Moriarty walks 18th [Stuart Franklin /Getty Images]
2003 Walker Cup player, Colm Moriarty, got a flavour of the European Tour from up closer than in recent years after signing for a round of 67 at the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland on Thursday in Killarney. After a number of seasons on the Challenge Tour and battling without making the breakthrough at Q School, Moriarty received an invite this year and has shown the benefit of the year’s work with the Legend of Largs, Bob Torrance.
Given the fairytale scripts currently being written in Irish golf over the past two months a win by Colm Moriarty in his national event does not seems too far fetched. Especially given Shane Lowry’ s achievement at Baltray in 2009. As it is, heading into Friday’s second round, the Athlone golfer is the leading Irish challenger on 4 under, albeit in an eleven way share of sixth place.
Simon Thornton in one of his rare European Tour starts, courtesy of an invite, since losing his card last season has also made a bright start singing for a round of 68, dropping just one shot at the 12th hole. Having missed the cut at last year’s event by a couple of shots the County Down based golfer will be anxious to make the weekend this time around.
On stroke behind is Michael Hoey, who missed the cut last week at the Nordea Masters following his opening round of 83, Portstewart amateur Paul Cutler, the Open winner, Darren Clarke, and Damien McGrane – who so far this season is very much short of the consistency he enjoyed last season. Such Is the bunching of players that those on 2 under par already share 27th place.
Rory McIlroy ended his back nine very disappointed and the US Open winner carded a 70 in the end to finish eight shots off the pace. In his own mind it was his driving off the tee box that was the problem, rather than as his caddy, and so happened to do some work ahead of his late start on Friday.
The Holywood golfer is joined by Peter Lawrie, Paul McGinley. Amateur Alan Dunbar and two players from the Irish PGA Region 2010 Order of Merit, Darren McWilliams and Barrie Trainor. Not bad company for the last three names to be mixing with - in terms of their scores at least.
Last year’s PGA Irish Region order of merit winner, David Higgins, made the drive up from his native Waterville for his second outing of the year on the European Tour, a place he earned his keep for a number of years. In 2000 the Kerry man won three times on the Challenge Tour but was unable to repast the wins, eventually losing his automatic playing rights in 2007. Despite numerous attempts the arduous barrier that is European Tour Qualifying School has proved impervious to his attempts over the past three seasons. His opening round however given Higgins a chance of making the cut on Friday if he can improve slightly on his level par round.
In the week that has just seen another South of Ireland completed the reality of golf is no better exemplified than in the 1994 result at the Lahinch course, which saw Padraig Harrington lose out to Higgins. A feat that was repeated at the Irish Close Championship the same year.
Now, seventeen years later it is Harrington who holds the three major titles – as does the 1990 winner, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, a winner in 2000. Ironically the runner up in 2003 Colm Moriarty has progressed more than the winner that year, as Mervyn Owens, as yet has been unable to break into the professional ranks.
The next group of Irish players on one over oar includes Graeme McDowell, who is still struggling with his post US Open win, and is anxious to avoid missing the cut - as he did at The Open last week in Royal St. George. The group with rounds of 72 includes US based Waterville man, Mark Murphy, Waterford’s Kevin Phelan, Amateur Dermot McElroy and Mallow golfer, Michael Collins – who is targeting the cut as a minimum. - following his debut last year at the same venue.
Gary Murphy’s grip on the game still abandons him and unable to regain his card last year he has enjoyed intermittent starts so far this season. His indifferent form coming into the Irish Open makes the first round of 73 unsurprising and making the cut less likely. There maybe comfort the in the company around him as he is joined by Padraig Harrington and Challenge Tour players, Niall Kearney.
With scores of 3 over are 2003 Walker Cup players, Noel Fox, 2009 irish Open winner Shane Lowry, Gareth Maybin and Irish PGA Region player Damien Mooney. All with some work to do to get closer to the cut off mark on Friday.
In trouble already and with the keys in the car for a quick getaway from Killarney on Friday are Irish PGA region qualifies Eamon Brady of Clontarf and David Mortimer of Galway. With rounds of +6 and +7 respectively the challenge of stepping up to the European Tour level is clearly highlighted.
In fact last year the only PGA Irish Region player to make the weekend play was Barrie Trainor.
It will be interesting to see if that will be bettered this year.
