Donald Trump is preparing for a weekend at his Doonbeg resort as the Irish Open brings a field to Ireland’s west coast. The 2026 tournament begins Thursday and runs through Sunday at Trump International Golf Links. Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion after his dramatic victory at The K Club last year.
Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka, and Pádraig Harrington add major championship experience. Ryder Cup figures Luke Donald, Tyrrell Hatton, and the Højgaard brothers are competing. Trump is expected to attend during his September visit to Ireland. His presence adds a political and security dimension to the event.
Trump’s Doonbeg course takes center stage
The Irish Open’s arrival at Doonbeg gives Trump International Golf Links its biggest competitive spotlight since the resort opened. The course sits beside Doughmore Bay in County Clare and is hosting Ireland’s national open for the first time.
The tournament returns to County Clare for the first time since 2019, when Lahinch hosted the event. This year’s championship carries a $6 million purse and occupies an important position on the DP World Tour’s Global Schedule as part of the Back 9.
The event has also generated major local interest. More than 70,000 spectators are expected across the tournament period, while weekend tickets have sold out, underscoring the scale of the championship’s return to Ireland’s west coast.
The tournament’s timing also gives the Irish Open a prominent place on the late-season schedule. The event follows the Omega European Masters and precedes the BMW PGA Championship, keeping leading DP World Tour players engaged during a crucial stretch of the season.
McIlroy leads a deep group of major winners
McIlroy arrives with a strong connection to the event after winning his second Irish Open title last year. His victory at The K Club came after he holed a 28-foot eagle putt on the final hole to force a playoff before winning on the third extra hole.
Rahm brings another compelling Irish Open storyline. The Spaniard has won the tournament twice, at Portstewart in 2017 and Lahinch in 2019, and his return is part of an agreement with the DP World Tour that helps preserve his Ryder Cup eligibility after his move to LIV Golf.
Koepka adds an American major champion to the field, joining former Masters champion Patrick Reed. Shane Lowry, Harrington, Francesco Molinari and Sergio Garcia further strengthen a lineup containing multiple major winners and former Irish Open champions.
Ryder Cup connections raise the tournament’s profile
Luke Donald’s presence adds another layer because the former world No. 1 is preparing to captain Europe again at the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. Donald led Europe to victories in Rome in 2023 and New York in 2025, making his appearance at Doonbeg part of the buildup toward another home Ryder Cup.
Hatton enters after winning the Real Club Valderrama Masters, giving the Englishman recent competitive momentum. He will be joined by Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard, while Robert MacIntyre and Sepp Straka bring additional Ryder Cup experience to the field.
Ireland’s home contingent also extends beyond its biggest names. Séamus Power and Tom McKibbin join Lowry, Harrington, and McIlroy, creating a substantial Irish presence at a venue where local support is expected to be one of the tournament’s defining features.
Fun fact: Sir Nick Faldo remains the most dominant player in tournament history, standing as the only golfer to win the Irish Open title in three consecutive years, from 1991 through 1993.
Trump’s visit makes Doonbeg an international story
Trump’s attendance has been expected since the summer, when Irish authorities began preparing for his September visit. He is scheduled to arrive in Ireland on September 12, with meetings in Dublin before traveling to Doonbeg for the tournament’s closing stages.
Trump’s visit requires a substantial security operation around the resort and surrounding roads. Gardaí have issued event-specific traffic and spectator arrangements, while the tournament itself requires attendees to use designated park-and-ride facilities.
Trump bought the Doonbeg property in 2014 for a reported €15 million. His expected presence at the Irish Open, therefore, places the tournament at the intersection of elite golf, a presidential visit, and the profile of one of Ireland’s most recognizable coastal resorts.
The Irish government has been coordinating preparations with U.S. authorities, while Gardaí have emphasized security measures tied to both the tournament and presidential visit.
Doonbeg carries a surprising piece of golf history
Harrington has an unusually close connection to the Doonbeg course. The three-time major champion was among the first golfers to play the links after it opened, taking part in a 2002 match against original designer Greg Norman, more than two decades before the Irish Open arrived there.
Harrington is also making his 31st consecutive appearance in the Irish Open, a remarkable run that spans generations of the tournament. His 2007 victory remains one of the defining moments of his career and marked the start of a stretch that included back-to-back Open Championship wins and the 2008 PGA Championship.
The course itself adds another variable to the championship. Its links layout, set beside the Atlantic, exposes players to coastal conditions, with wind and rain capable of quickly changing shot selection and scoring conditions during the four-round event.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump is expected at Doonbeg during the Irish Open’s closing weekend.
- Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion in a field packed with major winners.
- Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, and Patrick Reed headline the international names.
- Luke Donald, Tyrrell Hatton, and several Ryder Cup players add further depth.
- Doonbeg is hosting the Irish Open for the first time, with weekend tickets sold out.
- Pádraig Harrington has a unique early connection to the course and is making his 31st straight Irish Open appearance.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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