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The Irish Open Predictions - Top contenders for victory in Ireland

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 01 Sep 2025

Brad Newcomb 01 Sep 2025

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The Amgen Irish Open takes place between 4-7 September
The tournament takes place at the K Club, County Kildare, Ireland
Top contenders: McIlroy, Penge, Neergaard-Petersen, Sullivan.

Rory McIlroy has won three tournaments this season (Getty Images)

A stellar line-up of the world's best golfers returns to the K Club for the third time to compete for the 70th edition of the Irish Open this weekend. Who will emerge victorious in Ireland this weekend?

Rasmus Hojgaard will not be back to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy in 2024.

The K Club hosted the Irish Open twice before, in 2016 and 2023.

Past Major winners in the line-up include Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Padraig Harrington, Francesco Molinari, and Danny Willett.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has produced top results on the PGA Tour since mid-June, placing T19 at the U.S. Open, T6 at the Travelers Championship, T2 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T7 at the Open Championship, T12 at the BMW Championship, and T23 at the Tour Championship.

Other prominent results achieved by McIlroy this season include winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Players Championship, and the Masters, and finishing T4 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (DP World Tour), T17 at the Genesis Invitational, T15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T5 at the Texas Children's Houston Open, T12 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and T7 at the Truist Championship.

The five-time Major winner has performed well in his last six appearances at the Irish Open, with results of victory in 2016, MC in 2017, T28 in 2018, T59 in 2021, T16 in 2023, and T2 in 2024.

McIlroy has the form to lift the winning trophy at the K Club this weekend.

Marco Penge

Marco Penge has been in outstanding form on the DP World Tour lately, placing T2 at the Genesis Scottish Open, MC at the Open Championship, T27 at the Nexo Championship, victory at the Danish Golf Championship, T6 at the Betfred British Masters, and T8 at the Omega European Masters last weekend.

Penge's other notable results achieved this year include a victory at the Hainan Classic in April and finishing T20 at the Magical Kenya Open, 3rd at the South African Open Championship, T19 at the Joburg Open, T25 at the Soudal Open, T21 at the Italian Open, and T11 at the BMW International Open.

The 27-year-old Englishman placed T12 overall at the 2024 Irish Open on debut.

Penge has been in fine fettle and should enter calculations in Ireland this weekend.

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen has been in solid form on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour lately, placing T12 at the U.S. Open, T14 at the BMW International Open, MC at the Genesis Scottish Open, T16 at the Danish Golf Championship, T13 at the Betfred British Masters, and T8 at the Omega European Masters last weekend.

Other noteworthy performances achieved by Neergaard-Petersen this season include a T8 at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, a T10 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, a 2nd at the Qatar Masters, a 2nd at the Puerto Rico Open, a T22 at the Valspar Championship, a T10 at the Volvo China Open, and a T4 at the Hainan Classic.

The Dane missed the cut at the 2024 Irish Open on debut.

Neergaard-Petersen has been thereabouts lately and can pocket the winner's cheque at the K Club come Sunday.

Andy Sullivan

Andy Sullivan has been in great touch on the DP World Tour during the past three months, placing T11 at the Soudal Open, T17 at the Austrian Alpine Open, T7 at the KLM Open, T33 at the Italian Open, MC at the BMW International Open, T17 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T7 at the Nexo Championship, T16 at the Danish Golf Championship, and 5th at the Betfred British Masters.

Additional highlights from Sullivan's season include a T14 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a T7 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and a T23 at the Hainan Classic.

The four-time DP World Tour winner has produced solid results at the Irish Open in his last seven starts, placing T20 in 2017, T6 in 2018, T2 in 2019, T12 in 2021, T76 in 2022, MC in 2023, and MC in 2024.

Sullivan can convert his consistent results into a winning performance in Ireland come Sunday.

Verdict

McIlroy will fancy his chances of winning his second Irish Open after his performances this season.

Penge is holding form and can win another DP World Tour title this weekend.

Neergaard-Petersen has been in decent nick and can secure victory in Ireland come Sunday.

Sullivan has been knocking hard lately and could cause an upset at the K Club this weekend.

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