Irish Open Power Rankings: Top 10 golfers at Ballyliffin Golf Club

Host Rory McIlroy goes for his second career Irish Open win this week, but he’ll have to beat some strong names to do so

The European Tour inches closer to the Open Championship each week, both geographically and chronologically.

We head west from France last week to Ballyliffin GC in Donegal, Ireland, for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation with Europe’s major now two weeks away.

This is Ballyliffin’s debut hosting the Irish Open. It has two courses, Glashedy Links and Old Links. Glashedy will be used this week and plays as a 7,462-yard par-72, links style course.

Glashedy is regarded as one of Ireland’s best links courses. The Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock design circa 1947 features a lot of tall, fescue grass with some tight landing areas in space.

It’s been an unseasonably warm and summer for Ireland, but with possible rain on Wednesday and little to no wind in the forecast, it’s hard to say how firm and fast the conditions will be.

The Irish Open is not only a Rolex Series event, meaning more cash at stake, but it’s also part of the Open Championship qualifying series.

Top three finishers inside the top 10 who are not already exempt earn a spot in the Open.

A nice crop of players are assembled here in Donegal in an event that has resurrected itself admirably after being in dire straits sponsorship wise just a handful of years ago.

The PGA Tour’s best are largely taking this week off or playing at the Greenbrier, so you’ll have to wait a week to slip in some new names into your European Tour fantasy team.

Here are 10 players I like to contend this week on the emerald isle.