Reigning champion
Russell Knox
will start his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open defence in a group with
Tommy Fleetwood
and
Shane Lowry
early on Thursday morning.
The trio, with a combined 10 European Tour victories, will tee off at 08:40 on the opening day of the competition at Lahinch Golf Club.
Knox won last year's event at Ballyliffin Golf Club with a dramatic play-off victory and this time he has been grouped with England's Fleetwood and home hope Lowry, who won the event as an amateur in 2009 and claimed victory at the first Rolex Series event of the year at January's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Presented by EGA.
Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex leaderMatt Wallacetees off at 13:20 alongside 2017 Irish Open winnerJon Rahmand five-time European Tour winnerLouis Oosthuizen.
Graeme McDowell,two weeks before playing the Open Championship on his home course of Royal Portrush, will start his Irish Open challenge at 08:30 alongside fellow Ryder Cup winnersMartin KaymerandThorbjørn Olesen.
Ireland'sPadraig Harrington, the 2007 winner of the Irish Open, begins his first round at 13:10 alongside English duoIan PoulterandTyrrell Hattonin a grouping that boasts a combined 30 European Tour victories.
Christian Bezuidenhout, fresh from his win at Real Club Valderrama last week, starts at 13:45 alongside Italian duoAndrea PavanandGuido Migliozzi.
The full draw can be viewedhere.
