Like Mark Twain, when confronting talk that he was severely ill or even dead, rumours of the demise of the European Tour appear to be grossly exaggerated.

The Irish Open received a massive shot on the arm yesterday as the Strategic Alliance between the PGA Tour and the European Tour saw its prize almost doubled to a whopping $6 million (€5.05 m) next year.

THE good news keeps on coming for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open with the R&A offering three qualifying places into The Open at Royal St George’s.

The R&A will offer three additional qualifying places into The 149th Open at Royal St George's at next month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open - a boost for the event at Mount Juliet from July 1-4.

Mount Juliet Estate golf club is synonymous with championship golf, having hosted a string of internationally renowned competitions and world-class golfers from Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to Fred Couples and Padraig Harrington.

Paul McGinley admits he’s worried about the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open as uncertainty over travel restrictions threatens to scupper plans to attract Rory McIlroy and a bumper field to Mount Juliet from July 1-4.

The European Tour insists it remains on track with its plans to stage the Dubai Duty Free at Mount Juliet in July despite Shane Lowry’s fears that the event could be scuppered by mandatory hotel quarantine.

Mount Juliet Estate Golf Club will mark its 30th anniversary by hosting a limited field Nicklaus Anniversary Singles Competition for 100 amateurs on Jul 14 - ten days after it stages the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, is delighted to confirm that it will host the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The event, which takes place from July 1st until July 4th, 2021, returns to Mount Juliet Estate in a historic year for the championship golf course, as it will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.

European Tour boss Keith Pelley can take a bow after putting together an expansive 2021 schedule that includes a €3 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet from July 1-4.

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.

Paul McGinley insists the Irish Open will remain one of Europe’s premier events despite doubts about its future as the European Tour battles to retain title sponsor Dubai Duty Free.

Graeme McDowell has one eye on next week’s Masters and another on resurrecting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Ireland might be preparing to welcome thousands of international golf fans for the 2027 Ryder Cup but the industry experts fear there will be no-one left to organise their trips unless they receive urgent help from government.

American John Catlin produced a finish worthy of the immortal names carved on the Waterford Crystal trophy when he birdied three of his last four holes to claim a two-shot win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle.

Dubai Duty Free may be undecided on its sponsorship of the Irish Open but the future looks bright for Irish golf after top performances by amateurs Mark Power and James Sugrue at Galgorm Castle.

James Sugrue leads the home challenge but he lamented his lack of luck with the blade as a two-over 72 left him 10 shots off the pace with a round to play in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle.

Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington missed the cut to cast a cloud over the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open but there was a silver lining in the form of a host of unheralded home heroes at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.

Pádraig Harrington looked certain to miss the halfway cut after a rusty 75 but he was still smiling after accepting honorary membership of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Shane Lowry refused to make excuses for “a comedy of errors” as an opening 75 left him ten shots off the pace in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

James Sugrue justified his late invitation when he drove the ball brilliantly and opened with a three-under 67 to lead the Irish challenge in Ballymena.

Tournament golf at Galgorm Castle has been an evolving story and hosting this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is a fitting way to mark 10 years of professional events at one of Ireland’s most recognised championship parklands.

Just hours after saying he’d jump at the chance to tee it up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Mallow Amateur James Sugrue has been handed a late invitation to tee it up at Galgorm Castle next week.

Pádraig Harrington will make his first competitive appearance in nearly seven months when the three-time Major winner targets a second victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle Golf Club from September 24-27.