Damien McGrane all set to defend Irish PGA Championship title at Mayo course

The magnificent, rugged Carne Golf Links in Erris will once again play host to the 2023 Irish PGA Championship – for the third year in a row – from August 9 to 12.

The 54-hole tournament is returning to the Wild Atlantic Dunes course at Carne Links, and will be preceded by a Pro-Am on Wednesday next (August 9).

The tournament, which is the oldest golf tournament in Europe, will once again be sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, whose CEO, Tim Boyle, and his family owns Gearhart Golf Links in Portland, Oregon, which is twinned with Carne Golf Links.

Defending champion Damien McGrane edged out his playing partner Brian McElhinney in a dramatic third day at Carne in 2022, with three birdies in the last five holes proving crucial – all overseen by McGrane's daughter, Gemma, who caddied for her father on the final round, making the win (McGrane's third Irish PGA title) all the more memorable.

Many of Ireland’s leading PGA professionals will join McGrane in the battle for a slice of the €50,000 prize fund put up by Erris Tourism Holdings Ltd., the course owners.

Former champions Tim Rice (Limerick GC) and Damian Mooney (Damian Mooney Golf) have confirmed their place in the field alongside European Tour winner Simon Thornton and serial winners on the PGA circuit, David Higgins (Waterville) Colm Moriarty (Glasson Lakehouse), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) and Liam Grehan (The K Club).

“We are delighted to be staging the 113th Irish PGA Championship at the dramatic Wild Atlantic Dunes at Carne Links. This is the most historic event in the PGA in Ireland calendar and it is a pleasure to work once again alongside chairman Gerry Maguire, general manager Fiona Togher and the entire team at Carne, who are first class ambassadors of golf in Ireland.

“I would also like to recognise Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle for his continued support of this event,” said Conor Dillon, PGA in Ireland regional manager.

The event will copperfasten the Wild Atlantic Dunes course routing at Carne Golf Links, now at number 12 in the Irish Golfer Top 100 rankings, and described as the biggest and most explosive links in Ireland.

The original 18-hole course that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on Ireland’s west coast in Co. Mayo was the last to be designed by the celebrated architect Eddie Hackett and was completed in 1995. An additional nine holes, known as the Kilmore, which was opened in 2013, plus the back nine of the Hackett course form the Wild Atlantic Dunes – a dramatic stage for a tournament that was first contested in 1907.

General manager of Carne Golf Links, Fiona Togher, commented: “On behalf of the board of Turasoireacht Iorrais Teo (Carne Golf Links), we are honoured to welcome back the Irish PGA Championship in 2023, for the third year in a row, to our magnificent Wild Atlantic Dunes course at Carne.

“I would like to welcome all the visiting professionals, alongside their families and friends, to Carne for a spectacular test of golf amongst a mountainous dunescape, and I wish them all the best of luck in the tournament.

“It is an honour for Carne and the Erris Gaeltacht region to host this prestigious tournament, and we look forward to building on the successes of the 2021 and 2022 championships, and ensuring that the 2023 tournament will be ever more successful and enjoyable. Spectators are welcome free of charge at the event, which will be of huge economic benefit to the town of Belmullet, with increased bednights for local hotels and spin-off benefits for the local hospitality and retail sectors.

“It is only possible by the support of our sponsors, Columbia Sportswear, and we are delighted to continue our successful twinning with Gearhart Golf Links and partnership with Columbia.

“We look forward to working with the Irish PGA and continuing our successful partnership to ensure a thrilling championship for all.”

Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, added: “We are honoured to sponsor the prestigious Irish PGA Championship at Carne Golf Links, one of the world’s best courses.”