The Murphy’’s Irish Open millennium year Championship will take place at Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry from June 29th to July 2nd.
This announcement was made by Padraic Liston, Managing Director of Murphy Brewery Ireland. Mr. Liston said, “We at Murphy Brewery wished to pay a special tribute in millennium year to one of the oldest National Open Championships. It gives us particular pleasure that we will do so over the magnificent links of Ballybunion and of which nine times major winner Tom Watson has said,….. “It is a course you will always enjoy and never tire of playing. I know I never will. In short Ballybunion is a course on which many golf architects should live and play before they build a course. I consider it a true test of golf”.
Speaking from the US, in a live link up to the assembled Press Corps, Tom expressed delight that in his forthcoming year as Captain of Ballybunion, his club has been honoured with the Millennium Murphy’’s Irish Open.
Padraic Liston added, “The Irish Open will now return to a truly traditional links for the first time in ten years. We are proud that our ongoing development of the Murphy’’s Irish Open in tandem with the growth and International availability of Murphy’’s Irish Stout, jointly reflect Irish golf and Irish products at the highest possible level.
“Sergio Garcia had the distinction of recording his first professional win at the Murphy’’s Irish Open last July. We are therefore delighted that our defending champion and the most exciting prospect since Seve and today’’s Tiger Woods also carries our name at the highest level at next weeks Ryder Cup at Brookline in Boston”.
“In our six years as title sponsor of the Irish Open, Murphy Brewery has received unprecedented support from two other Irish golf showcases namely, Mount Juliet and Druids Glen. I would like to acknowledge their contribution to the development of our National Championship”.
For the Millennium year, Ballybunion goes back to tradition. To facilitate spectators and as a reminder of the long history of the course, the Millennium Murphy’’s Irish Open will be played over the ‘old’’ 18 holes, starting on the current 6th and finishing on what is now the 5th hole.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: “We congratulate Padraic Liston and Murphy Brewery Ireland on this agreement and the announcement that Ballybunion will host the Milennium Murphy’’s Irish Open. The focus of all international golf will be on Ireland, Kerry and the magnificent links which will be a unique test for all our Members.”
Fintan Scannell Captain of Ballybunion golf club expressed the excitement and anticipation of the club in looking forward to next year. He also said, “We are delighted, on millennium year and our 107th year as a club, to make available our course which is a National Heritage. We are very pleased that Ballybunion and a Munster based Irish Company will both play a significant role in the projection of Irish golfing tourism through a massive National and International media network”.
The Murphy’’s Irish Open has had outstanding champions in Bernhard Langer, Sam Torrance, Colin Montgomerie twice, and David Carter.
The World’’s leading golfers will be converging on Ballybunion’’s exceptional section of natural terrain to chase a coveted title. Ballybunion is regarded by many including highly acclaimed golf writer the late Peter Dobereiner to be the ultimate test. Peter is quoted as saying, “But if sheer pleasure is the yard stick then Ballybunion gets my vote as the best course in the world. For scenic beauty, peace, playing conditions, and the rich golfing quality and challenge”.
