Northern Ireland Open (golf)

The Northern Ireland Open (known as the ISPS Handa World Invitational due to sponsorship reasons) is a golf tournament on the European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour. It was played for the first time in August/September 2013 at the Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena, Northern Ireland as a Challenge Tour event.

ISPS Handa World Invitational
Tournament information
LocationBallymena, Northern Ireland
Established2013
Course(s)Galgorm Castle Golf Club
Massereene Golf Club
Par70 (men)
73 (G)/72 (M) (women)[1]
Length7,005 yards (6,405 m) (men)
7,159 yards (6,546 m) (women)
Tour(s)European Tour
LPGA Tour
Ladies European Tour
Challenge Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$1,500,000
Month playedJuly/August
Tournament record score
Aggregate265 Ryan Fox (2016)
265 Calum Hill (2018)
To par−19 as above
Current champion
Daniel Gavins
Pajaree Anannarukarn
Location Map
Galgorm Castle GC
Location in Northern Ireland

History

In 2017, the event was changed from 72 holes of stroke play to a "Super 6" style format. The format was similar to that used for the World Super 6 Perth. The main difference was that the 6-hole matches were determined by stroke play rather than match play. It retained the 156-player field, with the cut being made at the top-60 and ties after 36 holes. After 54 holes, the field was cut to a fixed 24. Ties for 24th place were determined by a sudden-death playoff. There were then five six-hole knock-out rounds on the final day. The leading eight after 54 holes received a bye in the first round. The remaining 16 were randomly paired. The six holes used on the final day were 17, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 18. There were a number of other matches for the minor places.[2]

In 2018, the event reverted to 72-hole stroke-play.

A reformat took place in 2019 and the event's name was changed to the ISPS Handa World Invitational and involved separate men's and women's events, both having the same prize money. Jack Senior won the men's event in a playoff over Matthew Baldwin. Stephanie Meadow won the women's event, beating Charley Hull by one shot.[3]

The 2020 event returned to the Challenge Tour as the Northern Ireland Open with backing from The R&A.[4]

In 2021, the event was reformed again as a mixed event but elevated to European Tour status along with co-sanctioning by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.[5] Daniel Gavins won the men's tournament for his first European Tour win. Pajaree Anannarukarn won the women's tournament in a playoff over Emma Talley for her first LPGA Tour victory.[6]

Winners
YearTour(s)[lower-alpha 1]WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management
2021[lower-alpha 2]EUR Daniel Gavins267−131 stroke David Horsey
LET, LPGA Pajaree Anannarukarn275−16Playoff Emma Talley
Northern Ireland Open supported by The R&A
2020CHA Tyler Koivisto267−132 strokes Kristian Krogh Johannessen
ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management
2019[lower-alpha 2]CHA Jack Senior269−11Playoff Matthew Baldwin
Stephanie Meadow278−101 stroke Charley Hull
Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf
2018CHA Calum Hill265−191 stroke Scott Henry
Stuart Manley
2017CHA Robin Sciot-Siegrist20[lower-alpha 3]−32 strokes Alessandro Tadini
Tayto Northern Ireland Open in partnership with Ulster Bank
2016CHA Ryan Fox265−194 strokes Dominic Foos
Dylan Frittelli
Max Orrin
Bernd Ritthammer
Northern Ireland Open in association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank
2015CHA Clément Sordet267−171 stroke John Hahn
Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses
2014CHA Joakim Lagergren271−131 stroke Adrien Bernadet
Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah and XJET
2013CHA Daan Huizing271−13Playoff Oliver Wilson
  1. CHA − Challenge Tour; EUR − European Tour; LET − Ladies European Tour; LPGA − LPGA Tour.
  2. Separate tournaments played for men and women.
  3. The 2017 event used a knockout format. This is the score in the final.

References
  1. Leaderboard
  2. "Shootout Sunday". www.niopen.golf. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. "JACK SENIOR AND STEPHANIE MEADOW WIN WORLD INVITATIONAL TITLES". Golfmagic. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  4. "Northern Ireland Open added to 2020 Challenge Tour schedule". Irish Golfer. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. "European Tour, LPGA Tour & Ladies European Tour join forces for ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland". European Tour. 26 February 2021.
  6. "World Invitational: Daniel Gavins wins men's event as Pajaree Anannarukarn takes women's title at Galgorm Castle". BBC Sport. 1 August 2021.
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