Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2021: Form stats for this week's trip to County Kilkenny

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Last time Mount Juliet hosted on the European Tour, Tiger Woods was among the starters

"When Tiger Woods took part in 2004, he said the greens at Mount Juliet were among the best he had putted on that season."

The European Tour tees-up at Mount Juliet for the first time in 17 years. Check out the current form stats ahead of this week's Irish Open, compiled by Andy Swales...

After a wait of 17 years, Mount Juliet returns to the European Tour schedule as the host of this week's Irish Open.

Sponsored once again by Dubai Duty Free, Ireland's national open marks the first of seven straight weeks for the Tour in the British Isles.

Scotland, Wales and England are also heavily involved, with July's Open Championship at Royal St George's the centrepiece of this 'British and Irish Swing.'

Mount Juliet, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened 30 years ago, has previously staged five tournaments on the European Tour.

Between 1993 and 1995 it was the venue for the Irish Open, while in 2002 and 2004 hosted the world's elite who competed in the WGC American Express Championship.

Tiger Woods emerged triumphant in 2002, with Ernie Els holding aloft the World Golf Championship trophy two years later.

Mount Juliet is a parkland course in County Kilkenny, located around 25 miles north of Waterford.

Latest odds for this week's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet

Laid out in a rolling 500-acre estate, the course offers lush tree-lined fairways and plenty of sand, while water comes into play on seven holes.

Home stars

Ireland's top two ranked golfers - Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry - are the headline acts this week.

McIlroy is the only member of the world's top 30 taking part, as the countdown towards The Open Championship effectively starts here.

Another Irish major champion, Padraig Harrington, is one of only four players teeing-up this week, to have competed in either or both of the AmEx tournaments from almost two decades ago. The others are Darren Fichardt, David Howell and Graeme McDowell.

And when Tiger Woods took part in 2004, he said the greens at Mount Juliet were among the best he had putted on that season.

On the tee

One returning Brit whose form has slipped over the past few months is world No 33 Tommy Fleetwood.

However, he is still the second highest-ranked golfer in the field and his general form is not so bad that he couldn't step up this weekend.

Arriving back in the British Isles might just be what the 30-year-old from Southport needs to rekindle some inspiration and confidence ahead of The Open.

Latest odds for July's Open Championship at Royal St George's

Another pro flying in from the United States is Christiaan Bezuidenhout who has enjoyed a solid, if not spectacular, run on the PGA Tour during 2021.

The South African posted top-40 finishes in each of this year's three American majors, and his results certainly show a high level of consistency over the past nine months.

If he can continue this form in the Irish Open, then he shouldn't feel too threatened by the mediocre field teeing-up at Mount Juliet.

Three of his compatriots to keep an eye on too, are in-form Daniel van Tonder, Justin Harding and Wilco Nienaber.

Meanwhile, experienced Englishmen Andy Sullivan and Richard Bland could also figure highly at this typical British Isles parkland course, on which they should feel at home.

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

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Andy Swales

Andy has worked in sports journalism for the past 39 years, and three decades as a freelancer.

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