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Diarmuid O’Flynn,
Killarney
IT’S a serious business, this professional golf. From the time the first of the pros puts down his ball on the first tee on Thursday morning it’s all business. Game face on until the last ball is struck.
There’s big money at stake of course, everyone is aware of that, but there are also ranking points and if you’re one of those at the wrong end of the table, perhaps a Tour card to be secured.
Damien McGrane is one of those who have been struggling a little this year so for the battling Meathman the Irish Open was going to be important. A full tour member since 2003, winner of the Volvo China Open in 2008, heading south west he lay in 102nd place in the Race to Dubai.
However, he shrugged off that lowly position and after day two was in joint 11th place, six under, just four behind the leader with Peter Lawrie and amateur Paul Cutler.
The third round, moving day as it’s known, was a bit of a disaster for Damien. He moved alright but in the wrong direction. A horrendous start to his back nine left him six-over par 77 and out of the reckoning. Yesterday the smile was back on his face, six shots picked up with only a single bogey was nice way to finish what is one of the big weeks of his golfing year.
“It’s a great tournament to play, the highlight of the season for all the Irish players I’m sure and the venue makes you shoot under par, if you’re playing anyway well at all you will shoot under par,” he said.
His favourite Irish Open venue perhaps?
“Yeah, with the crowds and all that, definitely; Baltray was always well up there but Killarney is top-class this year, great enthusiasm, a well-run event. I think it’s a positive event for the European Tour and the Irish Open I think is in a healthy state.
“It might be struggling for sponsorship at the moment but I think that will definitely improve. It’s such a great advertisement for golf and for Irish golf particularly.”
So you’d like to come back to Killarney? “If you pay for me I will!”
Business it is, but as with many of the pros, the Irish Open and Killarney is a little different to many of the other events on the tour. and with so much on offer besides the golf, everything nearby and accessible, it’s a popular place to bring wife and kids.
“I had my family with me all week so I was busy every day. We went out every evening in the town, enjoyed ourselves. It’s just a great celebration of golf, a terrific week. We rented a house, myself and all my family – it’s the only we could be together, keep it simple. A lot of players would bring their wives and families to a place like Killarney, it’s family orientated, that’s what it’s about, and we did the same thing last year.”
The pity for Damien of course was that third round, and even though his Sunday performance was redemption of sorts he couldn't help but think what might have been.
“That’s golf,” he shrugged, “lived to tell the tale, thank God.”
The only blip on the weather radar all weekend was on Saturday and it precipitated (weak pun, right?) the only real blip on Damien’s card.
“When that rain came in I just threw away all my shots. All of a sudden the course became monster long, I was playing the tough run of holes, almost hitting woods into the par fours, so needless to say once you start dropping them they almost fall like confetti — I lost it all there. Just the luck of the draw, the way the game is played.
“Apart from those nine holes I had a solid week, struggled for nine holes out of 72 – unfortunate, but it gives me a bit of hope. I played reasonably well from start to finish, which is nice, I had plenty of chances. I’m happy enough.”
Might this even turn around his season? “No. I felt I’ve been getting a bit better in the last month or so and I still think that way, a bit of confidence coming my way. I played steady all this week, got a bit of good fortune, played nicely today to finish off the Irish Open for another year.”
Might this even tempt him to change his plans for next weekend, and have a go at the Irish PGA? “No. I’ve played plenty of golf, need a bit of time off.”
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/KgtywHAkEUw/post.aspx
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British Behaviour Abroad report shows fewer arrests and lost passports, but more Brits needed hospital treatment
Britons are more likely to require consular help in Spain, get arrested in Thailand, or die in the Philippines, according to Foreign Office figures.
While the number of Britons arrested abroad fell last year, statistics show they are still getting into other difficulties while holidaying or living overseas.
Total arrests in the 12 months ending March 2011 reached 5,700, a reduction on 6,439 in 2009-10 and 6,919 in 2008-09, according to the British Behaviour Abroad report.
Spain recorded the highest number of Britons of arrests, at 1,745, although proportionate to visitor numbers the place Britons were more likely to be arrested was Thailand, followed by the US. Countries with the majority of arrests concerning drugs offences included Jamaica, Norway, Argentina, Brazil, Serbia and Peru.
In total, 5,972 Britons died abroad last year, with those in the Philippines most likely to die, although 84% of the deaths were through natural causes. Thailand recorded the deaths of 374 Britons, 64% of which were from natural causes.
There were more Britons requiring hospital treatment abroad. Proportionately, Britons were more likely to end up in a Thai hospital. The country recorded 246 cases last year, a mix of ill expats and visitors falling ill or through accidents.
The report also highlighted the need for comprehensive travel insurance to cover expensive medical treatment. Previous research has suggested around one in six Britons travel abroad uninsured.
The number of Britons raped abroad fell to 115, from 132 the previous year. But sexual assaults rose from 140 to 163. According to the Foreign Office report, proportionately the highest number of sexual assaults occurred in Egypt, followed by Turkey.
There were 25,969 cases of lost or stolen passports in 2010-11 compared with 27,272 in the previous 12 months.
Foreign Office research, from a poll of 2,000 UK adults, revealed that 43% of 18- to 24-year-olds know someone who has taken illegal drugs while abroad. It also showed that two thirds of people in Britain don't always find out about the laws of the country they are visiting before they head off abroad, putting them at risk of unknowingly breaking the law, said the report.
Nearly one third (32%) of people were not aware that they will always be prosecuted under local law if they broke the law abroad, with 6% thinking they would be prosecuted under UK law, 22% thinking it depended on the country, and 4% admitting to not knowing at all.
David Lidington, minister for Europe, said: "We work hard to warn British nationals about the consequences of breaking the law abroad so it is really encouraging to see the overall number of cases of arrests and drug arrests falling.
"But last year there were still 5,700 arrests of British nationals overseas. Prison conditions in some parts of the world can be very poor, overcrowded and in some cases dangerous, and sentences can be much tougher than in the UK.
"People are mistaken if they think the FO can get you out of jail. We can't, but we will work hard to try and ensure your sfaety, and that you get a fair trial."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/05/brits-behaving-less-badly-report
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