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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