Golf:The '3' Irish Open has long been crying out for a more suitable date on the European Tour schedule and now it appears wishes will be granted as next year's event is set to played over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club in Kerry.
A move from its traditional slot in May to a later date on the 2010 schedule was mooted in recent weeks and an official announcement will confirm the news early next week.
The Killarney resort houses three courses and the Irish Open was last staged on the championship Killeen course there in 1991 and 1992 when Nick Faldo won on both occasions.
Killarney were one of a number of courses, including Carton House, Fota Island and Mount Juliet, approached by the European Tour to host the 2010 event.
"We have been approached by both the European Tour and the sponsors '3' with a view to hosting the tournament . . . we would be delighted to have the Irish Open back at Killarney at our flagship Killeen course,” said Maurice O’Meara, secretary manager at Killarney, in recent weeks.
As for the timing and elements, few will forget the horrendous final day conditions at Baltray in May when the then amateur Shane Lowry outgunned the pros and eventually prevailed from a play-off with England’s Robert Rock.
Adare Manor in Limerick played host for a couple of years before Baltray but those tournaments were also affected by the weather. When Carton House took its turn to host the event in 2005 and 2006, the vagaries of the Irish weather necessitated a Monday finish when Thomas Bjorn won.
The middle of May fixture was also seen as a problem date because it came immediately after the Players Championship at Sawgrass, which meant organisers always struggled to attract top names back across the Atlantic one week after the 'unofficial fifth major'.
A move to the August Bank Holiday weekend would place the Irish Open close to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA Championship, which were held in the first half of August this year.
