It was great news for Irish golf this week that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will become a part of the Rolex Series of events from 2017, with a minimum prize fund of €6.5 million.

It is easy to forget the state in which the Irish Open was in the years after the economic crash in 2008. Struggling with the recession, sponsors were not forthcoming about putting up the cash and in 2011, it was Fáilte Ireland who would agree to sponsor but with a reduced purse of €1.5 million.

Next year, with a prize fund over four times that of 2011 and a premium time in the calendar – inclement weather like this year less likely in July than May – just two weeks before the Open, Portstewart will welcome one of the best fields we’ve seen here for the Irish Open.

A lot of credit has to go to the tournament host Rory McIlroy for the investment. European Tour chief Keith Pelley has seized the fantastic marketing opportunity to promote Ireland, with its fantastic courses and with a guarantee of the Tour’s marquee player every year, it is becoming a player on the world stage.