Shane Lowry wants the Horizon Irish Open's date in the calendar to be looked at again to cater for the absent Rory McIlroy's schedule.
Lowry's comments came after it was revealed there are no plans to make the Irish Open a co-sanctioned event with the PGA Tour.
However DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley says that under a new extended and strengthened deal with the PGA Tour, American chiefs will encourage top Stateside players to compete in Ireland.
READ MORE: Shane Lowry admits he slept through Padraig Harrington's dramatic US Senior Open finale
In the first of a six-year sponsorship deal with US pharmaceutical company Horizon, the prize fund has been doubled to €6m from last year.
Five of the world's top 50 are playing in Mount Juliet this week, including two home-grown favourites - Lowry and Seamus Power - whereas 10 of the top 11 in the rankings will be at JP McManus' Pro Am in Adare on Monday and Tuesday.
Then the Scottish Open next week will attract a glittering field in comparison - with McIlroy among those competing who are not at Mount Juliet this week.
McIlroy has said that the Irish Open's proximity to the British Open means he is staying away.
"We've got a great new sponsor, a €6m prize fund," said Lowry. "This is one of the biggest tournaments on the European Tour.
"So I've heard the talk but it's not about it being a co-sanctioned event. But we always talk about this date, don't we?
"Look, we don't have the best field here this week.
"We have a few of the top players in the world, including myself and Seamus. We have Paddy (Harrington) back from winning the US (Senior) Open, which is great.
"But we'd like to have a stronger field here. Personally, I do feel like the date could be looked at.
"We talk about this every year. I've talked about it with the Tour every year and we'd love to have the date where we can guarantee Rory coming back and playing here every year.
"What works for his schedule because we do need to acknowledge what he's done for the tournament - and what he needs to do to get ready to play his majors, because that's what it's all about for him at the moment.
"But I'm not working for the Tour or behind the scenes. I don't really know what goes into having tournaments on certain dates.
"But we're here this week, we've got a great new sponsor guaranteed for the next six years.
"I've played with the CEO, a lovely man, seems very involved and wants to grow the tournament and make it like a festival for Irish golf. We're in good hands going forward."
As to how this all impacts the Irish Open that got underway today, Pelley said: "Obviously Horizon allowed us to double the prize fund and again Horizon came in through the assistance and support of the PGA Tour, let's be totally candid.
"They're pretty excited about it. I said to the players the Horizon Irish Open has to grow even more, it is one of our signature events.
"People are asking the question will it be co-sanctioned, when will it be co-sanctioned - and that's not currently the plan at this particular time.
"The PGA Tour will encourage players to come over and play in key national opens and this is one of them. There's a lot that we can do.
"The alliance has given us an opportunity in this different, challenging time to give our players prize fund security and additional investment.
"That will allow us to grow things like the national opens, including the Horizon Irish Open this week - to give them a pathway to gain access into a global series."
READ NEXT:
Padraig Harrington reveals how JP McManus attracts the cream of the crop to his Pro-Am
Jubilant Harri looks to Irish Open crowd to shake off stress and tiredness after senior major win
Alex Fitzpatrick following exactly in brother Matt's footsteps with pro debut at Irish Open
Eoin Cadogan: Limerick hurlers' standards put them on top, not size
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
