Lough Erne Resort insist plans are in place to host Irish Open 2017

The News Letter reported on Friday that a strategic review by the European Tour had put the hosting of the event at risk.

European Tour official Antonia Beggs had revealed on Thursday that “no definitive decision either way” had been taken on a venue for 2017.

On Friday night the five star resort issued a statement which firmly outlined their belief that the Irish Open will return to Northern Ireland in 2017.

“The owners and management of Lough Erne Resort have been in frequent contact with the European Tour regarding this event and have received no notification of another venue hosting the 2017 Irish Open,” the statement read.

“Our team is very much looking forward to hosting the Irish Open at Lough Erne Resort.

“We are continually working in conjunction with the relevant agencies and with the full support of the First Minister in this regard and we have everything in place to deliver a world-class tournament for this part of Northern Ireland and the island as a whole.”

Tourism NI also reacted to the story on Friday revealing in a statement; “Tourism NI has been in contact with Lough Erne Resort and the European Tour and is aware that the Irish Open strategy is under review, however no decision has been made.”