Profile - Colm Moriarty

With an amateur handicap of (+5), Colm Moriarty enjoyed an outstanding career as a full-time amateur golfer, coupled with a reputation for being one of the most exciting and aggressive players on the world amateur circuit in recent years. He was part of the Irish national team set up since he was sixteen years old and has enjoyed success not only in the most prestigious Irish amateur tournaments, but also in major amateur golf events all over the world.

In 2003, Colm astounded the world amateur game by winning both the Australian (NSW) amateur stroke play and match play titles in New South Wales, Australia. This marked the first time that any player managed to win both titles in one season for almost 30 years. In September 2003, he achieved the highest accolade in world amateur golf when selected to play in the victorious Walker Cup team at Ganton Golf Club. This victory marked the first time that the Great Britain & Ireland team managed to win three Walker Cup titles in a row. 

Leaving his highly distinguished amateur golf career on a high note, Colm turned professional at the end of 2003 began competing on the European Challenge Tour. 

In 2005 showed his potential in the Nissan Irish Open on the European Tour, when he received a sponsors invite to play in the event and went on to finish in 13th place, with Padraig Harrington being the only Irish player to finish ahead of him. Colm had a number of impressive finishes on the Challenge Tour in the 2005 season, the highlight of which was second position in the Kazakhstan Open.

Colm played a combination of Challenge Tour and Europro Tour for the 2007 season. He began the year on a bright note, winning his first professional event, the Europro Tours Wensum Valley tournament at the beginning of May. Then came his first Challenge Tour victory, the First Plus Wales Challenge in July.

Unfortunately those wins were not enough to break back onto the main European Tour, Moriarty finishing 34th in the final 2007 Challenge Tour Rankings. In 2008, Colm finished 55th in the rankings during a disappointing season that had six top 20's, but only two top 10's.

After a slow start to the 2009 Challenge Tour season, Colm produced many consistent performances, missing only 2 cuts from his final 14 events. Only one of these, however, would result in a top-10, and Moriarty finished 52nd on the Order of Merit. Despite a good effort at Tour School, Colm unfortunately missed the four-round cut mark and has played The Challenge Tour again in 2010.

This season Moriarty qualified for the 150th Open Championship where he finished in 37th place on one under in very difficult conditions and also notched up two top ten finishes on the Challenge Tour - ALLIANZ Golf Open du Grand Toulouse and Fred Olsen Challenge de España.

Moriarty is currently in 42nd place in the Challenge Tour Rankings with the last event at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final this week in Iyaly set to decide the top 20 places that offer European Tour exemptions for the 2011 season. 

Fact File

Date of Birth: June 12th, 1979
lace of Birth: Dublin, Ireland

Attachment: Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club

Turned Pro 2003 (plus 5)

Qualifying School (2001), (02), (03), 04, 05, (06), 07, (08), 09

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Clarke Plays New Dubai Open

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Darren Clarke is teeing up at the inaugural Dubai Open with the intention of making a difference in the lives of women in the UAE.

The Ulsterman will be wearing a breast cancer awareness badge on his collar this week at the Els Club Dubai in hope of raising more awareness amongst the women in the UAE where 28% of female deaths have been due to breast cancer.

With his wife Heather succumbing to breast cancer in 2006, Clarke is keen to play a role while in Dubai for the final tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season.

“Well, first and foremost, I’m here because of David Spencer and Mohamed Juma Bumaim (strategic adviser and vice chairman of golf in DUBAi respectively). They have been friends of mine and they kindly asked me to come along and play,” said Clarke today.

“Golf in DUBAi do such a wonderful job with all the tournaments they manage, the Ladies, the Dubai Desert Classic, this one and the MENA Tour. And for different reasons as well; our foundation is actively involved in breast cancer and I’m trying to promote that.

“Spenny gave me an interesting stat last night. He said 28% of female deaths in the UAE die of breast cancer, and that’s an amazing stat and that will be reduced by 50 per cent with early detection. I’ve got my breast cancer awareness badge, it’s over there (collar). It’s something close to my heart for obvious reasons and it’s because of efforts that Spenny and Mohamed do that make that difference. I’m here because I want to support them because they have supported me throughout my career.”

The 2011 British Open winner is eager to put on a strong showing at the immaculate Els Club Dubai against the stars from the Asian Tour despite a lack of success in recent times. The 46-year-old Ulsterman said he still had the desire to compete at the highest level, while also enjoying playing the mentor role to young golfers such as stablemate Tommy Fleetwood of England.

“In terms of what I want to do, I want to play. I love the game and I hate the game. Of late, I’ve hated the game a bit more than I love the game but that’s the game of golf. That’s professional sport. It’s not always pitching up in beautiful venues such as here and going out and having a good time on the golf course. It’s our job and sometimes we love it and sometimes we don’t,” he said.

“You play well and it’s brilliant; if you struggle a little bit, it’s not so much fun but you have to keep battling on for the good times. That’s why I’m still doing it because I love the game and I always will love the game.

“It’s great to have an opportunity where I can maybe offer the likes of Tommy a bit of advice, only because I’ve been through it all, seen every coach in the world, even every mental coach, I think I’ve destroyed 90 per cent of them!

“I’ve seen everybody there is to see at this stage of my career, and it’s nice to give back, especially somebody of Tommy’s talent coming through who is, as I say, going to be another superstar, so to be able to help him is great. So if he listens, he’ll be fine!” laughed Clarke.

Tipped as a potential European captain for the next Ryder Cup in the United States, Clarke said that getting the nod for the job would be another highlight of his career which has yielded over 20 international victories.

“If you’re asked, it’s a huge honour. If I am lucky enough to be asked, then that would be great. But in the meantime, you know, I’m just going to keep on playing and see what happens. As I’ve said all along, I’d love to do it but it’s not something you ask.”

The Dubai Open is promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi.

The Els Club Dubai is situated within the sprawling Dubai Sports City where the par-72 course combines links style golf with traditional ‘classical era’ design. Opened for play in 2008, the course stretches 7,538 yards and was named as ‘Best New International Course’ by prestigious US magazine, Links, and “Best New Facility of the Year” by Troon Golf.

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Meadow Loses LPGA Play-Off

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Stephanie Meadow missed out on a LPGA card after a dramatic 12-hole play-off ended when America’s Carlin Beck chipped in for a birdie on the 18th hole at Final Qualifying in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The 22-year-old from Jordanstown was also in the rough close to the 18th green but her attempt to follow Beck and hole out failed.

It means Beck gains Category 12 status along with 19 other golfers, while Meadow will play on next year’s LPGA Tour with the more limited Category 17 status.

Meadow had a chance on the second play-off hole of the morning, the eighth in total after six were played on on Sunday, but she just missed a birdie putt from 10 feet after Beck and Casey Grice both missed their putts.

Grice was eliminated at the fourth hole they played today when she made bogey at the 10th, a hole where Meadow played a brilliant bunker shot to make par and continue on to the 18th, the 100th hole she played in the tournament.

Meadow looked set to earn Category 12 status without the need for a play-off before she made bogey at the 16th and 17th holes during the fifth and final round of regulation play on Sunday.

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McIlroy Opens in Sydney 2 Under

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Rory McIlroy's defense of his Australian Open title began with a 2-under 69 on a cool, overcast and often drizzly morning at The Australian Golf Club.

McIlroy, winner of back-to-back majors this year at the the Open Championship and PGA Championship, began play on the back nine and made the turn at even-par after a birdie and a bogey. He birdied the first hole of his second nine, added another at the par-5 fifth, but made bogey on the seventh.

He finished strongly, hitting his approach on the ninth to less than 2 feet and making an easy birdie. McIlroy was a stroke behind Australian Aron Price, who was the best of the morning groupings with a 68.

It was a day that almost made him feel at home, McIlroy said.

"It was cold, windy and a little bit of rain here and there," explained the Northern Irishman. "When I think of playing golf in Australia, it's not the kind of day I expected."

McIlroy said the wind was tricky and predicted it could get tougher for the afternoon starters.

"The wind was up early on, then it died, then got up again," he said.

McIlroy missed a 10-foot putt for birdie on the 12th hole -- his third of the day after starting on the back nine -- and fought to save par on the 13th after putting his approach through the green.

He birdied the short par-5 14th after a bunker shot to three feet, but gave the shot back on the next hole after a poor shot out of the sand on the par-3 15th on the revamped Jack Nicklaus layout.

"Three birdies on the back nine, a nice one at the end," he said. "I'll take anything in the 60s. I thought was a good score and puts me right there for tomorrow."

Adam Scott, who finished second in last year's tournament at Royal Sydney when McIlroy birdied the 18th hole of the final round, was in an afternoon group that included American Jordan Spieth.

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Maybin and Lawrie Facing Q School

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Gareth Maybin edged closer to a visit to the European Tour School after an opening 71 left him sharing 53rd spot at the Perth International.

Maybin needs to finish in the top seven in the Australian event to have any chance of retaining his tour card.

He went into this week's event 122nd in the Race to Dubai - some £25,000 off the 111th spot that will ensure safety.

Ballyclare man Maybin is seven behind leaders Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and Australian veteran John Wade.

Damien McGrane is the leading Irishman on two under which leaves him sharing 25th spot.

McGrane has already secured his tour card for next season as he is currently 94th in the order of merit.

Kevin Phelan, third at last week's Hong Kong Open, shot an opening 72 but only a top-three finish is likely to be enough for him to retain his card as he is 130th in the standings.

Peter Lawrie looks certain to have to make a trip to the tour school as his opening 75 left him 11 shots off the pace.

Lawrie is currently 174th in the Race to Dubai after a second successive poor season and went into this week's event needing a win to hold on to his card.

His opening round left him sharing 124th place.

Olesen and Wade have a two-shot lead over a quartet which includes England's Tom Lewis and Australian's Michael Sim.

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McIlroy Targets More Majors

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Rory McIlroy arrives at The memorial with a new found confidence knowing that a major lurks just around the corner having won the US Open at Congressional in 2011. Then matched it with the Wannamaker Trophy a year later at Kiawah Island, making the visit to Pinehurst in a couple weeks a chance to banish the demons of of last season.

 

Consequently Rory has targeted two major victories this season to make up for his winless year in 2013.

The Northern Irishman keen to make up for lost time following a slump in form last year that saw him fall from world No.1 to outside the top 10.

"My game is really coming back," he said. "I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but last year, so I'll try to make up for that with two this year."

McIlroy's victory at Wentworth, just days after announcing his break-up to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, surprised even the man himself. But now, he admits, it is time to look forward.

"I knew I was playing well going into the BMW," he said. "I'd finished in the top 10 four times in a row just before this - including the Masters and at Sawgrass - so I knew I wasn't far off my best.

"Top 10s are great but not what I'm looking for.

"The last couple of years I came to Wentworth struggling with my game and getting frustrated. So going there in good form, I was excited.

"Winning does my confidence the world of good, knowing that I can get the job done under pressure and when I need to. That was the most pleasing thing about the win.

"The win in Australia at the end of last year stopped all the questions about reasons behind my form, such as equipment and all that stuff.

"This victory, against one of the best fields of the year, just shows my game is back on track again. Hopefully it won't be long before I'm contending in majors again and it validates all the hard work I've put in this past year."

McIlroy's will not have to wait long for his next shot at a major, with the US Open starting at Pinehurst on June 12.

"I've never been there, but I hear there is going to be no rough and that, for a US Open, is going to be very different," he said.

"I don't think it will be a course that suits one player or another. You'll need to be long - but most players these days can get it out there and it'll suit me to get my driver in my hands.

"It's all about the second shot. Obviously the greens are very tricky at Pinehurst with a lot of run-offs and slopes, and you'll have to be very imaginative around them. Some guys will try and bump it into hills and run it up, while others will try and fly it to the top. It's going to be very interesting.

Earlier in the year, McIlroy claimed that golf needs a player to push on and take Tiger Woods' mantle as the dominant player in the game. A comment he stands by.

"I would like to be that guy," he added. "I like to think my win at Wentworth is a springboard to do just that.

"There are still three majors to play this year and a lot of big tournaments to win. Even though we are halfway through the season, I feel like mine is just beginning."

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Lawrie Leaves it Late

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Peter Lawrie this week stares at the prospect of losing his European Tour card, a thought will haunt him when he tees up in the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura on Thuirsday. It is the first time since joining the Tour full-time in 2003 that Lawrie has been in such a precarious position.

Currently 111th on the money list and Race to Dubai and need this week’s event and next week’s in Australia, the Perth International, to break back inside the top-110 - and reach safety.

In the 10 years Lawrie has been on Tour he captured the 2008 Spanish Open, has recorded four second place results, three thirds , 23 other top-10s and has amassed over €5.3m in prize money.

“After missing the last five cuts, I’ve spent the last eight weeks looking over my shoulder, if you know what I mean.

“I’ve been looking for the key for a while and just haven’t found it.”

"For sure it keeps you awake at night," he said. "All I've needed to do is make a cut and have a decent week, yet I've been just missing by one, as was the case at the KLM Open and Italian Open. It's all my own fault and it's up to myself to get out of it."

Peter sets off in Vilamoura at 08:10hrs alongside Chris Paisley and Lorenzo Gagli.

Shane Lowry, Simon Thornton, David Higgins, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin,  Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley completed the Irish entries

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