The upcoming Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, scheduled for September 12-15, will see attendance capped at approximately 16,000 spectators daily. This decision by the DP World Tour aims to enhance comfort and improve the viewing experience, particularly for younger attendees.
Kevin Lowry, chair of the club’s Irish Open committee, discussed the crowd limits during a session with the Irish Golf Writers’ Association. He noted, “This year’s attendance cap is set between 15-16,000 per day, which is about 5-6,000 less than in 2015. The primary goal is to ensure that even the younger fans can have a good view of the action.”
He added, “The course offers numerous excellent viewing spots, but there will be fewer stands than before. We’ve meticulously walked the course to determine its capacity for accommodating spectators comfortably.”
The tournament will feature top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Padraig Harrington as major draws. Efforts are also underway to attract members from the 2007 Walker Cup teams.
The 2007 tournament, which saw a closely contested match between the US and Great Britain and Ireland ending in a 11.5-12.5 victory for the US, also experienced similar crowd restrictions.
While LIV Golf’s Dustin Johnson will not participate, players such as Billy Horschel, Rickie Fowler, Webb Simpson, and Jamie Lovemark from the US, along with GB&I stars like Jonny Caldwell, Danny Willett, John Parry, and David Horsey, are potential participants, adding international flair alongside local favourite McIlroy.
In preparation for the event, Royal County Down has invested £4 million (€4.67m) in enhancements, including upgrading its irrigation system and constructing a new course maintenance facility.
