Rory McIlroy returns to action this week at the 2025 Amgen Irish Open at The K Club.
It will be the 70th staging of the event, which Masters champion McIlroy won back in 2016.
3
McIlroy will be looking to put last year’s Irish Open disappointment behind him this weekendCredit: Getty
3
Reigning champion Rasmus Hojgaard has opted against defending his titleCredit: Getty
McIlroy is one of several high-profile stars in the field in Kildare and joins fellow home favourites Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington in carrying the Irish hopes at the latest event on the DP World Tour.
They help make up a line-up which includes 18 major championship wins.
Rasmus Hojgaard, who beat McIlroy to glory in last year’s event at Royal County Down, has opted to skip the event ahead of this month’s Ryder Cup.
There’s a three-way tie for the lead following the first round with Nacho Elvira, Thorbjorn Olesen and Romain Langasque topping the standings at six-under.
Irish Open: Date and how to follow
The 2025 Amgen Irish Open is taking place from Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7 at The K Club.
It will be the third time the course in County Kildare has hosted the event after doing so in 2016 and 2023.
The first of those saw McIlroy claim a three-shot victory for his only Irish Open title.
The K Club was also the venue for Team Europe’s victory at the 2006 Ryder Cup.
3
McIlroy won his only previous Irish Open title at The K Club back in 2016Credit: PA
The action will get up and running at 7:30am UK time each day.
Sky Sports Golf will broadcast the live action throughout the tournament with their coverage starting at 12:30pm each day.
Fans can also keep across the action with live updates on talkSPORT during all four days.
To tune in through the website, click HERE for the live stream or keep up to date with talkSPORT.com.
Alternatively, you can listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 and 1053 AM.
Irish Open: Field and leaderboard
The latest leaderboard from The K Club can be found here.
As mentioned, McIlroy and Lowry are the star names at The K Club but the field is packed with quality.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka is also in action.
Other LIV Golf stars Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed, Tom McKibbin and Adrian Meronk are teeing it up alongside European Masters winner Thriston Lawrence and PGA Tour ace Jhonattan Vegas.
Luke Donald, Marco Penge and Danny Willett are also in the field.
This year’s event has a total purse of £4.5million on offer to the field.
In 2024, Hojgaard scooped £800,000 by taking home the title after finishing one stroke clear of McIlroy.
2025 Irish Open prize money
Winner: £800,000
2nd: £517,000
3rd: £297,000
4th: £235,000
5th: £182,000
Irish Open: What has been said?
McIlroy shot a one-under 71 in the first round of the Irish Open and will hope for better moving forward in his home tournament.
He said: “It’s great every time I come back and play in this tournament.
“The crowds are unbelievable and it’s obviously a pleasure to play in front of them. They create a great atmosphere.
“It felt like I played better than what the score reflects. Felt like I hit the ball well, drove the ball well.
“Just had that disappointing finish, bogeying two of the last three holes.
“But actually pretty encouraged [by] how I played. Just didn’t score as well as I wanted to.
“Just a matter of being more efficient with the scoring.”
England’s Daniel Brown was one shot behind a three-way tie for the lead following the close on Thursday.
The 30-year-old, winner of this season’s BMW International Open, said: “First nine, played really well.
“Had a little sort of wobble for three or four holes but then managed to play nice coming in the last two or three holes.
“The greens are soft so if you do hit fairways you can be a little bit more aggressive and try and go at some flags.”
Last 10 Irish Open winners
2024 – Rasmus Hojgaard
2023 – Vincent Norman
2022 – Adrian Meronk
2021 – Lucas Herbert
2020 – John Catlin
2019 – Jon Rahm
2018 – Russell Knox
2017 – Jon Rahm
2016 – Rory McIlroy
2015 – Soren Kjeldsen
