Irish Open Winners and History

Ireland’s national golf championship was first contested in 1927 at Portmarnock golf club. George Duncan of Scotland, who had previously won the 1920 Open Championship, took home the prize.

Since 1927, the Irish Open has been an on-again, off-again sort of affair. It was paused—as were most national championships—for World War II, then not played from 1951-52, and 1954 to 1962. It was replaced by Carroll’s International from 1963 to 1974. Those winners are included in the chart below for continuity.

Finally, the Irish Open returned in 1975, as Carroll’s Irish Open with European Tour sanctioning.

The tournament record aggregate score is held by Colin Montgomerie (2001) and Ross Fisher (2010) at 266. Christy O’Connor, Junior (1975) and Bernhard Langer (1984) set the pace at -21 to par.

A complete list of Irish Open winners follows:

Irish Open Winners

Year Winner Venue Score To par Margin Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2019 John Rahm (2) Lahinch 264 -16 2 strokes 2018 Russell Knox Ballyliffin 274 -14 playoff 2017 John Rahm Portstewart 264 -24 6 Strokes 2016 Rory McIlroy The K Club 276 -12 3 strokes 2015 Søren Kjeldsen Royal County Down 282 -2 Playoff The Irish Open 2014 Mikko Ilonen Fota Island 271 -13 1 stroke 2013 Paul Casey Carton House 274 -14 3 strokes 2012 Jamie Donaldson Royal Portrush 270 -18 4 strokes Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland 2011 Simon Dyson Killarney 269 -15 1 stroke The 3 Irish Open 2010 Ross Fisher Killarney 266 -18 2 strokes 2009 Shane Lowry (a) County Louth 271 -17 Playoff Irish Open 2008 Richard Finch Adare 278 -10 2 strokes 2007 Pádraig Harrington Adare 283 -5 Playoff Nissan Irish Open 2006 Thomas Bjørn Carton House 283 -5 1 stroke 2005 Stephen Dodd Carton House 279 -9 Playoff 2004 Brett Rumford County Louth 274 -14 4 strokes 2003 Michael Campbell Portmarnock 277 -11 Playoff Murphy's Irish Open 2002 Søren Hansen Fota Island 270 -14 Playoff 2001 Colin Montgomerie (3) Fota Island 266 -18 5 strokes 2000 Patrik Sjöland Ballybunion 270 -14 2 strokes 1999 Sergio García Druids Glen 268 -16 3 strokes 1998 David Carter Druids Glen 278 -6 Playoff 1997 Colin Montgomerie (2) Druids Glen 269 -15 7 strokes 1996 Colin Montgomerie Druids Glen 279 -5 1 stroke 1995 Sam Torrance (2) Mount Juliet 277 -11 Playoff 1994 Bernhard Langer (3) Mount Juliet 275 -13 1 stroke Carroll's Irish Open 1993 Nick Faldo (3) Mount Juliet 276 -12 Playoff 1992 Nick Faldo (2) Killarney 274 -14 Playoff 1991 Nick Faldo Killarney 283 -5 3 strokes 1990 José María Olazábal Portmarnock 282 -6 3 strokes 1989 Ian Woosnam (2) Portmarnock 278 -10 Playoff 1988 Ian Woosnam Portmarnock 278 -10 7 strokes 1987 Bernhard Langer (2) Portmarnock 269 -19 10 strokes 1986 Seve Ballesteros (3) Portmarnock 285 -3 2 strokes 1985 Seve Ballesteros (2) Royal Dublin 278 -10 Playoff 1984 Bernhard Langer Royal Dublin 267 -21 4 strokes 1983 Seve Ballesteros Royal Dublin 271 -17 2 strokes 1982 John O'Leary Portmarnock 287 -1 1 stroke 1981 Sam Torrance Portmarnock 276 -12 5 strokes 1980 Mark James (2) Portmarnock 284 -4 1 stroke 1979 Mark James Portmarnock 282 -6 1 stroke 1978 Ken Brown Portmarnock 281 -7 1 stroke 1977 Hubert Green Portmarnock 283 -5 1 stroke 1976 Ben Crenshaw Portmarnock 284 -4 2 strokes 1975 Christy O'Connor Jnr Woodbrook 275 -21 1 stroke 1954 - 1974 No Tournament 1953 Eric Brown Belvoir Park 272 ? 1 stroke 1951-52: No tournament 1950 Ossie Pickworth Royal Dublin 287 ? 2 strokes 1949 Harry Bradshaw (2) Belvoir Park 286 ? 1 stroke 1948 Dai Rees Portmarnock 295 ? 2 strokes 1947 Harry Bradshaw Royal Portrush 290 ? 2 strokes 1946 Fred Daly Portmarnock 288 ? 4 strokes 194 - 1945: No tournament due to World War II 1939 Arthur Lees Royal County Down 287 ? 2 strokes 1938 Bobby Locke Portmarnock 292 ? 1 stroke 1937 Bert Gadd Royal Portrush 284 ? 1 stroke 1936 Reg Whitcombe Royal Dublin 281 ? 2 strokes 1935 Ernest Whitcombe (2) Royal County Down 292 ? Playoff 1934 Syd Easterbrook Portmarnock 284 ? 7 strokes 1933 Bob Kenyon (2) Malone 286 ? 2 strokes 1932 Alf Padgham Cork 283 ? 1 stroke 1931 Bob Kenyon Royal Dublin 291 ? 2 strokes 1930 Charles Whitcombe Royal Portrush 289 ? 8 strokes 1929 Abe Mitchell Portmarnock 309 ? Playoff 1928 Ernest Whitcombe Royal County Down 288 ? 4 strokes 1927 George Duncan Portmarnock 312 ? 1 stroke

Winners of the Irish Open from 1927 to Present

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