McIlroy, Lowry and Willett - some of golf's biggest names are in town for the Irish Open

The eyes of the golfing world is on the K Club this week for the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

TEN YEARS ON from its staging of the Ryder Cup, tournament golf returns to the K Club this week as some of the world’s top players arrive in town for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

For the second year running, the tournament will be hosted by Rory McIlroy’s charitable foundation and organisers will hope to build on the success of 12 months ago, when the event was given a much needed revival.

McIlroy became proactive in restoring the once-prestigious event to its glory days after the Irish Open had fallen behind other lucrative tournaments on the European Tour calendar.

It would be stretching it say the tournament was on its last legs before McIlroy’s intervention but after organisers toiled to entice sponsors on board, it had threatened to become a non-event.

Now, it’s very much like the good old days again.

A quality field, significant prize money, a great level of anticipation and a renowned Irish golfing venue. This week has all the ingredients to be a memorable occasion.

Padraig Harrington Harrington is among 21 Irish players in the field this week. Presseye / Matt Makey/INPHO Presseye / Matt Makey/INPHO / Matt Makey/INPHO

Dubai Duty Free’s five-year sponsorship commitment has allowed organisers to throw resources at the event but McIlroy’s personal ties with some of the biggest and most exciting names in the game has elevated the tournament to a whole new level.

While Rickie Fowler isn’t making the journey across the Atlantic this year, the field is littered with former Major winners, Ireland’s golfing elite and some of the brightest young talent in the game.

There are 21 Irishmen teeing it up this week with McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke leading the charge.

One of the star attractions for the thousands of fans expected to descend on the Kildare venue is Masters champion Danny Willett while he’s joined by fellow Englishmen Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick among others.

Defending champion Soren Kjeldsen, who won at Royal County Down, is among a strong European contingent with the lovable Spaniard Miguel Angle Jimenez certain to be a crowd favourite.

Masters champion Danny Willett is currently ninth in the world. Stuart Franklin Stuart Franklin

The traditional Pro-Am event will officially mark the beginning of the 2016 Irish Open on Wednesday before the serious business begins on Thursday.

Tee-times will be confirmed by the European Tour later in the week and as expected, ticket sales are going well with organisers anticipating the weekend to be a sell-out.