Ireland's Adare Manor to bid for 2026 Ryder Cup

Will Irish eyes be smiling again?

"To play a Ryder Cup at home in front of your home fans would be a dream come true. Even thinking about it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck," said Rory McIlroy, who along with Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, opened the course.

Ireland last hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006 when Europe destroyed the Americans at the K Club by a record-equalling nine points.

Adare Manor will warm up for the RC by hosting the JP McManus Pro-am in 2020, and is also being tipped to hold an Irish Open. Paul McGinley will replace McIlroy as tournament host of the Irish Open next year, with Lahinch & Portmarnock Links in the running to stage the tournament.

JP McManus, the owner of Adare Manor, said staging a Ryder Cup would be "great for Limerick and great for Ireland. We'll put our name in the hat. I think we have the facilities to host it and we'd love to have it."