles - none more impressive than his victory at the US Open Championship at Pebble Beach in June 2010 - but he believes tasting glory in his own back garden, in front of friends and family, would be up there with the finest moments of his illustrious career.
"It's a dream come true for me to play a tournament of the magnitude of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush," said the Ryder Cup star. "Having lived and grown up in Portrush all my life, it's definitely a dream come true and I'm going to be very proud to welcome The European Tour to my neck of the woods.
"It would definitely be one of the proudest moments of my career. To win the Irish Open at Royal Portrush would be right up there with a Major Championship.
With Rory McIlroy, the current World Number two and the successor to McDowell as US Open Champion in 2011, and Darren Clarke, the reigning Open Champion, already signed up for the Irish Open, the level of anticipation is reaching fever pitch.
The fans in the north are very excited to have a European Tour event that side of the border and they are very proud of what Darren and Rory and I have achieved in the last few years in winning Majors.
"The response I've had via family, friends and Twitter is that people are going to come in their thousands to support a great venue and a great golf tournament.
"As well as Darren, Rory and Graeme winning Majors, you have Michael Hoey winning twice last year and Gareth Maybin playing very well on The European Tour. We do have a huge amount of strength in golf from Northern Irish players and it's probably got a huge amount to do with the accessibility of golf for young kids growing up in that part of the world."
As for the venue itself, McDowell will undoubtedly have the advantage of inside knowledge, having become accustomed to every nuance of the famous course over the years.
"Royal Portrush is such a great layout," he said. "I think we'll be able to attract a great field and it'll be an exciting week. "It flows beautifully and the championship tees are fantastic.
Links golf is really designed for the elements, and if you don't get the elements the golf course can be destroyed. The new championship markers are very competitive - 70 to 100 yards off the back - and it's going to be a great test. Put a great north coast wind across it and it'll be a great test for the boys.
So it is looking like a great summer for Irish Golf and With the Return of the European tour to the North Of Ireland could mean promising things with the hope of the Open in a few years time as many people see this as a test to see if the infrastructure is there to hold such a large event.
by: James P Martin
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