CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rory McIlroy, Rafa Cabrera Bello and defending champion Jon Rahm are among notables in the field for the European Tour's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2018 this week. Round 1 is Thursday, July 5.
EUROPEAN TOUR
DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN
Site: Donegal, Ireland.
Course: Ballyliffin GC. Yardage: 7,462. Par: 72.
Purse: $7 million. Winner's share: $1,666,667.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 7 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: Jon Rahm.
Last week: Alex Noren won the French Open.
Race to Dubai leader: Patrick Reed.
Notes: Rory McIlroy's foundation is the host of the tournament, and the field has strengthened in recent years, though it features just two from the top 10 in the world in McIlroy and Rahm. ... Rahm won the first of his three European Tour events last year. ... This is the first time the Irish Open has been held at Ballyliffin since 2000, when Patrik Sjoland won. ... Ben Crenshaw is the only American to win the Irish Open, in 1976 when it was held at Portmarnock. ... McIlroy won the Irish Open two years ago when it was held at The K Club. ... Patrick Reed has been atop the Race to Dubai standings since winning The Masters. ... Noren's victory in the French Open was his seventh in the last four years. The leading three players from the top 10 not already eligible will get into the British Open.
Next week: Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Online: www.europeantour.com
(Fact box for Associated Press.)