The first time Rory McIlroy played the Irish Open at The K-Club, he dominated the field by 3 strokes to capture the crystal trophy. At least that’s what it looks like on paper. However, only those who watched the event knew that he was still evenly matched with Bradley Dredge and Russell Knox up until the 15th hole. A birdie on the 16th and an eagle on the 18th helped him separate himself from the competition. That’s probably when he also fell in love with the tournament.

What’s not to love about it? It’s been one of the oldest golf tournaments. The Irish Open first came into existence in 1927, about half a decade before the Masters Tournament was first played. It has seen some of the biggest names triumph on Irish soil over the years. Seve Ballesteros, Jon Rahm , Sir Nick Faldo, Coli

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