PGA Tour, professional golf can enhance with 1 massive change: transfer Irish Open

For American golf followers, the season of ‘Breakfast Golf’ is upon us, because the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour stage the Genesis Scottish Open on the Renaissance Membership this week.

With the five-hour time distinction between the East Coast and the British Isles, thousands and thousands of Individuals get up further early to catch the world’s greatest play in Scotland every summer time. (Sure, I’m one of many loopy ones who units an alarm at 4 a.m. ET to rise and shine to look at the world’s greatest.)

However what’s nice about this yr’s Scottish Open is that it serves as the proper appetizer for golf’s oldest main, The Open Championship, which the famed Previous Course at Royal Troon will host subsequent week. It provides the gamers—and golf followers—a style of hyperlinks golf, the model of play most frequently seen within the British Isles, one which relies upon closely on the climate and is performed alongside the ocean.

Hyperlinks golf additionally requires creativity, forcing the participant to hit numerous photographs: up within the air, on the bottom, bump-and-runs, piercing stingers into the wind, and typically, the deep and intimidating pot bunkers power gamers to take diabolical stances. Regardless of the shot, hyperlinks golf at all times entertains and is usually a favourite model of play of many. Simply ask Tom Watson, who gained 5 Claret Jugs.

Therefore, we’d like extra hyperlinks golf within the skilled sport. So, piggybacking on what Evin Priest, an Australian reporter for Golf Digest, posted early Thursday, I’ve a suggestion on methods to enhance the PGA Tour sooner or later:

Make the Irish Open Greater

Picture by David Cannon/Getty Photos

We have to transfer the Irish Open again to July and make it a co-sanctioned occasion on the PGA Tour, just like what has been finished with the Genesis Scottish Open.

This yr’s Irish Open will happen at Royal County Down in Northern Eire, which Golf Digest has repeatedly ranked because the top-ranked course on the planet. However Irish golf followers should wait till September to see prime gamers vie for his or her nationwide open. Sadly for them, many prime golfers have ended their seasons by then.

Regardless of that, Rory McIlroy can be there. He at all times performs within the Irish Open, having gained it in 2016. So, too, will Shane Lowry, the person from County Offaly who gained the Irish Open as an beginner in 2009 at County Louth, one other spectacular venue on the east coast of Eire.

However the Irish Open, just like the Scottish Open this week, has a magical mystique—as does all the Emerald Isle. Maybe it’s the outstanding programs that exist in Eire. Or perhaps it’s the unequalled appeal that seemingly each Irishman or Irishwoman has. Both means, the Irish Open ought to turn into a big match on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Make it a Rolex Sequence Occasion, the DP World Tour equal of the PGA Tour’s Signature Occasions. Make the British Isles the place to be in July.

Those that love watching and supporting the John Deere Traditional might not like this sentiment, however the John Deere ought to turn into a co-sanctioned occasion on the PGA Tour, performed concurrently with the Irish Open. No disrespect to TPC Deere Run, which has produced thrilling finishes and memorable tournaments for almost 25 years, however the Quad Cities course doesn’t have the pedigree of Royal County Down or many others which have hosted the Irish Open, equivalent to Portmarnock, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Royal Portrush, and numerous others.

Sadly, the John Deere Traditional has not boasted sturdy fields in fairly a while whereas additionally seeing inflated scores north of 20-under-par.

However that’s the great thing about this concept. Some gamers can play within the Quad Cities, whereas different prime gamers make the journey to Eire—like many have finished this week to Scotland.

Make the Irish Open larger, bringing the world’s greatest to a number of the greatest programs on the planet. Eire boasts 14 programs in Golf Digest’s ‘World’s 100 Biggest Golf Programs,’ so why doesn’t skilled golf additional reap the benefits of what this tiny island has to supply?

The Irish Open already has a rotation, enjoying many of those prime programs and others, just like the Ok Membership and Adare Manor, two Ryder Cup venues. It is usually one of many extra visited occasions on the DP World Tour yearly. The Irish love golf.

Picture by Brendan Moran/R&A/R&A by way of Getty Photos

Ought to they take up my suggestion, this championship would undoubtedly produce much more attendance numbers, scores, and, subsequently, income for the PGA and DP World Excursions.

So, right here is my suggestion for the longer term, utilizing the 2025 calendar as a information. I hope this concept would convey extra of the highest gamers to Eire and in addition entertain golf followers world wide much more:

July 3-6: Irish Open / John Deere Traditional

July 10-13: Scottish Open / Isco Championship in Kentucky

July 17-20: The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush

That’s three straight weeks of hyperlinks golf, which is not going to solely prolong ‘Breakfast Golf’ for American followers but additionally get many prime gamers much more accustomed to hyperlinks golf. And, as Justin Thomas mentioned after his spherical on Thursday, he adores hyperlinks golf. He loves enjoying different programs exterior of match venues every time he’s within the British Isles. He even mentioned he’s trying to play completely different programs—not Royal Troon—earlier than The Open subsequent week—the week of a significant!? That’s how distinctive golf is on this a part of the world.

So, understanding all of this and contemplating the truth that Nationwide Opens are such particular occasions, why not make the Irish Open even larger?

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.