RTÉ Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty, former rugby players Johnny Sexton and Tommy Bowe and actor James Nesbitt are set to take part in this year’s Irish Open Pro Am.
The line-up of celebrities due to play at Royal County Down in Newcastle on September 11 was announced on Wednesday with further names to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Nesbitt, best known for his roles in The Hobbit, Cold Feet, The Missing and Bloodlands, said he was looking forward to returning to the course.
“Royal County Down is a gorgeous golf course,” he said.
“We have some of the most beautiful views in Northern Ireland.
“I’m really looking forward to playing the Amgen Irish Open Pro Am this September.
“I have played a couple in the past and it’s always a great day out.
“I always have great craic.”
Holywood-born golfer Rory McIlroy has previously confirmed he will compete at Royal County Down from September 12-15, where he will bid for a second Irish Open crown after claiming victory at The K Club in 2016.
Also joining McIlroy is 2019 Open Championship winner Shane Lowry, three-time Major Champion Pádraig Harrington and two-time PGA TOUR winner Séamus Power, who will be making his highly-anticipated return to the event after missing out through injury last year.
It is hoped that some US golfers such as Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk, Jamie Lovemark and Webb Simpson, will compete at Royal County Down. All are still playing on the PGA Tour and are eligible to compete.
It will be the second time that the sporting venue will host the event, after it was previously held in Newcastle in 2015.
Spectator numbers for the tournament are being capped by the DP World Tour at around 16,000 a day.
Back in 2015, the daily figures during tournament week were approximately 20,000 a day.
Tickets are available from the DP World Tour website.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry winning together on the @PGATOUR 🍀🏆 pic.twitter.com/7D63YD6f3B
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 28, 2024
