Rory McIlroy returns to action this week at the 2025 Amgen Irish Open at The K Club.

It will be the 70th staging of the event, which Masters champion McIlroy won back in 2016.

NEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie Harry Diamond react on the 18th green during day four of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down Golf Club on September 15, 2024 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

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McIlroy will be looking to put last year’s Irish Open disappointment behind him this weekendCredit: GettyNEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark poses for a photo as he celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning during day four of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down Golf Club on September 15, 2024 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

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Reigning champion Rasmus Hojgaard has opted against defending his titleCredit: Getty

McIlroy has not played since last month’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

He finished the FedEx Cup finale in a tie for 23rd and 12 shots adrift of winner Tommy Fleetwood.

Although Fleetwood will not feature in the Republic of Ireland, McIlroy is one of several high-profile stars in the field in Kildare.

He joins fellow home favourites Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington in carrying the Irish hopes at the latest event on the DP World Tour.

They help make up a line-up which includes 18 major championship wins.

However, defending champion Rasmus Hojgaard has opted to skip the event ahead of this month’s Ryder Cup.

Irish Open: Date and how to follow

The 2025 Amgen Irish Open will take place from Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7 at The K Club.

It will be the third time the course in County Kildare has hosted the event after doing so in 2016 and 2023.

The first of those saw McIlroy claim a three-shot victory for his only Irish Open title.

The K Club was also the venue for Team Europe’s victory at the 2006 Ryder Cup.

File photo dated 22-05-2016 of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy with the trophy after winning the Irish Open at The K Club, County Kildare. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday June 10, 2016. Before hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open last month, McIlroy had been frustrated at failing to turn good performances into victories and was annoyed at what he felt was "negative spin" being put on those performances. See PA story GOLF US Open Contenders. Photo credit should read Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

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McIlroy won his only previous Irish Open title at The K Club back in 2016Credit: PA

The action will get up and running at 7:30am UK time each day.

Sky Sports Golf will broadcast live coverage from throughout the tournament.

Fans can also keep across the action with live updates on talkSPORT during all four days.

To tune in through the website, click HERE for the live stream or keep up to date with talkSPORT.com.

Alternatively, you can listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 and 1053 AM.

Irish Open: Field and leaderboard

As mentioned, McIlroy and Lowry will be at star names at The K Club but the field is packed with quality.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka will be in action.

Other LIV Golf stars Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed, Tom McKibbin and Adrian Meronk are teeing it up alongside European Masters winner Thriston Lawrence and PGA Tour ace Jhonattan Vegas.

Luke Donald, Marco Penge and Danny Willett are also in the field.

The latest leaderboard from The K Club can be found here.

This year’s event has a total purse of £4.5million on offer to the field.

In 2024, Hojgaard scooped £800,000 by taking home the title after finishing one stroke clear of McIlroy.

2025 Irish Open prize money

Winner: £800,000

2nd: £517,000

3rd: £297,000

4th: £235,000

5th: £182,000

Irish Open: What has been said?

McIlroy looked ahead to a busy September and reflected on his current game following the Tour Championship.

Speaking after his final round, he told reporters: “The season’s not over for me, I’ve still got a lot of golf coming up, so I refuse to call this the end of the season.

“This week I hit it better. The things that I wanted to improve on this week I did.

“Off the tee was much better, I’m probably leading the strokes gained off the tee, but I just couldn’t get the speeds of the greens all week and I struggled to see lines and to feel the speed.

“That was really the story of the week. My putting was so good last week at Caves and then my off the tee play wasn’t good and it sort of just inverted.

“But I definitely improved from tee to green this week, I just couldn’t get a putt to drop really. My game feels close, it certainly isn’t far away.”

Last 10 Irish Open winners

2024 – Rasmus Hojgaard

2023 – Vincent Norman

2022 – Adrian Meronk

2021 – Lucas Herbert

2020 – John Catlin

2019 – Jon Rahm

2018 – Russell Knox

2017 – Jon Rahm

2016 – Rory McIlroy

2015 – Soren Kjeldsen