01아일랜드 작은 마을이 세계 골프의 중심이 되다
아일랜드 서해안의 작은 마을 둔베그가 이번 주 세계 골프의 중심이 되었다. DP 월드 투어가 아이리시 오픈을 들고 온 것이다. 라힌치에서의 워커컵을 마친 지 약 30분 거리에 위치한 이곳에는 로리 맥일로이, 로버트 매킨타이어, 유럽 라이더컵 캡틴 루크 도널드 등 영국과 아일랜드의 명장들이 집결했다.
6번의 메이저 챔피언이자 2년 연속 마스터즈 우승자인 맥일로이가 138명의 선수들로 이루어진 최근 수년간 가장 화려한 필드의 두 번 우승 타이틀을 방어한다. 트럼프 인터내셔널 골프 링크스 & 호텔 둔베그 코스는 2002년 그레그 노먼이 설계하고 패드레이그 해링턴과 노먼이 개장한 후, 2014년 트럼프 오거니제이션이 인수했다. 2016년에는 저명한 링크스 건축가 마틴 호트리가 재설계를 단행했다.
0225년의 관광 프로젝트가 국제 무대에 오르다
클럽 프로 브라이언 쇼는 "팔머컵이 개장의 화려한 출발이었고, 우리는 그대로 진행했어요"라고 말했다. "지역 사회의 엄청난 지원을 받았고, 샤넌, 리머릭, 클레어에서 온 지역민들이 이제 국가대표 오픈을 주최하게 된 것입니다."
둔베그는 25년간 서부 클레어 지역의 경제 원동력이자 지역 일자리와 관광을 지탱해온 공간이다. 아이리시 오픈을 통해 이곳은 수만 명의 방문객과 국제 미디어 관심을 받게 될 것이다. 여기에 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령의 2일 아일랜드 방문 계획까지 예상되고 있다.
더블린 태생의 쇼는 "지역민들이 지난 25년간 이 관광 프로젝트를 적극 수용해줬어요"라며 "처음엔 조용한 시골마을로서는 큰 혼란이었지만, 그들은 정말 멋진 지역사회 역할을 해줬습니다. 여기서 일하러 오는 모든 사람들이 지역민이 되죠"라고 전했다.
03467번째 무대, 그리고 세계적 선수들의 각축
1927년 첫 개최된 아이리시 오픈은 1975년부터 DP 월드 투어 정규 일정이 되었고, 올해 71번째 에디션을 맞이한다. 매진 관중이 확인된 가운데 둔베그는 DP 월드 투어 역사 467번째 다른 코스가 될 것이고, 이 시즌 여섯 번째 첫 개최 코스가 된다.
쇼는 "아일랜드 팬 커뮤니티 사이에서 흥미로운 분위기가 느껴져요"라고 말했다. "역사적으로 아이리시 오픈은 항상 잘 알려진 팬들의 훌륭한 분위기로 유명했어요. 바다 전망, 해변, 그리고 관중들과 함께 저는 이것이 정말 엄청난 스포츠 스펙터클이 될 것 같습니다."
백나인을 구성하는 9개 역사 깊은 국제 대회 중 세 번째 이벤트인 이번 아이리시 오픈은 600만 달러의 상금이 걸려있고, 우승자는 102만 달러를 받는다. 백나인 소속 대회들은 상향된 상금과 포인트를 제공하며, 3페이즈인 DP 월드 투어 플레이오프로 진출할 완벽한 플랫폼이 된다.
04명장들의 집결, 그리고 예상 불가능한 대회
맥일로이와 함께 작년 베드페이지 라이더컵 팀의 6명 동료들이 참전한다. 여기에 포츠스튜어트(2017)와 래닉(2019) 우승자인 조 라흠과 지난 아이리시 오픈 우승자 쇼네 로어리가 더해진다.
5번 메이저 챔피언 브룩스 코엡카, 레이스 투 두바이 랭킹 선두의 패트릭 리드, 타이렐 해튼, 셉 스트라카, 그리고 2024년 로열 카운티 다운에서 맥일로이를 이기고 우승한 쌍둥이 형제 니콜라이와 라스무스 호그야르드까지 가세했다. "누군가는 이 대회에서 우승하기 위해 정말 뛰어난 골프를 해야 할 것 같아요"라고 쇼는 전망했다. "퍼팅 축제가 아닐 거예요. 스킬과 볼 매뉴버, 그리고 쇼트 게임 요소가 정말 중요합니다."
누군가는 이 대회에서 우승하기 위해 정말 뛰어난 골프를 해야 할 것 같아요. 스킬과 볼 매뉴버, 그리고 쇼트 게임 요소가 정말 중요합니다.
05링크스의 변덕, 그리고 코스의 진가
링크스 코스에서는 자연의 힘이 절대적이다. 초반 예보는 선수들이 "클래식 링크스" 조건을 경험하게 될 것이라고 한다. 월요일 조기 도착한 선수들은 습하고 거친 환경을 맞이했다. "사계절을 모두 경험할 거예요"라고 쇼는 말했다. "4일간의 햇빛을 원하겠지만, 골프 전문가로서 저는 그들이 우리 골프장에서 어떻게 대응하는지 보고 싶습니다. 이것은 정말 훌륭한 골프 테스트입니다."
로어리, 아일랜드 선수 마크 파워, 아마추어 토마스 히긴스, PGA 투어 우승자 토마스 데트리 등이 최근 몇 주간 사전 정찰 투어를 진행했다. 로어리는 서부 해안 골프를 잘 이해하는 선수다. "서부 해안은 동부보다 약간 더 드라마틱해요"라고 쇼는 설명했다. "기후 때문입니다. 모래언덕이 더 드라마틱하고, 더 크고, 더 야생적입니다."
06그린키퍼의 정성, 그리고 36명의 팀
스콧 마르 헤드 그린키퍼는 8월 24일 회원 및 방문객 출입을 중단한 이후 최종 준비에 열중했다. 지난주 마르는 자신과 36명 팀이 75시간을 투자했으며, 자원봉사자까지 포함하면 총 68명이 다양한 역할을 수행했다고 밝혔다.
6,838야드인 파70 코스는 아웃나인과 인나인의 단일 루프로 구성되며, 전반 9홀은 우위 바람을 받고 후반 9홀은 대항풍을 맞는다. 영국 건축가 호트리는 지난겨울 새로 개장을 위한 개선 작업을 감독했고, 특히 1번과 18번 홀을 새로 설계했다. 1번 홀의 티박스는 해안선을 따라 왼쪽으로 이동해 직선 파5를 왼쪽 도그렉으로 변모시켰다.
18번 홀은 완전히 새로 설계돼 코스 최장 파4인 462야드다. 상향 경사로 올라가 높고 울퉁불퉁한 그린으로 플레이된다. 추가로 티샷과 세컨드샷 양쪽에 벙커들이 집중돼 추가 집중력을 요구한다. "새 18번 홀은 정말 멋있어요"라고 마르는 말했다. "저는 이것이 골프 피니싱홀 중 최고 중 하나라고 생각합니다. 17번 그린에서 나가 1번 페어웨이를 건너 18번 티로 가던 것이 이제는 크로스오버가 없습니다. 우위 바람을 맞기 때문에 훨씬 어렵습니다."
07Original (English) — DP World Tour
Mathieu Wood
Doonbeg, a small village on the west coast of Ireland, is the centre of men's golf's global attention this week as it welcomes the DP World Tour for the Amgen Irish Open.
Hot on the heels of the Walker Cup at Lahinch, approximately 30 minutes further up the Wild Atlantic Way, a host of former Great Britain & Ireland players including Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre and European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald are on show at the island of Ireland's national open.
McIlroy is the headline name in a 138-player field that is one of the strongest in the tournament's recent history as the six-time Major champion and reigning two-time Masters winner defends his title at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg.
First designed by Greg Norman and opened by the former Australian World Number One and Pádraig Harrington in 2002, the County Clare venue was bought by The Trump Organisation in 2014 and underwent a redesign in 2016 by acclaimed links architect, Dr. Martin Hawtree.
Now, a decade on, championship golf arrives in Doonbeg, and there is naturally palpable excitement among those associated with the County Clare venue, where the most recent tournament of international standing was the Palmer Cup - an annual team competition for college golfers contested between United States and an International team representing the rest of the world - in its initial year of opening.
"The Palmer Cup was a bang of an opening and then we just rolled with it," said Brian Shaw, who has been the club professional since the course opened.
"We have had unbelievable support from the local community, from Shannon, Limerick and Clare, and now this culminates with us hosting our national open."
A major economic driver that supports local jobs and tourism in West Clare, Trump Doonbeg - through the Irish Open - will bring tens of thousands of visitors and international media attention to the local community. That is only further enhanced by the anticipated visit of US President Donald Trump as part of a two-day visit to Ireland.
Dublin-born Shaw added: "The local communty have embraced the tourism project for the last 25 years.
"It was a massive diruption from day one, it was something a sleepy village didn't expect and they've just been the most wonderful community to deal with and become part of.
"Everybody that comes to work here becomes a local."
First held in 1927, the Irish Open has formed part of the DP World Tour schedule since 1975 and is this year celebrating its 71st edition.
Testament to Ireland's enduring passion for golf, sell-out crowds are confirmed over the weekend as Trump Doonbeg becomes the 467th different venue on the DP World Tour since its inception in 1972 and the sixth first-time venue this season.
"I think there's a buzz among the Irish fan base," said Shaw.
"Historically, the Irish Open has always been really well attended and with a great atmosphere and knowledgeable fans.
"With the views of the ocean, beach and crowds, I just think it's going to be off the charts [as a sporting spectacle]."
The third event on the Back 9, made up of nine of the most historic and storied international events on the DP World Tour, a US$6m prize fund is being played for with the winner set to take home $1.02m.
Joining the World Number Two and career Grand Slam winner McIlroy are six of his team-mates from last year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage, with fellow former event winners Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry providing further star quality.
Rahm, a winner at Portstewart in 2017 and Lahinch two years later is - like Lowry - a player who relishes the challenge that a links course brings.
Add to the mix the presence of five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka and Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Patrick Reed, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Sepp Straka and twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, who pipped McIlroy to the Irish Open at Royal County Down in 2024, and fireworks are expected on the course.
"Someone is going to have to play extremely good golf to win this," said Shaw, who was the head professional at Adare Manor prior to joining Doonbeg.
"It won't be a putting fest. It'll absolutely be about skill, how you manoeuvre the ball around... and the short-game element."
As with any tournament held over a links course, the role mother nature plays is never to be underestimated and the early forecast is that players will experience "classic links" conditions.
On Monday, players making early arrivals were met by a wet and windy welcome.
"They'll get the four seasons, trust me!" said Shaw.
"As much as part of you would like to see sunshine for four days, as a golf professional I want to see them tested and how they as players will manouevre it around our golf course. It's a really great test of golf."
Lowry, fellow Irish golfers Mark Power and amateur Thomas Higgins, along with PGA Tour winner Thomas Detry are among players to have made scouting trips in recent weeks.
"Lowry understands west coast golf," added Shaw of a player who frequently returns to his native home to play recreational golf.
"There's a little bit more drama than the east coast, just basically because of the nature of the weather.
"The dunes are more dramatic, they're bigger, wilder."
Behind the stellar condition and presentation of the course that awaits players this week is Scott Marr, head greenkeeper and golf course superintendent.
Since the course closed to members and visitors on August 24th, final preparations have ramped up ahead of the 14th of 16 national opens on the DP World Tour schedule this season.
Last week, Marr estimates he and members of his 36-strong team worked 75 hours, with support from volunteers bringing the numbers involved across the various responsabilities to 68 people.
Measuring 6,838 yards, the par-70 features a single loop of nine holes out and nine back, with the front nine playing with the prevailing wind and the back nine playing predominantly into.
Ahead of staging the Irish Open, English-born course architecht Hawtree oversaw revisions last winter, notably the reimagined first and 18th holes.
The tee box on the opening hole has been moved left along the coastline, transforming what was once a straight par five into a dogleg left framed by ocean views.
The 18th, entirely redesigned, is the longest par four on the course at 462 yards. It now plays uphill to an elevated and undulating green. In addition, a series of bunkers both off the tee and for your second shot demand further focus.
"The new 18th hole is fantastic," said Marr, who joined Doonbeg from Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen in 2014 and has international championship experience as a greenkeeper from his time at Muirfield Village through the Memorial Tournament and the Presidents Cup.
"I think it's one of the best finishing holes in golf.
"You would used to leave the 17th green and cross the first fairway to get to the 18th tee so now there's no crossover.
"It plays into the prevailing wind which makes it a lot tougher. If we still had the old 18th in play it would be a driver for the guys and a small flick of a wedge, whereas now it's a really great test for a finishing hole."
The course features three par fives, ten par fours and five par threes, widely regarded as among the best in Ireland.
From the seventh measuring the longest at 225 yards to the downhill 14th measuring 137 yards into the wind, no tee shot is the same.
"The good thing about our par threes is they are all different," added Marr.
"You've got a variation of golf shots. With the 14th, it's straight into the wind. You may look at the scorecard and think it's nothing but if the wind picks up it's not going to be an easy hole.
"You could be hitting a wedge on a calm day and the next day hitting a six iron."
Shaw, meanwhile, said: "They have different angles into the prevailing breeze and they're all absolutely postcards. They're beautiful to look at.
"I know that these guys are just going to absolutely love every single one of them."
Hawtree, who is in Doonbeg this week, also fashioned both championship golf courses at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, where the Nexo Championship has been held for the last two years.
Last month, strong winds meant scoring proved tough again for the second year - something Marr attributes to the Aberdeenshire venue's length.
"Trump Aberdeen has more teeth in it," he said. "We're shorter, Trump Aberdeen is a monster.
"We're looking at maybe extending a few holes this winter. You'd see a completely different test of golf course with four different sets of tee changes."
But that's for the future, with Doonbeg's reputation as a bucket list venue for amateur golf enthusiasts from around the world as part of a wider tour in south Ireland only set to be enhanced.
Such is the interest, there has already been strong numbers of tee-sheet bookings for not just next year but also in 2028.
"They'll see the condition of the golf course, they'll see the crowds, the great golf shots that they are hitting and they'll want to emulate what they see on TV," Shaw said.
For this is an event that is set to be beamed around the world to a global audience. The stage is set and Doonbeg is ready for its Amgen Irish Open debut.
Features
Between them David Howell and Ken Brown have played in 34 British Masters across 46 years. This week they both have a watching brief at The Belfry as part of the DP World Tour's world feed broadcast. Before the action got under way, we asked them to tell us about
