Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain – The K Club May 2016 (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Rafa Cabrera Bello, the World Number 28 and star of The 2016 Ryder Cup, will be hoping to convert his impressive form at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into victory when he returns to Northern Ireland and Portstewart Golf Club, from July 6-9.
As part of the Rolex Series for the first time – a premium series of events on the Race to Dubai – the event this year boasts an increased prize fund of US$7 million and a host of the world’s greatest golfers will arrive at Portstewart hoping to dethrone the defending champion and home favourite Rory McIlroy.
Cabrera Bello joins a raft of stars who have already been announced, including World Number Four Hideki Matsuyama, World Number Ten and Cabrera Bello’s Spanish compatriot John Rahm and former US Open Champion Justin Rose.
The 33 year old from Gran Canaria will be in confident mood at Portstewart, having finished in the top ten in four of his last five appearances at the event, with two of his best results coming on Northern Irish soil.
He finished as joint runner-up back in 2012 at Royal Portrush, where Jamie Donaldson emerged victorious, while two years ago at Royal County Down he just missed out on a place in the three-way play-off, eventually won by Dane Søren Kjeldsen.
Tickets to see Cabrera Bello play alongside a host of other European Tour stars can be found at www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com.
“I absolutely love playing in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open,” said Cabrera Bello, who has claimed two top fives in his last three appearances on the US PGA Tour. “It’s always one of my favourite events and you can see that in my recent record at this event.
“The atmosphere is always incredible and I love playing in front of such knowledgeable golf fans. I really enjoy playing on classic links courses too and I think they really suit my game.
“With this tournament now a part of the Rolex Series, I think it will be even more special and it looks like it will be a really strong field so I’m looking forward to a great week.”
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation are on sale at www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com, beginning at £15 for Tuesday, £20 for Pro-Am Wednesday, with tickets for Thursday and Friday costing £40 and day tickets for the weekend costing £45.
An adult season souvenir ticket, which covers six days of world class golf from Tuesday to Sunday, costs just £100 (a saving of £90 over the course of the five days).
Concessions are available for customers aged over 60 and between 16 and 21, while children up to 16 are permitted free entry when accompanied by a ticket holding adult.
To get a full seated view of all of the drama at the 18th green, grandstand tickets cost £11.50 for Thursday and Friday, £16.50 for Saturday and £21.50 for Sunday.
Official Hospitality packages are also available on the ticketing page, or alternatively contact the European Tour’s dedicated Hospitality Sales Team, who will be happy to answer any queries and discuss the various hospitality options, on enquiries@europeantourhospitality.com or +44 (0) 1344 840681.
