Irish Open: Galgorm Castle Golf Club to host European Tour event in September

The NI Open will also take place at the Ballymena site

Galgorm Castle Golf Club will host the Irish Open 2020 from September 24-27, announced the European Tour

As expected, the event will take place for the first time in the County Antrim location.

This year's Irish Open was scheduled for Mount Juliet in Kilkenny in May, but fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Playing the tournament on the Galgorm Castle course will allow participants to travel from the US Open without being quarantined.

"With quarantine restrictions for travelers to the Republic of Ireland ongoing and the ban on mass gatherings still in place, the European Tour made the decision to move the tournament to Northern Ireland , ”said a statement from the European Tour.

It added that the tournament will now be "subject to similar guidelines to current" UK Swing "events, including playing behind closed doors.

Graeme McDowell is the Irish Open tournament guest for 2020 and 2021

Organizers said planning is still underway to return the tournament to Mount Juliet in 2021, provided that all health guidelines in force at the time can be met.

Galgorm Castle will also host the NI Open, three weeks before the Irish Open.

The scheduled date for the Irish Open was the date when the Ryder Cup 2020 would initially be played, but it has been postponed to next year.

Rory McIlroy has previously suggested that he is unlikely to travel home for this year's Irish Open although tournament organizers will be optimistic that other Irish big winners Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry will return for their national open.

In December, McDowell was announced as the tournament guest of the Irish Open for 2020 and 2021.

McIlroy held that role for a number of years while Paul McGinley held the position in Lahinch in 2019, when Jon Rahm was the winner.