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Colin Montgomerie to compete in 2008 Irish Open at the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort

Posted by Big G under Irish Golf, Latest Golf News

EIGHT-time European Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie is set to compete in this May’s Irish Open Golf Championship at the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

The Scotsman did not compete at Adare last year, but is in line for a return to the event later this year.

The field for the Irish Open this year is expected to be significantly stronger than 12 months ago when world number 10 Padraig Harrington secured a thrilling play-off victory over Welshman Bradley Dredge.

Up to 60,000 golf fans turned out watch Harrington become the first Irishman to win the Irish Open in 25 years in Adare.

Colin Montgomerie ended a 19-month winless streak with victory at the Smurfit Kappa European Open at the K Club last summer.

The 44-year-old went on to cap an excellent season by partnering Marc Warren to victory in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

The Ryder Cup has always figured highly in his career and at the K Club in 2006, Monty became only the second European golfer to play in five successful Ryder Cup teams.

Montgomerie’s previous three victories in the Irish Open were in 1996, ‘97 and 2001.
With precious Ryder Cup points on offer in Adare in May, players with ambitions of making the European team for the September match with the US at the Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky would be encouraged to participate.

The lure of Ryder Cup points could well see the likes of Niclas Fasth, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and David Howell compete in Limerick.

Last year’s Irish Open was broadcast to a global audience, with almost 450 hours of live coverage reaching more than 30 countries, and in excess of 100 million homes.
It is hoped that prize money at this year’s event will top €3 million, while there are plans to increase it to €4 million for the following year.

Total prize money at the 2007 Irish Open came to €2.5 million. Five tournament partners contributed €300,000 each towards the prizemoney this year, while five official sponsors each provided €150,000.