The DP World Tour’s biggest week on home soil has arrived. The Amgen Irish Open returns to Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare, from September 10-13, and it has attracted one of the deepest fields of the European season: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Brooks Koepka and the Højgaard twins are all in the mix. But this edition carries an extra charge. It is the last Irish Open before Ireland stages the Ryder Cup, and every European hopeful teeing it up in Clare knows captain Luke Donald is watching closely.
What’s Happening at Doonbeg This Week
The Irish Open is one of the flagship stops on the DP World Tour, and the 2026 renewal is being played over the windswept Atlantic links at Doonbeg. McIlroy arrives as a two-time Irish Open champion, having claimed his second title in style at The K Club last year, and he headlines a marquee group alongside five-time major winner Brooks Koepka and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, teeing off at 1:35pm local time in round one.
The home challenge runs deep. McIlroy and Shane Lowry carry the weight of Irish expectation, while Rahm’s appearance is notable in itself: the two-time major champion has continued to commit to the European-based circuit despite his LIV Golf schedule. Add Tyrrell Hatton and the fast-rising Danish duo of Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard, and the leaderboard should be stacked with players who have their eyes on more than just this trophy.
Why This Irish Open Matters More Than Most
Ordinarily the Irish Open is a prized national open with a rich history. In 2026 it is also a launchpad. Next September, Ireland hosts the 46th Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in County Limerick (September 17-19, 2027), the first time the biennial match has been staged on Irish soil since 2006. That makes this week’s tournament the final Irish Open before the home match — and a rare chance for Ireland’s and Europe’s best to build form and belief in front of their own supporters.
Home Ryder Cups are special and infrequent, and the players know it. A strong week in Clare will not book a Ryder Cup place on its own, but momentum, confidence and the roar of a home crowd all travel. For the Irish contingent in particular, the symbolism of contending this week — barely a year out from a home Ryder Cup — is impossible to ignore.
The Ryder Cup Subplot: Auditions on Irish Soil
Luke Donald has been retained as Europe’s captain after guiding the team to victory in Rome in 2023 and again at Bethpage in 2025, an unprecedented run that has made him one of the most successful captains in the event’s modern era. The United States will be led by Jim Furyk, back in the role for a second time. With the match now just over a year away, every European counting week matters — and the Irish Open is a high-profile shop window.
Rahm’s situation is the storyline within the storyline. Earlier this year the Spaniard resolved his long-running standoff with the DP World Tour, agreeing to pay outstanding fines and to tee it up in the required number of tour events, a deal understood to keep him eligible for Ryder Cup selection. Watching him compete in Ireland is a reminder of how much Donald wants his firepower back in the European team room. Elsewhere, the Højgaards, MacIntyre and Lowry are all playing for something bigger than a single title.
One caveat worth noting: Doonbeg is a classic seaside links, while Adare Manor is a lavish parkland layout. The specific shot-making tests differ. But the intangibles the Ryder Cup rewards — nerve, creativity and the ability to hole out under pressure — are on full display in the wind on the Clare coast this week.
The Test Doonbeg Poses
Links golf demands a different toolkit from the target golf players face most weeks on tour. Off the Atlantic, the wind rarely rests, and the smart play is often a lower, controlled ball flight rather than a high, soft one. That is exactly where a well-struck punch shot earns its keep — keeping the ball under the gusts and running it onto firm greens.
The greens add a second layer of difficulty. Firm, fast and often exposed, they place a premium on speed control and nerve, the same skills that decide Ryder Cup singles. If you have ever wondered how the pros cope with lightning surfaces, our guide to putting on fast greens breaks down the technique. Expect creativity around the greens, bump-and-run chips, and plenty of imagination from a field that thrives on this kind of examination.
What This Means for You
If you are a fan, this is appointment viewing: a world-class field, a national open, and the opening act of Ireland’s Ryder Cup year, all rolled into four days on a dramatic links. Coverage runs across the DP World Tour’s broadcast and streaming partners through Sunday, with the marquee groups going out in the early afternoon local time.
If you are a golfer, there is plenty to steal from the best. Watch how the leaders flight the ball down in the wind, how they favour the safe side of pins, and how patiently they manage their misses. Those habits — controlling trajectory, respecting the wind, and lag-putting to tap-in range — translate directly to your own scorecard, whether or not you ever play a true links.
Key Takeaways
- The Amgen Irish Open runs September 10-13 at Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg, County Clare.
- The field includes Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Brooks Koepka and the Højgaard twins.
- It is the last Irish Open before Ireland hosts the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor (September 17-19, 2027).
- Luke Donald, a two-time winning captain, leads Europe; Jim Furyk captains the United States.
- Rahm’s DP World Tour agreement keeps him eligible for Ryder Cup selection, adding intrigue to his week in Ireland.
