"With Rory in the prime of his career, let him focus on what he does best" - Paul McGinley

Paul McGinley believes that Rory McIlroy’s decision to step back and share the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosting duties from 2019 could be massive for his career.

Europe’s winning 2014 Ryder Cup skipper will take over as host next year with major winners Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell also agreeing to join the Dubliner and McIlroy and mimick the rotating host format currently used by the British Masters.

The 2014 Ryder Cup skipper sees big things on the horizon for the Co Down man, whose Rory Foundation will host this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin in Donegal from July 5-8.

Believing McIlroy is now fully focussed on adding to his four major victories after going winless in the game's biggest events since he first hosted the Irish Open in 2015, McGinley reckons was time for the senior players to shoulder some of the burden.

“There's no doubt,” McGinley said when asked if McIlroy’s decision o take a back seat from 2019 was an indication he wants to focus on his career and the quest for more majors.

“He has certainly helped regain the momentum of the Irish Open and he has done his bit. He wants to remain involved going forward but the Irish Open was a weight of responsibility.

“Even though he has won it, he has missed the cut for four of the last five years. So while his commitment to playing will remain, it is a question of handing over responsibility and we are happy to take on the mantle.

“We owe Rory a lot for where the Irish Open has come from and where it is going. So it is only right that we take responsibility off Rory's shoulders and let him do what he does best. 

Paul McGinley 

“The fewer duties he has to perform around the Irish Open, the more he will be focussed. And the more he is focussed, the better he will play.

“It is only right that we share that responsibility with Rory now and with him in the prime of his career, let him focus on what he does best." 

McIlroy has been stuck on four major wins since he decided to host the DDF Irish Open at Royal County Down in 2015, growing it from a middle-tier, €2 million event into the $7m Rolex Series event it is today.

The Holywood native (28) is keen to make the make the second decade of his career as successful as the first and that means focussing more on his golf.

“I’m not getting any younger,” McIlroy said before his recent three-month break. 

“These three months off could give me the foundation to have the next 10 years be even better than the 10 years I’ve just had. Hopefully, that turns a great career into one of the greatest careers.”

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland receives the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open trophy from Colm McLoughlin, the Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, after winning the tournament hosted by the Rory Foundation at The K Club on May 22, 2016 in Straffan. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

McGinley revolutionised Europe’s Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014 and he has plans to put a new spin on the Irish Open before Clarke, Harrington and McDowell add their touches.

“I have some ideas to mix it up a little bit - change the narrative around the Irish Open in how it's presented and how we can help it evolve, as I did with the Ryder Cup captaincy," McGinley said.

"I am not just going to be a figurehead and I've spoken to Colm McLoughlin from Dubai Duty Free and he is 100 percent behind me and my ideas. 

“I want to make sure 2019 is going to be a huge year for Ireland with the Open and the Irish Open in July.

“Ireland will be at the forefront of the world golf schedule so it’s a great opportunity to showcase Ireland and showcase our golf courses.”

McGinley then hopes that the stakeholders will be able to turn to the likes of Shane Lowry or Paul Dunne after the first five-year rotation with McIlroy stating yesterday that “now feels like the right time to rotate the tournament hosting process.”

But while McGinley says it's "imperative" the event is held on a links in the Republic of Ireland in 2019 with The Open scheduled for Royal Portrush two weeks later — a date swap with the Scottish Open is possible but unlikely — a return to parkland venues cannot be ruled out after that with the likes of Mount Juliet and 2026 Ryder Cup hopeful Adare Manor two obvious candidates.

“There won't be as much pressure in 2020 to host on a links as next year,” McGinley said. “So it may well go inland. Or the European Tour might prefer to stick with the links swing.

“What we can’t do is set things in stone forever. Mount Juliet is a great course and we had it in The K Club just two years ago, and Adare Manor is now very much on the scene.

“But from the discussions I have had with some of the players and the European Tour, it's imperative it's on a links in 2019.”

A links in the south of the country seems the likely option right now for McGinley whose McGinley Foundation will be a beneficiary of the 2019 Irish Open with Harrington, Clarke and McDowell also set to use the event for their own charitable efforts.

Darren Clarke

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been asked to host the Irish Open and I’m looking forward to working with Colm McLoughlin and his team at Dubai Duty Free to continue the great work that Rory and the European Tour have done for the event over the last four years.

“Everyone has seen what a success the British Masters has become with Ian, Luke, Lee and Justin all hosting the event. I think it’s great that we have Rory, Graeme and myself from Northern Ireland and then Paul and Padraig from the South. There will be a natural rotation of the tournament around Ireland and I’m sure there will be a fair bit of competition between the lads to see who can put on the biggest and best tournament when we are the tournament host!

“For me, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open should have a real festival atmosphere. Our fans are some of the best in the world and one of my main goals of hosting the Irish Open will be to make sure everyone – from the players and their families to the fans, to the caddies, the volunteers, marshals and officials – has an unforgettable week.”

Padraig Harrington

“The Irish fans are some of the best in the world and I know for all of the Irish players on Tour, there is no better feeling than playing in front of our home fans in our national open. The Irish Open has been an important part of my schedule my whole career and I have always enjoyed playing an active role in helping to make sure it is a success and one of the leading events on the European Tour.

“I look forward to taking my turn hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to benefit the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, which provides financial assistance to deserving beneficiaries throughout Ireland and the rest of the world, and also to supporting Rory, Graeme, Darren and Paul when they take their turn at the helm.”

Graeme McDowell

 “I think the first thing we need to mention is the tremendous job that Rory and his Foundation have done, in partnership with Dubai Duty Free and the European Tour, to really put the Irish Open back on the world stage. We all know what Rory McIlroy brings to a golf tournament, and the extra effort he has put into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open over the past four years has been phenomenal.

“It’s now up to myself, Darren, Paul and Padraig to join Rory as tournament hosts of our national Open and what an honour that is going to be for all of us. You just have to look at the British Masters over the last three years to know that the ‘tournament host’ model can be hugely successful, and I am sure we will all have our own ideas how to keep growing the Irish Open and giving Irish golf fans a tournament to be proud of.

“On a personal level, I am obviously delighted that I can help my own Foundation by hosting the Irish Open. The G-Mac Foundation’s main goal is to support children’s medical research across Ireland and the United States, and the Irish Open will help raise essential funds to help kids on both sides of the Atlantic."