Paddy v Rory

[Farneyman]

What about it? Who do you fancy? Me I fancy PAddy over strokeplay. But Rory if it was match play. A hugh coup for Irish sport.

The Lough Erne golf resort is to play host to a special event featuring three-times major champion Padraig Harrington and teenage sensation Rory McIlroy in July.

The inaugural Lough Erne Challenge was launched on Tuesday in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh by the resort's owner Jim Treacy.

The Lough Erne Challenge is a one-day event scheduled for Wednesday, 22 July and will be a stroke play head to head event with a prize fund of over €200,000.

A limit of 4,000 tickets has been set for the event which comes a week after Harrington bids for a historic third consecutive Open victory at Turnberry in Scotland.

Treacy said it was important that Lough Erne's qualities would be tested by tow of the world's best golfers.

'The fact that two of the most important and exciting figures in world golf are Irish and both of them are in the world's top 20 made it compelling to pit them against each other in this special event,' Treacy said.

'We believe all golf fans and those with even a passing interest in the game will be attracted to the idea of seeing Padraig and Rory do battle.'

Speaking at the launch, McIlroy said the event would be an important part of his summer.

'The opportunity to play against Padraig on what is in some ways my home turf is exciting. He is a fantastic player - a real role model for someone like me starting out on my career.'

The event will be filmed by European Tour Productions with delayed broadcast commitments already established in 13 countries.

The Lough Erne Championship course was designed by the legendary Nick Faldo.

 

[USER1999]

My money's on Tiger.

 

[theeaglehunter]

So there will be one match and 4,000 people there?...What a waste of time! You would get to see one hole if you are lucky!

I will definitely tune in on TV to watch it though and will expect a tight contest with Mcilroy coming out on top. The reason being Harrington will have been too busy in the week leading up to it, giving interviews on his third Open triumph, to have focused on what will inevitably end up being an uncompetitive bit of fun.

I really don't see the need for such a 'spectacle' but am nonetheless intrigued as to what the outcome will be and how the game is played.

 

[freddielong]

This is not a dig at ireland in anyway but it has been a long time since they had two top class golfers (world no. 3 and possible the most exiting up and coming golfer in the world) and you feel there is a little bit of milking going on but then one of them will get a nice payday

 

[SammmeBee]

.... but then BOTH of them will get a nice payday

Fixed it for you.....

 

[Farneyman]

So there will be one match and 4,000 people there?...What a waste of time! You would get to see one hole if you are lucky!

Its ok you will see loads most of the tickets will go to the local leprechaun golf club

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Will be a great tussle but I can't see either having their true game faces on especially if either have been in contention the week before. Good publicity fo rthe course (not that it needs it) and it will be interesting to see what sort of challenge it presents. I'm sure this is a dress rehersal for a forthcoming tour event to be staged there.

 

[brendy]

Its a brand new course, most clubs have some sort of opening event, this is theirs. Lough Erne sponsor Rory so why not use him?
for those that have not seen the course, all I can say is Wow, its fantastic now and will be an amazing event if even just to see how they do at the 10th with water everywhere.
http://lougherneresort.com/ENG/golf_news.html

 

[Thor]

No offence taken but I'm sure Darren Clarke would beg to differ. I'm not sure about them "milking it" but if its something different with two top pros going head to head then I'm sure those attending and the future TV audience will say bring it on. Sometimes a break from the weekly grind of the European Tour is no bad thing and as Ireland now has only one Tour tournament(just about) it can only be beneficial for promoting local golf.

 

[nabbit]

I'd have to favour Rory as he did so well in Dubai and he wasn't highly favoured until the later rounds. As i have found thanks to some excellant feed back on this forum confidence is key! I see Rory as being the major threat to all his competitors this season and about time too in my opinion!

 

[rgs]

Its an exhibition to officially open the course, who be great to attend as both players will be more relaxed and open than during a tour event.

 

[viscount17]

Must agree it's a great looking course, though it seems you have some bl**dy big rabbits digging holes everywhere!

Was that almost an island green I saw?

 

[stevek1969]

Paddy all the way, won money at the bookies for his 3 Major wins and he's as fit as fiddle played his course in Dublin , Stackstown GC you start up a hill and finish up a hill it took me days to recover

 

[fat_crocodile]

too early to say who will win this early in the year but it will be a good event (for tv!)

 

[thecraw]

Sounds like a fantastic tussle, would love to watch that however who knows, the whole golfing world may just get treated to this spectacle a week earlier at Turnberry with a claret jug on offer!!!!

That would make great viewing!

 

[Cernunnos]

If the comp between them were tomorrow, then I'd say Rory, but give it a few months & Paddy will I'm sure have had some form return, whether it'd be enough, who knows. But might then be too close to call.

Either way its a match that would be interesting to watch.