Irish Open goes to Fota

The Murphy's Irish Open will take place at Fota Island Golf Course, Cork, in 2001 and 2002. The announcement was made at Fota Island by Padraic Liston, Managing Director, Murphy Brewery, Ireland; Dr. Tim Mahony, Chairman of Killeen Investments, and Donal Ward, Managing Director, Fota Island.

This year’s event will be staged at Ballybunion following four years at Druids Glen. Therefore, the tournament moves to the beautiful city of Cork, home of Murphy’s Brewery.

Padraic Liston said “I am extremely pleased to confirm that our National Championship, the Murphy's Irish Open will take place for the first time in Cork, the home of Murphy's Irish Stout, in 2001 and 2002.

He added: “It has been our stated intent since becoming title sponsor in November 1993, to rotate our National Open throughout the Country. We are now delighted that resulting from Killeen Investments considerable financial input at Fota Island we now have the opportunity of bringing the Murphy's Irish Open to a course here in Cork which meets all of the World standard criteria laid down by the European Tour”

Dr. Tim Mahony said “ It has been one of my personal ambitions that the Irish Open should take place in Cork. I now look forward to the fulfilment of this wish in 2001 and 2002 and know that the Irish Golfing Public will find Fota Island is a venue which will enhance and compliment the unprecedented facilities and atmosphere which Murphy Brewery have brought to Ireland’s Premier Golfing Event over the past six years.”

Donal Ward Managing Director, Fota Island, commented: “ Over the past two years we have invested significantly in the redesign and upgrading of Fota Island Golf Course. We now find it tremendously exciting that these efforts have been rewarded through being asked to host the Murphy's Irish Open in 2001.

“Particularly gratifying has been the enthusiastic response from the European Tour to the Course design changes and we look forward to seeing the World’s best test their skills against Fota”

Jeff Howes, who originally worked with Jack Nicklaus at Mount Juliet, is responsible for the magnificent new design at Fota which sees new routing for eight of the holes and the rebuilding of all eighteen sets of greens and tees. The Course now measures 6,927 yards from the back tees and has a par of 71 with a sss of 73. It will present a formidable challenge to the World’s greatest golfers who will converge on Fota Island Cork in June 2001.

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