The Irish Open attendance figures are predicted to be off the charts at Newcastle. As dogged golf fans ignored the squalling showers that swept over Slieve Donard and across Royal County Down, officials were expecting more than 90,000 to arrive during the week.
That figure could have been more, according to Tourism Northern Ireland, as the organisers restricted numbers to maintain spectator comfort and to protect the sand dunes out of which the natural golf course has been sculpted.
"The figures may be slightly more than that but it's capped every day at around 20,000 because of keeping the integrity of the course and to ensure the visitor experience is protected," said Kathryn Thomson of Tourism Northern Ireland.
Even at the pro-am, a celebrity-driven event that takes place before the four-day competition begins, 11,000 visitors came through the gate. The Irish Open has not had that many fans attend a pro-am before. In 2012 when it was held up the coast at Royal Portrush, the pro-am attracted 10,000 visitors. Usually the attendance would be closer to half that.
Ticket sales
The percentage of ticket sales to people from outside Northern Ireland is also higher than in 2012, when it was 15 per cent. This year more than 30 per cent came from outside the North, with 28 per cent from the Republic.
"Yes, it's partly the Rory [McIlroy] factor but also we had some of our local celebrities playing," said Thomson. "James Nesbitt [actor] was playing. Paddy Kielty [comedian] was playing as well as some sports personalities such as Australian cricketer Shane Warne, AP McCoy [jockey], Pat Jennings [football] and Dennis Taylor [snooker]."
McIlroy was the star attraction yesterday and brought people in, although playing partner Rickie Fowler also drew his fair share of admirers. McIlroy and Fowler are the rock'n'roll kids of the game, but the first day was more Rickie rockin' and Rory rolling over.
The fans stuck with McIlroy as he struggled with his game. Around some of the amphitheatre-shaped greens, hundreds spread across the dunes, squatting in the sheltered sides, out of the driving rain.
"Come on, Rickie, it's not California, " shouted a female fan at the tanned Fowler after a gale almost swept him off the rise at the second tee box.
“Oh my god,” sighed another from among the huge gallery as McIlroy’s score, one of the worst of the day, loomed into view at the 17th hole. It was blue, a bad colour in golf; eight over par is an even worse number in golf.
By the end, those fans were both sympathetic and stunned. McIlroy hit four bogeys from the 15th hole before bringing his first day to a close with a wretched 80.
But the Ulster fans again proved themselves to be among the most enthusiastic in Europe. It is only the second time in European Tour history an event has sold out in advance. The first was in Royal Portrush two years' ago.
