A welcome return to European soil featuring 15 of the World's T60 players, most have jetted in from TPC Sawgrass - remember T60 cut for the US OPEN in four week time.
Rory ‘Foundation’ McIlroy again plays host at the K Club - RORS not playing 3 weeks in a row so will miss the BMW next week at Wentworth.
McIlroy fav 4/1 - Irish Open form MC/MC/MC + Danny ‘Masters Champ’ Willett back in Europe for the first time since and must be ready to get back to the day job + Russell ‘Three Balls’ Knox (sank three on 17 last week) + Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Shane Lowry, Andy Sullivan & Lee Westwood - twice a winner on this track - all add up to a quality field.
The Irish Open venue this year is the Palmer Course at the K Club - first time host for Ms Sharon Smurfit. The parkland track 7,350 yds, par 72, ‘bout 30 miles from Dublin was designed by Arnie and opened in 1991. Host to the 2006 Ryder Cup where Woosie's team easily won. Venue for the European Open between 1995-2003 and again in 2005. A strong driving course with water lurking on most holes, undulating fairways and long, Poa-Annua greens will be set up well for the more accurate types off the tee.
Welcome to sunny Ireland - not this week - typically Irish conditions with persistent rain forecast at times during all four days. Players with an early tee time on Thursday might have a tiny advantage. You going to the K-club then mate - NO TANKS!
Previous Winners..... 2015: Soren Kjeldsen, 150/1; 2014: Mikko Ilonen, 80/1; 2013: Paul Casey, 50/1; 2012: Jamie Donaldson, 66/1; 2011: Simon Dyson, 25/1; 2010: Ross Fisher, 20/1.
You can follow the play across TV, radio, RTÉ Player and online.
THURSDAY RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player 12.30pm-6.30pm: Joanne Cantwell is joined by John McHenry to present live coverage of day one, with reports from Dave Kelly. Online: Live text on RTÉ.ie/Sport and News Now app from 10am. Radio: Updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Drivetime and Game On with RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen.
FRIDAY RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player 9.30am-1.30pm and 3.35pm-6.30pm: Joanne Cantwell is joined by John McHenry and reporter Dave Kelly for Day 2. Online: Live text on RTÉ.ie/Sport and News Now app from 10am. Radio: Updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Drivetime and Game On with RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen.
SATURDAY RTÉ 1 and RTÉ Player 1pm-5.20pm: Joanne Cantwell is joined by John McHenry and reporter Dave Kelly for Day 3. Online: Live text on RTÉ.ie/Sport and News Now app from 10am. Radio: Updates and commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport from 2.45pm to 8pm with RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen and Gary Moran.
SUNDAY RTÉ News Now, RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player. 1.30pm-2.15pm on News Now and 2.15pm-5.55pm: Joanne Cantwell is joined by John McHenry and reporter Dave Kelly for the final day of action. Online: Live text on RTÉ.ie/Sport and News Now app from 10am, with on-course updates from Ed Leahy. Radio: Updates and commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport from 2pm to 6pm with RTÉ Sport's Greg Allen and Gary Moran.
You can follow the play across TV, radio, RTÉ Player and online.THURSDAYRTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player 12.30pm-6.30pm: Joanne Cantwell is joined by John McHenry to present live coverage of day one, with reports from Dave Kelly.Online: Live text on RTÉ.ie/S
No great scoring to date . Rory at 9/2 is value if you can get it , last I saw was 4.7 for him on here .
Had a few hail mary's on Robert Karlson at approx 700 plus , no other interest to date .
No great scoring to date . Rory at 9/2 is value if you can get it , last I saw was 4.7 for him on here .Had a few hail mary's on Robert Karlson at approx 700 plus , no other interest to date .
sundogmonkey (in disguise) • May 19, 2016 11:27 AM BST Testing One, Two, Take THREE.....Think Joost Luiten in Ireland and Boo Weekley stateside are 2 of the bets of the year so far. 1.5pt e.w Joost Luiten 35-1 (7 places).6pt e.w Russel Knox 40-1 (5
Rory looks big now relative to his starting price.
He will almost certainly have the best of the weather again tomorrow. Afternoon rain and wind up to 35/40kmph could as good as see off half the field. Not many of that half offer much in the way of fear anyway.
Danny Willet had a cracking round today, and will benefit from the morning calmness. He holed plenty though today, and I have a gut feeling he will struggle slightly tomorrow. It was his first round back on European soil after his Masters triumph, and adrenalin may have acted as a real spur today. He is undoubtedly now a true class act, but I can see Rory overtaking him tomorrow.
McIlroy has struggled with expectation in the Irish Open in the past, and I always thought if he was going to win one, it would probably be akin to his fist Major....by a landslide.
If he hits the front, I think he will be strutting around, and loving the chance to finally put on a show for the home crowd.
I have waded in.
Rory looks big now relative to his starting price. He will almost certainly have the best of the weather again tomorrow. Afternoon rain and wind up to 35/40kmph could as good as see off half the field. Not many of that half offer much in the way of f
There are plenty of fools out there, but the one who is hardest to suffer is the buffoon who continuously gets factual based statements wrong.
The Gotchee • May 22, 2016 6:28 PM BST
Well done Kelly, no messing, you gave it to before the start of the competition.
Kelly • May 19, 2016 11:06 AM BST
No great scoring to date . Rory at 9/2 is value if you can get it , last I saw was 4.7 for him on here .
Had a few hail mary's on Robert Karlson at approx 700 plus , no other interest to date .
The competition started at 7.30AM.
Kelly didn't back Rory.
Buffoon.
Well done Huddys, no messing, you gave Knox w/o Rory before the start of the competition. Even allowing for the unlucky late arrival of Dredge into a tie for second, still a 13.5 winner. Excellent work again.
Your detractors are getting sick
There are plenty of fools out there, but the one who is hardest to suffer is the buffoon who continuously gets factual based statements wrong.The Gotchee • May 22, 2016 6:28 PM BST Well done Kelly, no messing, you gave it to before the start of t
Rory looks big now relative to his starting price.
I have waded in.
Not sure it matters when I backed him Gobshee, it's paid in the same currency. I'm not the one spouting wrong 'facts'!!
Thanks Wasp, it was indeed. I will have to pick up the bill at the next Luncheon. Gobshee will hardly make it though, he doesn't seem great on time keeping. 11.06AM being before 7.30am is a tough one to work out.
callitasucit • May 20, 2016 12:24 AM BST Rory looks big now relative to his starting price. I have waded in. Not sure it matters when I backed him Gobshee, it's paid in the same currency. I'm not the one spouting wrong 'facts'!!Thanks Wasp, it wa
Seems I am piggy in the middle without any input .
I did not back Rory with the bookies as I could not get the 9/2 , which was still available but not to me . Others may have , he was value at 9/2. Rory only started his first round at 1.45 pm I think on the first day .
Karllson traded down to 300 approx from 700 .
Only one I backed with the bookies was Shane Lowry in running on first day at 20/1 . He played well the first day , but not subsequently .
Great drama last day , Rory sealed it with those two great shots . May is too early for a big tournament in Ireland , weather not dependable enough . Hopefully the extra money coming on board will give the organisers the clout to get the Irish Open in a proper summer spot , like it used to be when Seve won it 3 times in the eighties .
Seems I am piggy in the middle without any input .I did not back Rory with the bookies as I could not get the 9/2 , which was still available but not to me . Others may have , he was value at 9/2. Rory only started his first round at 1.45 pm I thin