Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free has agreed a three-year extension to its title sponsorship of the Irish Open, while world No.3 Rory McIlroy will continue to be the European Tour golf tournament’s host on behalf of his Rory Foundation charitable organisation.
Both Dubai Duty Free and McIlroy have committed to the tournament for the next three years, culminating in the 2018 event.
Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: “The fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision moving forward.”
The European Tour also announced a significant increase in the tournament’s prize fund. Next year’s prize fund will stand at €4m ($4.5m), a 60 per cent increase on 2015.
In addition, the K Club in County Kildare, Ireland has been confirmed as the venue for next year’s event. It will mark the 10-year anniversary of the club’s last staging of the tournament.
McLoughlin added: “We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, the European Tour has announced an increase in prize money to €4m making it very appealing for international players to participate. The staging of the 2016 tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive.”
The prize money increase means the Irish Open will have one of the highest prize funds on the 2016 Race to Dubai outside the major championship and World Golf Championship events.
After next year’s event at the K Club, the Irish Open will return to McIlroy’s home nation of Northern Ireland in 2017.