The Irish Golf Club Gazette: 01/08/13

1/08/2013

Olympic Sympathy for McIlroy

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Padraig Harrington says he has "massive sympathy" for Rory McIlroy over golf's return to the Olympics in 2016.

The world number one, like all Northern Ireland athletes, can choose between representing Team GB or Ireland - and, having seen the reaction last autumn to saying he felt "more British", has even said he might not to go to Brazil at all.

Dubliner Harrington, in South Africa for this week's Volvo Golf Champions, said: "I have massive sympathy as an Irishman and massive sympathy more so as a sportsman. No sportsman should have to make that decision. That's it, straightforward - nobody at 23 years of age should be asked to make that decision."

"And the reality is there've been people in politics for the last hundred years who have tried to negotiate that and haven't been able to. So why would you ask a 23-year-old just because he's going to hit a little white golf ball?

"It's very unfortunate and I think it is unfortunate in the sense that it means a great deal for golf for him to play.

"It's a very big deal because golf (not part of the Games for over a century) is only on a trial period in the Olympics.

"We have two runs at it and we do, as golfers, have to perform and put our best foot forward, so it would be nice if the world number one is there and he's supporting the event.

"It's an extraordinarily difficult decision. We need our best players to play in the Olympics to show that golf is serious in the Olympics.

"It would be nice if the Olympic council would say 'Here we go, you can play in the Olympics', or make the decision on their behalf.

"There's going to be no winner out of this one whatever."

Harrington Recalls Durban Debut

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Seventeen years on from making his professional debut on The European Tour in the FNB Players Championship, Padraig Harrington returns to Durban Country Club for this week’s Volvo Golf Champions.

Despite playing “terribly” from tee to green, the three-time Major Champion finished in a tie for 49th place in a tournament won by Wayne Westner – a result which helped convince Harrington he belonged on The European Tour.

He explained: “I rang home and said, “Mum, I’ve just finished 49th, I won, £1,480 pounds – and I couldn’t have played much worse. They are just giving it away!” Back then, £1,480 was a fortune. The most I had ever won before that was about £300.

“So it gave me great momentum, because having played poorly from tee to green, I walked away from the tournament thinking: “Wow, I can play a lot better, and yet I still made the cut, and I still made some money.” So I really felt like I belonged.

“Whereas, if my first tournament was at, say, Wentworth, I might have shot 72-73 to miss the cut, been 20 shots behind the leader and felt like I should never go and play with the pros again, because I wasn’t good enough.”

Fast forward almost two decades, and Harrington has racked up 14 titles and accrued more than €23million in career earnings on The European Tour.

His last Tour victory was at the 2008 US PGA Championship, since when Harrington has struggled to recapture the scintillating form of his halcyon days.

But the Irishman has high hopes for the 2013 campaign, and is itching to return to competitive action after six weeks away from the game.

He said: “I really do like starting a tournament where there’s no cut, and no matter what happens this week, I’m going to get four rounds. Sometimes I’ve avoided coming here in the past because it’s the South African players’ summer and they are all ready to play and you’re a little bit rusty.

“You shoot a couple of 72s, don’t play too badly but still miss the cut. So you spend another weekend on the range, which is not really helping things, because you need a card in your hand. Whereas this week, if I play well I have a chance of winning the tournament – and even if things don’t go well for me on Thursday and Friday, I still have Saturday and Sunday to find some form.

“If you shoot 75-75-75-65, I guarantee you’re feeling pretty good about your game. Whereas if you shoot 72-72 and miss the cut in a normal event, you’re feeling miserable. So it’s huge getting that extra couple of rounds in, no matter what. I think a lot of players know they will get a nice start to the year and get some momentum going. Hopefully I can get off on the right foot and set myself up nicely for a great season ahead.”

Rory Adds IGWA Award

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Rory McIlroy has been voted ‘Professional of the Year’ in the Irish Golf Writers’ Awards for 2012.

The 23-year old from Holywood won the US PGA in record-breaking fashion at Kiawah Island in August, his second Major Championship and one of five victories he recorded worldwide in a season when he also captured the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic and became Irish golf’s first world number one.

This is McIlroy’s third time to win the ‘Professional of the Year’ award, having also won in 2009 and in 2011, when he shared the honour with Darren Clarke.

The amateur awards were also captured by Ulster golfers. Alan Dunbar of Rathmore Golf Club was voted the ‘Men’s Amateur of the Year’ following his win in the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon while Royal Portrush’s Stephanie Meadow claimed the ‘Women’s Amateur of the Year’ award following an outstanding season.

Having helped the University of Alabama to its first team national title in the NCAA Championships in Tennessee in May, Ms Meadow secured the decisive point for Great Britain and Ireland in a dramatic Curtis Cup victory over the United States at Nairn before going on to capture Ladies British Amateur Open title at Carnoustie.

Cork-born businessman Oliver Barry, who started his career in the music industry as an impresario and concert promoter, is the recipient of the ‘Distinguished Services to Golf’ award.

Mr Barry’s vision of providing affordable and challenging golf to the people of Dublin led to the founding of Hollystown Golf Club, Ireland’s first pay and play golf course, in 1992.

The recipients will receive their awards, which have been specially designed for the Irish Golf Writers’ Association (IGWA) by Tipperary Crystal, at an Awards Dinner sponsored by Carton House Golf Club in Maynooth on January 24.

Padraig Plans for Seventies

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Padraig Harrington believes his best years still lie ahead of him and claims he'll be playing on into his 70's.

The Dubliner is now 41 but claims his passion for the game remains undiminished and believes he is working and training harder than at any point in his career.

Harrington, ranked 59 in the world, ended a two-year wait for a title by winning the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda last October and is determined to build on that success this term.

"I love playing, I'm fascinated by the game," he stated. "I'm not a guy who can just say no. You are retired for a long time and I tell you what, I'll still be playing competitive golf when I'm 70.

"I have a young attitude, I'm physically stronger than I've ever been and I just love it, love it.

Best to come

"Regardless of what anybody else thinks, I've got to think the best is yet to come - that's what keeps me going, that's what gets me up in the morning."

Harrington will get his season up and running at the Volvo Golf Champions event in South Africa this week and is convinced the effort he has been putting in will be rewarded in 2013.

"Over the last five weeks you'd be hard pressed to find somebody who's done more time, more practice, more anything on their game than I have," he continued.

"If anything I'm still trying to keep a balance on things. I might be doing too much practice, thinking about golf too much, playing too many tournaments.

"I love everything about golf and I'm fascinated by everything about it. Logically I know this isn't going to happen but every day I'm hoping to find the secret to this game."

Rory Will Jumeirah No More

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Rory McIlroy's path to a new lucrative sponsorship deal has been cleared after Jumeirah Group announced it was not renewing a five-year deal with the world No 1.

The global luxury hotel company based in the United Arab Emirates signed up McIlroy when he was 18, becoming one of his first corporate sponsors.

McIlroy has been linked with Nike for some time with industry observers estimating that he could secure a deal worth $20million (£12.4m) per year.

That would give Nike two of golf's biggest stars as the multinational sportswear manufacturer has been backing Tiger Woods since he turned professional in 1996.

"We are extremely proud of Rory's rise to the No 1 spot with Jumeirah as his principal sponsor since he turned professional. We are delighted with his consistent support of Jumeirah hotels and resorts around the world," said Jumeirah Group president and CEO Gerald Lawless.

McIlroy said: "Jumeirah became my first corporate sponsor when I turned professional back in 2007, and I would like to thank everyone at the company for their support in helping me become the player I am today.

"I have enjoyed five very exciting and successful years with Jumeirah and will always have great memories of my time with the company. Celebrating my first professional win at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic with the Jumeirah team was a particular highlight."