DP World Tour event WIPED from 2024 schedule in Rory McIlroy's homeland
Big blow for Northern Irish golf fans as DP World Tour event gets erased from schedule.
The DP World Tour has confirmed the ISPS Handa World Invitational will be removed from its schedule next year, and it will also be erased from the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour as well.
Northern Ireland's unique tri-sanctioned event took place for the final time at Galgorm Castle and Castletrock last week with England's Dan Brown running away with the men's title and America's Alexa Pano coming through a playoff on her 19th birthday.
The ISPS Handa World Invitational was created in 2019 and it has seen a number of rising stars take the title including Ewen Ferguson, Daniel Gavins and Maja Stark.
Although Rory McIlroy never played in this Northern Irish golf tournament on the DP World Tour, he will more than likely be rocking up at Royal County Down for the 2024 Irish Open, and he will of course be at Royal Portrush for the 2025 Open Championship.
Despite being removed from the DP World Tour schedule, Galgorm Castle's MD Gary Henry has told Belfast Telegraph there is still hope of hosting more elite tournaments in the future.
"We’re working on a couple of things and they’re exciting projects for the future which we’re really looking forward to," said Henry.
The DP World Tour confirmed a radical overhaul to its 2024 schedule earlier this month.
It was announced on 14 August that the new season will conclude with a play-off double header.
In total, there will be a minimum 44 tournaments in 24 countries next year with a record prize fund of $148.5m.
Announcing the new look 2024 DP World Tour schedule pic.twitter.com/qAvAwAbvSo
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 14, 2023
New events have been created in Dubai and Bahrain and the Old World circuit will return to China for the first time since 2021.
But sadly as a result that has meant past tournaments such as the ISPS Handa World Invitational have had to make way.
The 2024 Race to Dubai will feature three new phases:
- Global Swings from November to August
- Back 9 from September to October
- DP World Tour Play-Offs in November
Premium Rolex Series events have been retained, those being:
- Hero Dubai Desert Classic
- Genesis Scottish Open
- BMW PGA Championship
- Abu Dhabi Championship
- DP World Tour Championship
DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said:
"The many new and original enhancements we have introduced will guarantee drama and excitement for our fans, our broadcasters and all our stakeholders across the entire season and means, more than ever, that every week counts on the DP World Tour."
