Irish Open poised to regain July date

BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 27: John Catlin of the United States receives the trophy from Sinead El Sibai, Dubai Duty Free Senior Vice President of Marketing following his victory during Day Four of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort on September 27, 2020 in Ballymena, United Kingdom. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

The Irish Open looks set to regain its plum slot two weeks before The Open as the European Tour works to ensure it remains a key event.

Speculation the 2021 championship will clash with the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational, the week after the Olympic Games from August 5-8, appears to be wide of the mark,  according to sources with knowledge of the schedule.

The Irish Open is now "very likely" to be played from July 1-4, two weeks before Shane Lowry defends The Open at Royal St George's, with the Tour still in talks with Dubai Duty Free and Rolex regarding the title sponsorship and Rolex Series status.

The championship was scheduled to be played at Mount Juliet in late May this year but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and eventually staged at Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland in September.

Graeme McDowell is set to host next year, provisionally at Mount Juliet, but the Portrush man brought 2020 to a premature end at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai when he withdrew with a back injury after a 76 left him on five-over.

At the top of the leaderboard, Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed (30) strengthened his claim to become the first American to be crowned European number one when he carded an impressive, eight-under-par 64 to lead by two strokes on 10-under par from England's Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Reed was in sensational form with his putter and short irons, rolling in six birdies in his first ten holes before following a bogey at the 12th with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th

"Any time you shoot eight under par, you're always happy," said Reed, who is making a significant swing change. "I was able to hit the ball a little closer, give myself more opportunities and see the lines a little better today."

Fitzpatrick, who won the event in 2016, carded back to back rounds of 68 for second place on eight-under, one ahead of compatriots Laurie Canter and Tyrrell Hatton.

At the US Women's Open, amateur Olivia Mehaffey (23) made a birdie and two bogeys in a one-over-par 72 on the Cypress Creek Course at Champions Golf Club in Houston to finish four shots outside the projected cut mark on seven-over.

Japan's Hinako Shibuno shot a four-under 67 on the Jackrabbit Course to lead by three shots from Swedish amateur Linn Grant on seven-under-par.