Supplier Focus - Fore Golf

ForeGolf nestled between Naas and Newbridge Co Kildare; just twenty minutes from Dublin with Palmerstown House, The K Club and Carton House golf courses on our doorstep.

In 1997, Derek Murray brought custom fitting to Ireland and developed it for the every day golfer from his time working on the European Tour. A small but perfectly formed company, he now stands shoulder to shoulder with his father Don Murray and Dave Williams, it is their knowledge and expert club building which makes custom fitting by ForeGolf the fastest and most successful way to make you a better golfer. 

Yes, we work on the European tour, we have world awards for our club-making, we have custom fitted top tour players, we have our own tour truck full to the brim with gadgets and golf wizardry, but all that means nothing if we can’t make you a better golfer. What happens at ForeGolf works because we take the time to get to know you, understand you and build clubs specifically to suit you. 

Our customers are from near and far, you’d be surprised who holds ForeGolf clubs close to their hearts, TV personalities, champion jockeys, premier league footballers, corporate bigwigs, foreign ambassadors and even American footballers but they were golfers who were struggling with their game and needed help. 

You can say you’ve got custom fitted clubs, but did you hit some clubs into a net whilst someone declared you slightly taller than standard? That’s not custom fitting, that’s buying a set of clubs.

ForeGolf is different, not everyone is the same, everything is taken into account, your strengths, your weaknesses, your likes, dislikes and it all takes place on our Tour Truck. We are located at a driving range so everything is tested using real ball flight results. You get to try, see and feel clubs from Callaway, Cobra, Golfsmith, Mizuno, Nike, Snake Eyes, Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping and Wilson but each specifically built with different shafts, lengths, and weighted to suit a certain player. 

Throughout the session we want to explain the differences between clubs so you understand the process and can instantly recognize the performance of a correctly custom fitted club. We are hard-working and dedicated to our customers, we want you to play better golf, that’s it.

Derek Murray

www.foregolf.ie

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Irish Open 2016 at The K Club

Rory McIlroy will continue to host the Irish Open for the next three years on behalf of his foundation, with Dubai Duty Free also extending its sponsorship until 2018.

The prize fund for next year's tournament at The K Club over May 19-22 will increase by 60 per cent, rising from 2.5million euros (£1.85m) to 4m euros (£2.96m).

Four-time major winner McIlroy, who missed the cut at Royal County Down earlier this year, said: "The Irish Open has always meant so much to me, so I am really excited to announce my commitment to host the tournament, on behalf of the Rory Foundation, for the next three years.

"I would like to thank Colm McLoughlin of Dubai Duty Free and Keith Pelley of The European Tour for supporting my vision to develop the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into one of the leading events on The European Tour's schedule over the next three years.

"I was delighted with the support I received, not only from the players who competed this year, but also from the fans who came along to the Irish Open at Royal County Down in May - they made it another sell-out tournament.

"I am sure The K Club - on the 10th anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup - will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open."

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Rory Could Clean Sweep 2015 - Monty

Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie believes it would be "worth a punt" on Rory McIlroy winning six majors in a row by completing a 2015 clean sweep.

The Co down native won the final two major championships of 2014 with victory at the Open in July and the US PGA Championship the following month.

Montgomerie, who captained a European team featuring McIlroy to Ryder Cup glory at Celtic Manor in 2010, believes the 25-year-old can dominate the sport in a way not even Tiger Woods managed.

Speaking to social network site kicca.com, Montgomerie said:

"Can he win all four in a year, never mind two? That means six in a row. Wow, that'll be something.

"If you're a betting man, I'm sure there are a lot of people putting money on it, I'm sure it's a 100-1 shot but it's worth a punt. If I was a gambler, which I'm not, I'd put money on that; he's that dominant, and that good."

Montgomerie certainly believes McIlroy is capable of holding all four major titles at the same time by winning the opening two majors of 2015 - the Masters and the US Open.

"The 2015 majors are coming up with the first one, the Masters, in April. Rory McIlroy, having won the Open and the US PGA, he's going for three in a row and if he does that, the US Open will be a big event, to see if he can get that grand slam.

"If he does win the Masters, wow, that US Open will be a big, big, big do indeed."

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Lowry Looks Forward to 2015

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Shane Lowry wants to kick off the 2015 season with a bang when he makes his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

The Irishman finished fifth at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – one of seven top tens in 2014, which also included second place at the BMW PGA Championship – and he is targeting one more strong performance before packing away the clubs for a well-earned break.

Lowry feels that a win is just around the corner, so to do it at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, where a world-class field has assembled to contest the US$6.5million prize fund, would certainly make the Christmas turkey taste even sweeter.

“It’s such a big event and a big purse, it’s a great chance to get a good start to the new season,” said the 27 year old. “I’m really looking forward to giving it everything this week and then taking some time off over Christmas and New Year. Going into the break off the back of a win would obviously be fantastic.

“When you’re playing well in the last few months of the season, you earmark this tournament on your calendar as one you’d really like to get into. I’ve never been here but I’ve always watched it on television and hoped that I’d play in it one day.

“I’ve been playing really well lately and I feel like a win shouldn’t be too far away if I keep doing what I’m doing. This would be a great week to do it, no doubt about that.”

The two-time European Tour winner added: “This is only my fourth time to South Africa, believe it or not. We have a lot of tournaments here but I’ve only played a few times. Sun City is a beautiful place and everything – the hotels, the food, the people – is great, so I’m looking forward to a very enjoyable week.”

Another player hoping to take advantage of recent fine form is Brooks Koepka, who last week was announced as the 2014 European Tour Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

The young American won his maiden title at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports last month, and after spending some time back home in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, he is eager to add to his haul at the first opportunity in the 2015 campaign.

“I was hoping for a win before the end of the year and I felt like I’d knocked on the door a few times,” said Koepka. “I would’ve been disappointed to finish the year without a win, so to be coming here with the chance to get two is great. It would be a nice way to end the year and a great way to start the 2015 campaign.

“It was nice to go home for a few days and celebrate with my family. We had the whole family and some friends over for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have some time to relax and unwind, and I really enjoyed it, but now I’m ready to get back to work. 

“It’s a neat course and I think it will suit my game. I like it. There are some very small greens so you’ve got to be accurate with your irons. It kind of plays to some of my strengths, so it’ll be interesting as the week goes on.”

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Augusta Awaits Master Lowry

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Shane Lowry finished fifth at the DP Wolrd Tourc Championship to move into the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 50 and all-but secure a Masters Tournament debut next April.

Speaking about breaking into the world's top 50, Lowry said: "It was one of the goals for me playing these last four tournaments. I've been between 52 and 54 in the world for a month or so now and I felt like I have been playing the golf to have the high finish to get in there.

"I just wasn't scoring well and finishing 15th to 25th. A nice, high finish this week is going to do it for me so I'm thrilled and I can't wait till next April."

It has been a good week for Lowry where he ended joint leader on Thursday with world number one Rory McIlroy.

Then on Friday the Clara man marked another success when carded a hole-in-one on the thirteenth hole from 183 yards

"It was a beautiful shot, a perfect number for my six iron," said Lowry.

"It's my first in tournament play and only my second ever so it was pretty exciting. It was hard to go on and play the next hole after that."

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Profile - Simon Thornton

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Simon Thornton achieved much in his Rookie year on the European Tour and more than the results suggested at first glance. All of which gave him the chance to learn the ropes after years on the Irish PGA Region and the Challenge Tour. 

Having finished 136th in the Race to Dubai in that year Thornton returned to Q School with the knowledge that his consistency in the 2010 season was rewarded in the two of the season’s re-ranks. 

Having missed the cut in his first Tour event in South Africa Thornton then went on to finish a creditable 17th - in only his second event - which was followed by 36th place at the Open de Andalucia and then 10th place at the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal in April – an event he decided to risk playing although it was the weekend his first Daughter was due. 

In the build up to the first Re-rank in May the former Royal County Down Assistant Professional missed five consecutive cuts - Open de España in Sevilla, BMW Italian Open in Italy, Ibedrola Open Calla Millor Mallorca and the Madrid Masters – but was fortunate to have done enough in the early part of the season to move to 18th place. 

At the Celtic Manor Wales Open in June Thornton notched up a 61st place finish which was followed by the sixth missed cut at the Estoril Open de Portugal and then a 9th place in Germany. His weekend at the BMW International Open at Eichenreid Golfclub in Munich saw him play in the final group on Sunday with Bradley Dredge and Ross Fisher - following three rounds of 67 – showing that Thornton clearly has the game for the big time. 

At the 3 Irish Open Thornton was disappointed with his first round of 71, which was followed on Friday by a 74, to finish three shots off cut and an early trip home to Newcastle, County Down. 

Thornton earned his European Tour card after successfully negotiating his way to Final Stage Qualifying School in 2009. Doing just enough to see him finish inside the ten under par cut-off for the 29th card. 

For the 2011 season Thornton had to qualify once again at PGA Catalunya and was joined by Gary Murphy. Who after ten years was back to basics.

However it was his victory in the 2013 Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open that completed a remarkable rise through the professional ranks. 

Born in Yorkshire but now an Irish passport holder after moving to Newcastle, in County Down, he was playing off a handicap of seven just a decade or so ago. 

“When I first went over to work as an assistant in the pro shop at Royal County Down, I could barely hit it out of my own shadow,” he admitted. But his hard work and perseverance paid off as he progressed firstly through the Irish PGA regional circuit, before moving onto the EuroPro Tour and then graduating to the Challenge Tour in 2011. 

Thornton posted two top ten finishes en route to 51st place in the Rankings, but later earned a European Tour card for the first time after successfully negotiating his way through the Second and Final Stages of the Qualifying School. 

Showed his determination and grit in a turbulent week at the 2011 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, during which he learned of the birth of his second child back in Ireland and also battled illness and intense pressure of possibly missing out on a European Tour card before posting the best round of the final day, a 64, to clinch his spot. Lost his card in 2012 and was playing on the Challenge Tour again at the start of 2013, before victory in Saint-Omer gave him exemption for The Race to Dubai until the end of 2014.

At 2014 European Tour Final Qualifying a T30 finish proved insufficient to reclaim his tour card.

Fact File 

Date of Birth:March 18th, 1977 

Attachment: Team Ireland Golf 

Place of Birth: Bradford, England 

Turned Pro: 2005 

Qualifying School: (2005), (06), (07), 08, 09* (10) 12 (14)
Career earnings: €577,449 November 2014

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Lowry and Harrington Share Second

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Shane Lowry signed for a seond round 70 on a difficult second day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Friday, adding to his opening 66 at Kingsbarns to finish eight under par in the pro-am event, one shot ahead of Scotland's Chris Doak, whose 67 at Kingsbarns was one of the best scores in wet and windy conditions.

A birdie on his final hole ensured Lowry edged ahead of the pack on a crowded leaderboard, with Padraig Harrington, Oliver Wilson and Raphaël Jacquelin all seven under par alongside Doak.

Stephen Gallacher, who made his Ryder Cup debut last week at Gleneagles, had also been seven under before a double bogey on the seventh at Kingsbarns, where European team-mates Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Victor Dubuisson were also in action.

McIlroy, partnered by his father Gerry and keen to make the cut in the team event so Gerry could play St Andrews on Sunday on his 55th birthday, started the day nine shots off the pace and dropped back to two over par with a bogey on the 14th.

However, the World Number One responded in style with a superb fairway-wood approach to the par five 16th and rolled in the eagle putt from 15 feet before making birdies on the 17th, first and third.

The 25 year old then drove the green on the short par four sixth to set up another birdie and move to four under par, just four behind Lowry and with a potential two more rounds at St Andrews to come.

McIlroy carded an opening 63 over the Old Course in the 2010 Open and has also finished second twice, third and eighth in five appearances in this event.

Raphaël Jacquelin finished with consecutive birdies to snatch the halfway lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Frenchman, a four-time European Tour winner, carded a second round 70 at Kingsbarns to lie nine under par in the pro-am event also played over Carnoustie and The Old Course at St Andrews.

That was one ahead of Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry and England’s overnight leader Oliver Wilson.

Wind and rain made scoring more difficult on Friday but Jacquelin birdied his final two holes to move into pole position for a fifth European Tour title.

“I’m pretty happy, especially the way I finished,” said Jacquelin, whose last title came at last year’s Open de España after a record-equalling nine-hole sudden-death play-off.

“I birdied 17 and 18, so it was good before having dinner and going to rest. 

“I didn't play that well, and not as well as yesterday, but it was not that easy, a bit of wind, a bit of rain, a bit of cold as well. 

“I feel good - it's a long weekend, a lot of golf to play, so the game of golf it's not that easy.”

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Route 66 for Lowry and Harrington

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Padraig Harrington finished Thursday at Carnoustie in a tie third place after a six under par 66 in the Alfred Dunhills Links Championship. Despite bogeying the last two holes.

The Dubliner was joined on the leader board by Shane Lowry, who played the first round at Kingsbarns and also carded a 66.

Rory McIlroy signed for a 73. in sharp coitrats to his dmeoition of Ricky Fowler last Sundat at Glenbeagles.

 

"A little bit flat, if I'm honest," McIlroy said when asked about his round. "Obviously with the crowds and everything we were playing in front of last week, to come here it seems a little quiet out there, but it was fun to get to play with my dad.

"I wish I had played a bit better and made a few more birdies but hopefully that will happen over the next couple of days.

"I want to win every week and I want to play well this week and at least give myself a chance. It was not the best score out there for me but we got the hardest course out of the way."

Oliver Wilson produced a sensational return to form as course record-equalling 64 at Carnoustie gave him the first round lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links championship.

A member of Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup side, the nine-time European Tour runner-up had slipped to 792nd on the Official World Golf Ranking as Paul McGinley’s side retained the trophy at Gleneagles last week, and now primarily plays on The Challenge Tour where he finds himself outside this season’s top 100.

However, a second round 63 in Kazakhstan last month showed that his best form might not be too far away, and nine birdies and a single bogey – including a 30 foot effort at his final hole – gave the 34 year old a one shot lead over Raphaël Jacquelin.

“It's nice to just get out there and take advantage,” said Wilson. “Looking at the forecast, getting Carnoustie out of the way is theoretically the best thing, but you've still got to go and play and shoot a good score to take advantage of it, and I'm delighted that I have. 

“Dunhill Links is always one of the best tournaments of the year. I'm obviously grateful to be here, but just trying to work on my own game to try to get a chance to get back on that team. 

“It's a great tournament. It's good fun, and you think everyone's attitude is a little different, it's a little different to the cocoon of a normal tournament. You have your caddie and amateurs to spend time with and look after. 

“We had a good fourball and it was fun, and that helps in this format because you're out there for quite a long time. 

“It's nice to be on that board - like I said, I was really pleased with how I played. I've been working hard and the game is improving all the time.” 

In an unusual change from recent years, both of the top two played Carnoustie in the pro-am event which is also played over the Old Course at St Andrews and Kingsbarns.

Carnoustie is traditionally the hardest of the three courses but was playing relatively easy in benign conditions.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher was the best-placed of the Gleneagles quartet in the field after a 68, with fellow rookie Victor Dubuisson returning a 71, World Number One Rory McIlroy a 73 and Martin Kaymer a 74. European Captain Paul McGinley shot 72 in just his second European Tour event since July.

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