Shane Lowry's given organisers of next month's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open a huge boost with the news that he intends to play at Galgorm Castle.
The tournament's been moved from Mount Juliet to the County Antrim estate to remain within the European Tour's UK 'bubble'.
Lowry is due to play in the US Open at Winged Foot the week prior to the rearranged Irish Open.
The reigning Open champion has told IrishGolfer that he intends flying home after tackling the Major in New York.
"My plan is to play the Irish Open, but we’ll see what happens", Lowry said.
"My plan is actually to go back to Ireland that week anyway after the U.S. Open.
"There’s been quite a few cases over the last few days in Ireland. So, look, I don’t want to make any decisions, was is it, six weeks out? I’ll make them over the next couple weeks."
Should Lowry follow through on his intention, he'll need to fly straight to Northern Ireland in order to avoid a mandatory 14-day isolation period.
Players who have played at the US Open do not need to quarantine upon their arrival in Northern Ireland.
Lowry had a respectable week at the Wyndham Championship, closing out on Sunday with a round of 67 to finish in a tie for 23rd.
And the 2009 Irish Open winner is looking forward to the test of Galgorm, a course he's never played before, "I’ve never been there but then I’ve heard it’s nice, heard it’s a lovely hotel and good golf course.
"We’ll be in the European Tour bubble, that’s a bit tighter than this one over here."
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