With 2022 now out of the way it is time to look forward to another great year of golf on the island of Ireland in 2023. Even though the Open will not be held on a Irish golf course this year, there are still both professional and amateur events that fans of the game of golf simply cannot miss. Here are three events in particular to watch out for in Ireland for 2023.
Horizon Irish Open
Heralded as one of the most famous national opens in all of the world, the Irish Open has been in existence since 1927 and has featured a who’s-who of winners including Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, and Padraig Harrington. One name who missed the event last year but will be returning in 2023 is none other than Rory McIlroy. The event holds a special place in McIlroy’s heart not only as he grew up watching the event on television and attending it numerous times growing up, but also the fact that the event is being held at The K Club. The K Club is where McIlroy earned his first professional victory on Irish soil back in 2016, and he will be looking to regain his form and take the crown once again this year against another stellar can’t miss field. What makes this event unique is that it leads up to the Ryder Cup being held in Italy at the end of September, making it a prime time for those potential players on both sides of the pond to get their swings in early. At the moment Betfree has McIlroy as a favourite.
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Returning once again to Dromoland Castle, the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open will run from August 31 to September 3 and feature some of the top women’s players in the world today vying for a nearly €500,000 prize fund. If the event does not sound very familiar that is because the tournament previously had a ten-year absence before KPMG got involved as a main sponsor. Now the KPMG Women’s Irish Open hopes to attract the nearly 25,000 guests to the event once again and show it is really and event worth seeing in person! The event will be held at Dromoland Castle on the shores of Lough Dromoland, a nearly 7,000-yard par 72 championship golf course that undertook a €2 million upgrade in advance of the prior year’s event.
Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament
Known as the largest amateur golf tournament in all of Europe, the Causeway Coast Amateur Golf Tournament will be played in 2023 from June 5 to June 9. What makes the event unique is that it is played over five days at four of the most well-known courses in Northern Ireland – Royal Portrush, Ballycastle, Castlerock, and Ballyliffin Golf Clubs, with one rest day in between. The event has attracted some of the best amateur golfers in the world from as far away as Australia and the United States, not to mention the best of what Europe has to offer.
