The Irish Open is quickly approaching, and golf fans in Ireland, Europe, and the world over are getting hyped for what promises to be a great competition. County Clare will soon play host to a veritable who’s who of international golf talent, vying for prestige and a share of the $6 million USD purse.
As of the writing of this article, we are less than a month away from the 2026 Amgen Irish Open, one of the biggest golf tournaments in Europe. From 10-13 September, a host of golfers will descend on Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast. These golfers will be vying for both prestige and a share of the $6 million USD purse being offered for the tournament. The competition should be fierce, dramatic, and interesting.
This year’s Irish Open has a nice meaty prize purse, a field of talent that is rarely seen outside of the major golf tournaments, and a nice scattering of Ryder Cup stars competing as well.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the details for this upcoming golf tournament, from the location to some of the stars and prize pool.
A Stunning Location With Beautiful Scenery
The Irish Open is known to wander, year on year, to different courses across Ireland, having visited a large number of famous golf courses throughout its time. This year, the tournament will take place in County Clare, part of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.
The course will give golf fans everything they expect from a tournament and course of this kind:
- Coastal winds.
- Bunkers that prove challenging.
- Ocean views to take your breath away.
- Fairways that can be played at speed.
- Rolling dunes.
Ireland’s west coast is replete with a number of excellent links golf courses, with about 20 different courses spread along that coast alone. One other notable course that hosted the Irish Open and is also located in County Clare is Lahinch, which was won in unforgettable fashion in 2019 by Jon Rahm, who will be returning for this Irish Open.
Many fans and bettors will be keeping their eyes on the weather, particularly those Atlantic winds. Shots that would be perfectly serviceable and by-the-numbers in calm weather can become problematic and impossible when the Atlantic winds flip the script on the players. This sort of unpredictability is why the Irish Open excites so many golf fans.
Rory McIlroy Intends to Defend His Title
One of the big stories for the 2026 Amgen Irish Open looks set to be Rory McIlroy and the defence of his 2025 title. Rory is currently one of the most famous and successful golfers in the world, is well loved in Ireland, and has often talked about how much joy performing in front of local Irish fans brings him.
Rory is known for keeping fans on the edge and making his wins dramatic, as he did at The K Club in 2025 in County Kildare. While it’s unlikely he’ll attempt to force another playoff, Irish golf fans will be watching his performance with bated breath.
The creativity, power, course management and experience with links conditions that Rory brings all position him to be more than a contender. He is currently trending as one of the best-odds holding favourites for the tournament.
Jon Rahm Has More Than An Outside Shot
Two-time champion Jon Rahm is another massive draw for the crowds heading to Clare this September. The Spaniard has an exceptional track record on Irish soil, having dominated the field at Portstewart in 2017 before producing a final-round masterclass to take the title at nearby Lahinch in 2019. Rahm’s aggressive, direct approach perfectly suits the gruelling nature of links setups, where grinding out a score in high winds is an absolute necessity.
With crucial Ryder Cup qualification points on his mind, he arrives at Doonbeg with plenty of motivation to secure a third national title. Because his game holds up so well when the coastal weather turns volatile, he is consistently heavily backed by fans checking the form guides and betting online in Ireland ahead of the opening tee shot. For anyone keeping an eye on the outright markets, it is easy to see why he remains one of the standout contenders to challenge McIlroy on Sunday afternoon.
A Host of Talented Players
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the other impressive names that are already confirmed to be taking part in the Amgen 2026 Irish Open. We’ve mentioned Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, but they are just two stars amongst the veritable constellation that will descend on County Clare in mid-September. Many Ryder Cup stars will be attending, and the field will be a high-skilled one, with players such as:
- Shane Lowry
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Rasmus Højgaard
- Nicolai Højgaard
- Luke Donald
- Pádraig Harrington
- Séamus Power
- Tom McKibbin
More high-quality golfers means more of a spectacle for international and local fans. A number of Ireland’s most beloved golfers will be in attendance, such as Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington, but it seems likely that local fans will share the love equally.
Some of the players are veterans, with storied pasts and well-known form, while others are looking for more opportunities to prove themselves and solidify their reputations as world-class golfers.
A Large Prize Pool Heightens the Action
While for most professional golfers, especially for those who have already got a few tournament wins under their belts, money isn’t the main draw, a big prize pool is still good. Interestingly enough, the bigger the prize pool, the more prestigious the tournament is typically considered to be.
With that in mind, the $6 million USD purse for this year’s Irish Open makes it one of the highest prize pool events on the DP World Tour, outside of the major championships.
