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• Rory McIlroy to continue as tournament host of the Irish Open
• Reportedly wants Tiger Woods to tee it up at The K Club
• Talks have been ongoing since the Masters last year

RORY MCILROY | TIGER WOODS | IRISH OPEN

Rory McIlroy has confirmed that the he will continue as tournament host of the Irish Open through the Rory Foundation for the next three years – and is reportedly lining up Tiger Woods to play in the event in 2016.

Through hosting the event for the first time earlier this year at Royal County Down – a tournament which was won by Dane Soren Kjeldsen in a play-off over Eddie Pepperell and Bernd Wiesberger – McIlroy used his standing as world No.1 to attract the likes of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia to the event, with Fowler the only one of the three to make the cut.

And with next year’s venue confirmed as The K Club – ten years on from Europe’s crushing defeat of USA in the 2006 Ryder Cup – Brian Keogh of the Irish Examiner has reported that talks have been ongoing between Woods and Rory McIlroy since the Masters last year.

CONTINUES BELOW…

The Masters - Final Round

Woods, who is now ranked No.321 in the world, hasn’t featured in a regular European Tour event since the 2014 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where he finished T41, and his close relationship with his fellow Nike athlete could be a deciding factor on whether to play or not.

Despite Woods not making it to Royal County Down this year, three of the four tournament days were a sell-out, highlighting its overwhelming success and, as a result, the prize fund for next year’s tournament has had a 60% increase to €4m.

“I was delighted with the support I received” – Rory McIlroy

Speaking about his backing of the event, Rory McIlroy said: “The Irish Open has always meant so much to me, so I am really excited to announce my commitment to host the tournament, on behalf of the Rory Foundation, for the next three years.

“I was delighted with the support I received, not only from the players who competed this year, but also from the fans who came along as they made it another sell-out tournament. I am sure The K Club – on the tenth anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup – will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open.”

Rory McIlroy :: Tempting Tiger

Would you like to see Tiger Woods in action at the Irish Open next year? Or should McIlroy be concentrating more on getting the likes for Fowler and Garcia to return? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.

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