Rory McIlroy confirms Garcia and Els for Irish Open

World number one Rory McIlroy has confirmed Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia and four-time Major winner Ernie Els will both compete in this year's Irish Open, which will be held at Royal County Down on the last weekend of May.

McIlroy is hosting the tournament at the famous links course in Newcastle and Garcia and Els join an impressive field which already includes Rickie Fowler, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

Defending champion Miko Ilonen from Finland will also take part as he looks to defend his crown when the tournament begins on May 28th.

The event wil be Garcia’s first appearance in 15 years at the tournament which launched his professional career as a precocious teenager in 1999, when he captured his first European Tour title at Druids Glen.

Els, who has accumulated 28 tour titles during the course of a glittering career spanning more than a quarter of a century, will visit the Irish Open for the first time since 1998.

“I cannot wait to return to a tournament which has such great memories for me,” said Garcia, who won four points as part of the victorious European team at The K Club in 2006.

“You could say this event is where it all began for me. I was just 19 when I won in Druids Glen in 1999, only two months after I turned professional.

“Not only am I returning to a very special event, but to a venue of which I have heard some incredible things. Royal County Down is a world-famous links and going by what Rory has been telling me, it could possibly be the best course I play this year.

“I feel like I have a great connection with the Irish golf fans, not only from my victory back in 1999 but also from the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club. They are knowledgeable and respectful and also good fun so it is going to be a great week.”

Els, meanwhile, is relishing the opportunity to claim a second career title in Ireland, having won the WGC-American Express Championship at Mount Juliet Country Club in 2004.

“I haven’t played in the Irish Open for a while and I spoke with Rory in Dubai recently about the event and am very happy for him that he is involved in hosting such a prestigious event. It is a similar role I have taken with the South African Open and it is a great honour to be able to host your national open.

“I was at Royal County Down with my dad and a friend in 1998 and remember the course well. It has such great history and is probably in my top five links courses in the world.

“I am excited to play and I think the decision to host such a prestigious national open on such a great course is the correct one. Hopefully the weather will behave and we will have a great championship, I can’t wait.”

McIlroy, meanwhile, has been blown away by the response he is receiving from his friends in the golf world and is hopeful that more stars will follow suit in the coming months.

“When I took on the hosting of this event on behalf of my charitable foundation, I was confident I could convince a lot of great players to come and play the Irish Open this year but the response so far has exceeded all of my expectations,” said the four-time Major winner.

“To have Rickie, Sergio, Ernie, Lee, Darren and Graeme, as well as Mikko, already committed by February is incredible and I’m really proud to be involved in what is shaping up to be one of the great events of The European Tour season. Hopefully we’ll have a few more big names to add to that list.”