The Irish Golf Club Gazette: 06/26/13

6/26/2013

Rory Admits Irish Open Pressure

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Rory McIlroy has claimed that he has felt "suffocated" by pressure in the past as he looks ahead to the Irish Open at Carton House starting on Thursday.

Returning to his homeland may ensure that the 24-year-old is given plenty of backing but the expectation that comes with it is a burden that McIlroy admits he has not always coped well with, in previous years.

"That's something I've felt in a couple of Irish Opens is suffocated and having that burden and that pressure and that expectation," he said.

"Of course you have your fans and people that come to watch you and support you, but here everyone lives every shot with you and you make a birdie and there's a huge roar and if you miss a putt, you can hear the disappointment in the crowd."

The biggest thing for the two-time major winner now, he says, is to have fun on the course.

Pressure

"It's much better having fans for you and really wanting you to do well than people rooting against you, so it's a great privilege to have," commented McIlroy.

"The best thing that I can do this week is go out and enjoy myself, smile, and try and play the best that I can and show everyone how much I appreciate their support.

"That's what I've tried to do the last couple of years, just try to embrace the whole week and enjoy it. You don't get a chance to come back here very often and play, so it's nice to be able to do it and enjoy it while you do it."

Wanting to win for the supports is something McIlroy admitted has played a part in him putting pressure on himself.

"I guess it's just a little different here, because I guess you don't feel so much that people necessarily want you to win at any other tournament."

Meanwhile, the Northern Irishman confessed that he made a mistake in the way he let his frustration out on his clubs at the US Open.

"I guess there's other ways to show disappointment," said the USPGA champion. "Taking it out on your golf clubs probably isn't the right way to do it. Everybody is going to get frustrated or angry or disappointed in a bad shot and obviously I'm no different.

"It doesn't really set a good example, I guess, for people watching me and maybe trying to emulate what I'm doing."

Pro-Am Stars Play Carton House

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Crowds were treated to a feast of golf and celebrity at Carton House on Wednesday as some of the biggest names in the game came face-to-face with stars of the sport and music worlds in the Irish Open Pro-Am.

With the sun shining, and plenty of people filing through the gates, there was a great atmosphere across the Montgomerie Course as galleries were able to get up close and personal with some of their heroes.

The marquee group of the morning saw World Number Two Rory McIlroy line up alongside Ukrainian football Legend Andriy Shevchenko, who has clearly been working on his game since his retirement last year, as he teed it up playing off an impressive handicap of two.

Shevchenko, who was awarded the Ballon D’Or in 2004 as the world’s best footballer, was clearly revelling out on course alongside the Northern Irishman, and playing with Rory McIlroy was something that the Ukrainian saw as a great privilege.

“I’m really enjoying it,” explained the former Chelsea star. “To play with Rory (McIlroy) is something very special, as he is a great player, and a very nice guy, and I’m having a wonderful time playing here in Ireland.

“My golf is pretty good, I’m playing off a handicap of two, and have made a few birdies, but I’m really enjoying the company and the course looks very nice.

“There is a great balance to the course as you can test yourself on some holes, but there is also plenty to enjoy. It’s in perfect condition, the greens are very fast, and overall it’s really nice. It is still a tough course, but it is playable, and that’s why it is so great to play here.”

There were also some notable names from a little closer to home, as Dublin born 1997 Snooker World Champion Ken Doherty took to the course alongside Frenchman Romain Wattel.

The snooker player was clearly relishing the gorgeous weather on Wednesday, but as he lipped out from ten feet on the first it was apparent that he is a still little more dangerous with a cue in hands than a putter, although he was having a great time regardless.

“It’s beautiful, I couldn’t ask for better,” admitted the 14 handicapper. “Typical Irish weather as you can see, but it really is a fantastic day and I’m sure it’s going to be a great tournament, and I’m looking forward to watching a lot of good golf over the next four days.

“I’ve played here at Carton House half a dozen times and I’m very impressed with it as it is a tough course, and it will be a good test for the guys because once they go off the fairway this rough is quite punishing, but I’m sure they’ll really enjoy it here, and there’s going to be great crowds as well, I’m sure.”

Looking to help his team with a little local knowledge was also Carton House member, and ex-member of Irish boy band Westlife, Brian McFadden who was playing alongside 2012 BMW International Open winner Danny Willett.

McFadden was playing off a handicap of 18 in the Pro-Am, but looked like an impressive striker, clearly inspired as he teed it up alongside such talented company as Willett.

He said: “The day’s been good, a bit up and down, with some really good holes, but a few really stinking ones too. But it has been a lot of fun, and getting to go round and watch Danny (Willett) play, he’s amazing, it really makes us realise how poor we are when you watch someone like him hit the ball.

“I’m a member here at Carton House and it is a magnificent golf course, it’s in great condition, and they’ve done an incredible job, and thankfully we’ve got the weather, so hopefully it will hold out and we should see some low scoring, and have a fun weekend.”

Also in action on Wednesday were fellow Irish boy band member Keith Duffy, who performed for almost a decade as part of Boyzone, as well Royal Ascot Champion Jockey Johnny Murtagh.

McIlroy Ups and Downs - McGinley

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Europe's Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has played down concerns over Rory McIlroy's form ahead of this week's Irish Open.

World No 2 McIlroy has not won since the Dubai World Championship last November and has missed two cuts on the European Tour this year, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and BMW PGA Championship.

But McGinley is not worried as he believes McIlroy's aggressive approach to the game means week-to-week consistency will sometimes be sacrificed.

"There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs. That's just his DNA, that's how he is. That is what he is going to be," McGinley told Sky Sports News.

"(Six-time major winner) Nick Faldo was very much a flatliner. If he wasn't winning he was in the top five and, if he wasn't in the top five, he was in the top 10. He never missed cuts, he never seemed to miss a beat. Whereas Rory is different, Rory is going to be up and down, that's what makes him so exciting."

Padraig Harrington, among a strong Irish contingent teeing it up at Carlton House, echoed McGinley's views.

Harrington said: "When he plays well it's genius and that is what he wants. He wants to be erratic in his game to be honest.

"Consistency is over-rated especially when you have achieved at the top end of the game."

Pragmatic

Harrington is mired in a slump of his own; the former Open and US PGA champion's most recent European Tour win came almost five years ago and he is now down at 67 in the world rankings.

The 41-year-old Dubliner supports the ban on anchored putting - which is due to come into force from 2016 - but is willing to use the technique in the interim if it helps his game.

Harrington explained: "I will use whatever is in the rules. I fully believe it should be banned. I think it is a controversial aide to the game that was never meant to be that way, but in professional golf you use what you can within the rules.

"If I hit it into the middle of the trees and I am on a cart path and get a free drop, well I am taking a free drop."

Ambassador Fisher Visits Leixlip

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Leixlip turned out in force today to welcome their very own Irish Open Ambassador, Ross Fisher, ahead of the Pro-Am curtain-raiser at Carton House.

The 2010 Irish Open champion was greeted by around 100 enthusiastic local schoolchildren, councilors and the business community of Leixlip – situated just a few miles from Carton House – as he toured the village and took part in a two-hole par three challenge on the banks of the River Liffey.

Fisher was piped up the drive of Leixlip Castle where he met Desmond Guinness, a direct descendent of Arthur Guinness of the famous brewing family.

He then toured the main street of Leixlip, admiring the artwork decorating a number of shop fronts before judging the best display, planning an oak tree and facing young Leixlip club professional, Mark Cribben, is the two hole challenge at Rowantreee Park on a specially constructed ‘course’ along the river bank. For added entertainment, Fisher also tried his hand at the Irish sport of hurling!

Fisher, who was following fellow Ambassadors Richard Finch (Celbridge) and Brett Rumford (Maynooth) by engaging with the local community ahead of the Irish Open, which starts tomorrow, said: “It’s been a pretty cool experience. I didn’t know what to expect but the welcome I’ve received from the locals has been overwhelming.

“It’s certainly been different and it’s a day I will always remember. Seeing all the kids in their colourful pink shirts has been great fun and that’s what it’s all about. I think it’s brilliant that the Tour and County Kildare have got together to try this initiative and I am very proud to be Leixlip’s Ambassador.”

Fisher concluded his near two hour visit by receiving a lesson in the art of pouring a pint of the ‘black stuff’by ‘mine host’ Luke Moriarty at the Court Yard Hotel. The hotel was also selected as the Best Display by Fisher and the owners will receive Hospitality for two people on Saturday, the third day of the Irish Open.

Meanwhile, Rumford picked O’Neill’s Bar as the winner in Maynooth with Walsh’s Pharmacy in Celbridge the choice of Finch. Both businesses also win Hospitality for two on Saturday.

Irish Open on G-MAC Bucket List

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Graeme McDowell hopes to knock the Irish Open off his 'bucket list' by returning to the winners' circle this weekend.

McDowell is looking to bounce back from a US Open missed cut at Carton House, with a strong field including Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington also on show.

But McDowell says he has a little extra motivation to succeed this week as he looks to end a drought for Northern Ireland in the tournament that dates back almost 70 years.

"There's no doubt the Irish Open is on my golfing bucket list," said McDowell, who has two tournament successes to his name this year.

"It's an event that I've never really competed in. It's an event I would love to win and I would love to add it to my CV.

"To win your national Open is a very special win in a player's heart. It's been almost 70 years since a Northern Irish player has won this event (Fred Daly in 1946). That's a stat we would love to change this weekend.

"There's no doubt I would love to win this one. It's certainly one I'll be giving 100 per cent to this week.

"It kicks off a very busy summer of golf for me and Merion has done nothing but motivate me and make me more hungry for being in the mix come the weekend. I'm ready to go this week and I'm looking forward to it."

6/26/2013

Rory Admits Irish Open Pressure

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