The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Brooks Koepka

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5/03/2015

McIlroy Wins WGC-Cadillac

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Rory McIlroy gave himself an early birthday present with victory in the WGC - Cadillac Match Play in San Francisco.

McIlroy, who turns 26 on Monday, defeated Gary Woodland 4 and 2 in the final at TPC Harding Park, his third win of the day after completing victory over Paul Casey in the quarter-finals and producing a brilliant finish to get the better of Jim Furyk in the last four.

The four-time Major winner made a scrappy start to the final before a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth took him four up at the turn and seemingly certain to win his second World Golf Championships title after victory in the Bridgestone Invitational last year.

However, after both players birdied the 10th, McIlroy bogeyed the 11th having failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker and Woodland reduced his deficit further thanks to driving the green on the short par four 12th and two-putting for birdie.

World Number 52 Woodland looked like winning another hole after McIlroy bogeyed the 13th, only to miss from two feet for par after a superb recovery from a greenside bunker.

And that proved to be the pivotal moment in the contest as Woodland then three-putted the 14th and made a mess of the 16th to give McIlroy the title.

"I'm really proud of myself with how I showed a lot of character early in the tournament coming back from some deficits," McIlroy said.

"I played really solid golf. I have got on a nice little run in match play. I got a lot of confidence from the way I played against Rickie (Fowler) in the Ryder Cup last year (winning 5 and 4) and just followed it on through into this.

"Obviously I am delighted, a second World Golf Championship and first win in the States this year and so I could not be happier."

England's Danny Willett, who lost to Woodland in the semi-finals, secured third place after beating Furyk 3 and 2 in the consolation match.

McIlroy had earlier eagled the 18th from over 40 feet to see off Furyk in a thrilling last-four tie, and won the fourth hole of the final when American Woodland tangled in thick rough down the left.

The Northern Irishman went two up at the next when he got up-and-down from a greenside bunker and Woodland failed to do likewise.

McIlroy had three-putted the second and third as they were halved in bogeys, but found form with the short stick as he converted from 35 feet at the sixth and half that range on the seventh for unanswered birdies that took him four clear, before holding off Woodland’s charge on the back nine.

McIlroy had wasted little time winning his quarter-final against Casey, needing just one hole to settle the contest after the pair proved inseparable over 21 on Saturday.

After a swift turnaround, top seed McIlroy was back out on the first and birdied again after getting on in two once more.

But this time Furyk was equal to it, holing from 18 feet to keep matters all square.

McIlroy did go ahead at the third, with Furyk failing to save par from off the green.

Former US Open Champion Furyk won the fourth with a par as McIlroy failed to get up-and-down, but he went back in front with a birdie at the long next.

McIlroy spectacularly chipped in at the seventh, but Furyk followed him in for birdie from 20 feet to remain only one down, and then turned the contest on its head with a gain from similar distance on the eighth.

Furyk led for the first time at the turn, McIlroy bogeying the ninth after finding a bunker.

McIlroy squared the contest with a birdie from almost 30 feet at the 11th, and went ahead when Furyk shanked his first approach from the rough at the next.

But the American came fighting back again, hitting his tee shot to five feet at the 13th and converting for a birdie to square the contest once more.

Furyk found another birdie on the 15th from ten feet, and pitched close again at the 16th to leave McIlroy facing the prospect of being two down with two to play – a position he had recovered from against Billy Horschel earlier in the week.

But McIlroy chipped close form the rough and converted from six feet before almost holing his tee shot to the 17th and squaring the contest with the subsequent gain, then converting a tremendous putt to settle the tie after reaching the 18th green in two.

4/08/2015

GMAC Ready for Masters Strain

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Graeme McDowell admits he has sometimes needed to spend time in a padded room after failing to get to grips with the challenges posed by Augusta National.

But the former US Open champion is optimistic he can improve on his Masters record this week after overcoming an ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Valero Texas Open last month.

"It was the third time in my career I’ve had to withdraw from a tournament and it’s not something I enjoy doing,” McDowell said after a practice round at Augusta. “I was not really sure the extent of how much I had hurt myself and nearly withdrew from the pro-am on Wednesday, and probably should have in hindsight.

“It was a peroneal tendon strain and, with a big season ahead, I didn’t want to force anything. This is the first 18 holes I have walked since, and I feel good, so we are actually in better shape than we expected.”

McDowell has made the cut just twice in seven attempts in the Masters - although he finished 17th in 2009 and 12th in 2012 – and concedes the long course does not suit his game.

But the 35-year-old Northern Irishman added: “Despite the fact that my record round here is not great, I do love this golf course. I could easily play it every day and be very content.

“It’s such a great golf course, you learn something about it every year. I was out there just picking up little nuances that I haven’t perhaps noticed before and putting those in the memory bank and trying to apply your knowledge and experience and hope that some year I can come here and really compete. This could be the year.

“I am excited. I am really focusing hard on my chipping and putting this year. I haven’t putted well enough here and it seems like such an obvious key round here.

“Sometimes I have required a padded cell when I’ve walked off the 18th green because I have got frustrated, but I have learned to understand why the course frustrates you, because it makes you play with the handbrake on. You have to take it off sometimes and play aggressively to conservative targets.

“That’s a sort of sports psychology thing, but it means you take shots on that you fancy and if you don’t like it you have to play safe. Sometimes it can be dangerous to be playing extremely well coming in here because it gets you to take too much on. Sometimes when you are a tiny bit off and have to play a tiny bit safer and smarter, that can be a good recipe around here so it’s getting that right balance.”

4/07/2015

It's McIlroy Mickelson and Moore

Rory McIlroy has been paired with three-time champion Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore for the first two rounds of the Masters.

The world number one will be seeking to become just the sixth player complete a Major grand slam this week at Augusta and will get the bid underway at 10.41am (3.41pm Irish time) on Thursday.

Darren Clarke will be the first Irish golfer in action when he tees off at 1.29pm Irish time along with 2000 winner Vijay Singh and 25 year-old American Russell Henley.

Shane Lowry will tee off with American pair Chris Kirk & Mark O'Meara, while Graeme McDowell will have Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka for company when he lines up at the first tee at 6.04pm Irish time on Thursday.

Padraig Harrington is paired with Thomas Bjorn and Ryan Palmer in Group 26 and tees off at 12.42pm (5.42pm Irish time)

Tiger Woods, seeking a 15th major, faces a lengthy wait before he can begin his bid for a fifth Masters title when the year's first major championship gets under way on Thursday. He will play the first 36 holes at Augusta National with fellow American Jimmy Walker and Wales's Jamie Donaldson.

With 98 players in the field, Charley Hoffman and Brian Harman make up the first group out in the tournament proper at 7:45am, with Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer again acting as honorary starters five minutes earlier.

The legendary trio hitting tee shots on the par-four first before retiring to the clubhouse.

Defending champion Bubba Watson is paired with Justin Rose and Gunn Yang.

Selected tee-off times and pairings for Thursday's first round and Friday's second round

8.29am (1.29pm Irish time) Darren Clarke, Vijay Singh, Russell Henley

10.41am (3.41pm Irish time) Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Ryan Moore

12.31pm (5.51pm Irish time) Shane Lowry, Chris Kirk and Mark O'Meara

12.42pm (5.42pm Irish time) Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn, Ryan Palmer

1.04pm (6.04pm Irish time) Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Brooks Koepka

1.48pm (6:48pm Irish time) Tiger Woods, Jamie Donaldson, Jimmy Walker

2/28/2015

Harrington Takes Honda Lead

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Padraig Harrington’s gruelling schedule at the start of the season looks to be bearing fruit after the three-time Major winner rose to the top of the leaderboard after the weather-delayed second round of the Honda Classic in Florida.

The 43-year-old Dubliner was four under and four shots off the lead of Brendan Steeleovernight after play was suspended due to darkness on Friday evening.

Harrington made a storming start on the resumption play, with back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th, the last two holes of the famous Bear Trap on the PGA National Course.

Another birdie came at the first before the first dropped shot of his second round came at the par-five sixth before a scintillating hat-trick of birdies from the fourth to move to nine under.

At that stage, Harrington was three shots clear of clubhouse leader Patrick Reed, but he would close with back-to-back bogeys and sign for a four-under 66 to leave him on seven under.

The second round was completed on Saturday after rain delays on Friday and the players will be straight back in action in the third round later on Saturday.

Ian Poulter’s impressive 64 moved him to within two strokes of Harrington and level with American Steele on five under.

Former Honda Classic winner Luke Donald, shot a 67 to move three strokes off the lead.

Graeme McDowell joined fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy in missing the cut after completing a one-over 71 in his second round to miss the cut by one shot on five over.

12/20/2014

Harrington Receives PGA Award

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Padraig Harrington is the 2014 recipient of the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf.

The Dubliner, who returned to the winner’s rostrum with his victory in the recent Indonesian Open, picked up the accolade at the PGA’s annual fundraiser at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Harrington has scaled the heights of world golf with back to back Open Championship victories at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale a year later.

He also held off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to land the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills in 2008 to become the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships.

It was deserved reward for his efforts on the practice ground where he would famously spend days on end with coach Bob Torrance fashioning a swing to accompany his deadly accurate short game.

The three-time Walker Cup player turned professional in 1995 and has chalked up 14 European Tour victories plus several more worldwide.

In addition he has enjoyed huge success in the Ryder Cup, making six appearances, helping Europe to four wins – the last in 2010.

Harrington was also a vice captain to fellow Irishman Paul McGinley at Gleneagles and is widely touted as a future captain.

Away from the fairways he has been equally dedicated, establishing the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, becoming an ambassador for both the R&A and Special Olympics and also supporting a number of charities including the Oesophageal Cancer Fund and the 3Ts.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “Padraig is a golfer who inspires tremendous affection on the world stage, not just for his brilliant golf but for his dedication and passion and also for the way he conducts himself and which has made him hugely popular in the game.

“The PGA Recognition Award is our way of acknowledging great achievements in the game and I’m delighted on behalf of the PGA’s membership to bestow this accolade on Padraig – he is a deserving winner and credit to the sport.”

Commenting on the award, Harrington said: “The PGA does outstanding work on behalf of its members and fulfills an important role in growing and promoting the game of golf for the benefit of all.

“It’s a real honour to receive the PGA Recognition Award from such a respected organisation and I am delighted that my career achievements have been recognised with this special distinction.”

The PGA lunch is an important fundraiser for the PGA’s Benevolent Fund which helps members who have fallen on difficult and hard times.

12/03/2014

GMAC Ready to be a Hero

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Graeme McDowell tees off this week at the Hero World Challenge, an event where he has twice upstaged his host - Tiger Woods - winning in 2010 and 2012. The new venue, too favours McDowell as Isleworth has seen the 2010 US Open winner produce some of his best golf during the Tavistock Cup.

Woods, who has played only seven events in 2014 due to a nagging back injury, will make is comeback starting Thursday at the Hero World Challenge, an 18-player invitational event that benefits his charity foundation.

Seven of the world's 11 top players will compete, including eighth-ranked Australian Jason Day in his return from a back injury and 11th-rated Jordan Spieth, coming off a victory in last week's Australian Open, but not world number one Rory McIlroy.

"We're thrilled about the depth and talent of our field," Woods said.

Woods, ranked 24th, moved the event this year from California to the same neighborhood where he drove into a fire hydrant in late November of 2009.

That began a series of revelations unveiling a sex scandal that led to Woods' divorce from wife Elin in 2010 and damaged his once-perfect image with major sponsors.

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not captured a major title since the 2008 US Open.

Back, knee and leg injuries have hindered his pursuit of Nicklaus in recent years and Woods turns 39 later this month. No player has ever won more than three majors beyond his 39th birthday, something Woods must achieve if he is to catch Nicklaus.

The Challenge will be the first tournament for Woods since he named Chris Como as his new swing consultant last month following a split with swing coach Sean Foley in August.

"I'm excited to be back competing," Woods tweeted two weeks ago when he announced he was working with Como.

Woods underwent a microdiscectomy on March 31 to ease pressure on a pinched nerve, a surgery that caused him to miss the Masters and US Open.

This year, Woods missed two cuts plus a secondary cut at Torrey Pines and withdrew from two other events. He has finished 72 holes only twice this year -- sharing 25th at Doral in March in his final event before surgery but wincing in pain at shots and when bending to pick his ball out of the hole and taking 69th at the British Open in July.

Woods has not played since missing the cut at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in August a week after tweaking his back in a stumble at a World Golf Championships event.

Nedbank Tees of Lowry Season

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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.”

12/02/2014

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.

“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.”

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.

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