Hurley lands Irish Open invitation

Gary Hurley

West Waterford’s Gary Hurley has been handed a last-gasp invitation for the $7 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The 24-year old Challenge Tour regular joins former Irish amateur team mates Gavin Moynihan and Dermot McElroy on the list of invited professionals alongside five time European Tour winner Michael Hoey and former BMW PGA champion Simon Khan.

Hurley’s presence means there will be 17 Irish professionals in the field with the invited quartet joining Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Paul Dunne, Paul McGinley, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and the six PGA Irish Region qualifiers in Damien McGrane, David Higgins, Colm Moriarty, Neil O’Briain, Simon Thornton and Richard Kilpatrick.

The presence of Hurley, McElroy, Moynihan and O'Briain means there are four Team Ireland players in the field.