The European Tour travels from Switzerland to Ireland for two stops in the British Isles, culminating with the BMW Championship at Wentworth in Surrey, England.
The first stop on the swing is the 70th edition of the Irish Open, contested this year at the historic K Club in County Kildare, Ireland.
The long-running national open tournament will be headlined by a trio of Irish major winners Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, and Shane Lowry.
The home favorites will be joined by the likes of Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton, and Francesco Molinari, among others.
Here are more details about this week’s Irish Open.
2025 Amgen Irish Open
The Skinny
Tournament: Amgen Irish Open
Title Sponsor: Amgen (U.S. biopharmaceutical)
Tour Debut: 1975
Dates: Sept. 4-7, 2025
Where: Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland
Club: Kildare Hotel and Golf Club (K Club)
Course: Palmer North Course
Distance: Par 72, 7441 yards
Architect: Arnold Palmer (1991)
Format: Stroke Play
Purse: $6M
Winning Share: $1M
Defending Champion: Rasmus Hojgaard
How to Follow the Irish Open
GOLF CHANNEL: Thu: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Fri-Sun: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
LINKS: Web Feed | Facebook | Instagram | Instagram | Youtube
Irish Open History
The Irish Open debuted in 1927 at Portmarnock Golf Club with Scotland’s George Duncan edging the legendary English golfer Henry Cotton by a stroke to take home the inaugural trophy and a $100 cash prize.
Ireland’s national golf open was played for the next 13 years up until 1939, where it paused for six years during the big world war. It returned in 1946, once again contested at Portmarnock, with Northern Ireland’s Fred Daly taking home the ’46 title. After the war, the tournament had lost its luster, and was played just five more times until 1953.
Following a 20-year hiatus, the tournament was relaunched in 1975 as Carroll’s Irish Open and became a staple on the then fledgling European PGA Tour.
Carroll’s, Ireland’s oldest tobacco company, was the original title sponsor, and owned the marquee through 1993 until cigarettes became heavily regulated, especially related to advertising.
Murphy’s Irish Stout sponsored the next nine editions (Murphy’s Irish Open, 1994-2002), but since 2003 the title has changed several times with Amgen the current title holder.
Despite its recent shaky sponsorship history (three title sponsors in a four-year span), the Irish Open has always been one of the more prestigious events on the European Tour’s schedule, while regularly drawing some of the biggest crowds.
In 2017 it began a run of three years (2017-19) as part of the Rolex Series.
Legendary golfers to win Ireland’s national open include Bobby Locke, Christy O’Connor Jr., Ben Crenshaw, Hubert Green, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm.
Ireland’s own Shane Lowry won as an amateur in 2009.
Ballesteros, Langer and Faldo own the most Irish Open titles with three, while Woosnam, Torrance and Rahm are among those with two apiece.
History: Tournament Names
- Amgen Irish Open (2024-25)
- Horizon Irish Open (2022-23)
- Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (2019-21)
- Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation (2015-18)
- The Irish Open (2012-14)
- Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland (2011)
- The 3 Irish Open (2009-10)
- Irish Open (2007-08)
- Nissan Irish Open (2003-06)
- Murphy’s Irish Open (1994-02)
- Carroll’s Irish Open (1975-93)
- No Tournament (1954-74)
- Irish Open (1927-53)
History: Recent Winners
2024: Rasmus Hojgaard (-9)
2023: Vincent Norman (-14)
2022: Adrian Meronk (-20)
2021: Lucas Herbert (-19)
2020: John Catlin (-10)
2019: Jon Rahm (-16)
2018: Russell Knox (-20)
2017: Jon Rahm (-24)
2016: Rory McIlroy (-12)
2015: Soren Kjeldsen (-2)
2014: Mikko Ilonen (-13)
2013: Paul Casey (-14)
History: Rahm’s Record Setter
History: Records
WINS
3 – Seve Ballesteros (1983, 1985, 1986)
3 – Nick Faldo (1991, 1992, 1993)
3 – Bernhard Langer (1984, 1987, 1994)
SCORING
264 (-24) – Jon Rahm (2017)
Irish Open Field
The field in County Kilkenny, is headlined by five-time major winner Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman enters in mediocre form (for him!) with five straight top-25s but only one top-5 finish.
The 36-year-old winner of the career grand slam is the clear odds-on favorite at 4-1.
At 14-1, England’s Tyrrell Hatton was the second ranked favorite by the Irish bookmakers. A member of the 2025 European Ryder Cup, Hatton enters in good form, off a team win at the LIV Golf finale.
Marco Penge, Hatton’s English compatriot, was next at 16-1, while 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry was 18-1. The Irishman, who is also part of the 2025 European Ryder Cup team, appears to be in so-so form, off two top-25s (T13, T23) in his last two PGA Tour starts.
Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen was offered at 22-1, just ahead of American Patrick Reed (26-1).
Swede Jesper Svensson and Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland were next at 30-1.
England’s Jordan Smith, who enters off a pair of top-20s (6th, T17) in his last three starts, was next at 35-1.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka rounds out the top-10 favorites, headlining a trio at 40-1, which also includes Chinese Haotong Li and Kristoffer Reitan of Norway.
Finally, don’t look past England’s Andy Sullivan, who enters off four straight top-20s including a solo fifth at the British Masters. He was a longer shot at 80-1.
Top-10 Betting Favorites
1. Rory McIlroy (4-1)
2. Tyrrell Hatton (14-1)
3. Marco Penge (16-1)
4. Shane Lowry (18-1)
5. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (22-1)
6. Patrick Reed (26-1)
7. Jesper Svensson (30-1)
7. Tom McKibbin (30-1)
9. Jordan Smith (35-1)
10. Brooks Koepka (40-1)
10. Haotong Li (40-1)
10. Kristoffer Reitan (40-1)
Up Next
The European Tour heads to Surrey, England for the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club, the flagship event on the European Tour.
Credits: Carey Hoffman, European Tour Media, Getty Images
