Northern Ireland Open (golf)

ISPS Handa World Invitational

Tournament information
Location	Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Established	2013
Course(s)	Galgorm Castle Golf Club Massereene Golf Club
Par	70 (men) 73 G / 72 M (women)[1]
Length	7,005 yards (6,405 m) (men) 7,159 yards (6,546 m) (women)
Tour(s)	European Tour LPGA Tour Ladies European Tour Challenge Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$1,500,000
Month played	July/August
Tournament record score
Aggregate	265 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

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.

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.

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Winners[]

Year	Tour(s)[a]	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management
2021[b]	EUR	Daniel Gavins	267	−13	1 stroke	David Horsey
	LET, LPGA	Pajaree Anannarukarn	275	−16	Playoff	Emma Talley
Northern Ireland Open supported by The R&A
2020	CHA		267	−13	2 strokes	Kristian Krogh Johannessen
ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management
2019[b]	CHA	Jack Senior	269	−11	Playoff	Matthew Baldwin
		Stephanie Meadow	278	−10	1 stroke	Charley Hull
Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf
2018	CHA	Calum Hill	265	−19	1 stroke	Scott Henry Stuart Manley
2017	CHA		20[c]	−3	2 strokes	Alessandro Tadini
Tayto Northern Ireland Open in partnership with Ulster Bank
2016	CHA	Ryan Fox	265	−19	4 strokes	Dominic Foos Dylan Frittelli Max Orrin Bernd Ritthammer
Northern Ireland Open in association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank
2015	CHA	Clément Sordet	267	−17	1 stroke	John Hahn
Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses
2014	CHA	Joakim Lagergren	271	−13	1 stroke
Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah and XJET
2013	CHA	Daan Huizing	271	−13	Playoff	Oliver Wilson

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Coverage on the European Tour's official site