The Irish Golf Club Gazette: DavidHiggins

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5/16/2016

Profile - David Higgins

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David Higgins is a multiple winner of Race to Mount Juliet in recent years, and added the Irish PGA Championship to his trophy list in 2012.

Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit on numerous occasions Higgins was fulfilling the promise gained from being part of a golfing family as his Father, Liam, is a veteran of the European Tour and Senior Tour.

Not surprisingly by the time David was twenty-one he was the country's leading amateur, and following match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships - he decided to turn professional in 1994.

In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season.

Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again.

However Higgins lost his card at the end of 2007.

In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - failing to make the cut at all three events.

But in recent seasons David has remained a consistent force on the Irish PGA Region, winning five times - including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy in 2010.

Although he failed to qualify for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's, along with a bigger disappointment in the September when he failed to make it through European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Dundonald Links that same year.

In 2011 at Stage 3 of European Tour Qualifying School at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man missed out once again on a quick return to the main Tour

But in 2012 he came back stronger and improved on his two previous outings at the BMW PGA Championship, ending a magnificent performance at a sun kissed Wentworth Course, with a two under par final round 70, and slaying a tough West Course that over four days had taken a number of high profile Irish casualties.

None less than the World Number One, Rory McIlroy, the 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, the 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell and three time major winner Padraig Harrington.

Amidst all that carnage though Higgins exuded composure travelling around Wentworth with a remarkable consistency and carding three rounds of 70, with only the one blip on a windy Saturday when reaching the historic Gothic clubhouse in a two over par 74

In was his third consecutive appearance at the BMW PGA Championship with Higgins slaying his own demons on the Sunday to finish in tenth place.

Higgins then crowned the year by capturing the Irish PGA championship at Mount Juliet and underlined his ranking as the number one player after he beat assistant professional Noel Murray from Massereene in a play-off.

The Waterville man, who fired a best of the day final round of five-under-par 67 to reach the play-off, said it was the fulfilment of a boyhood dream to lift the trophy that his father Liam lifted in 1983.

"I remember looking at the trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it.I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I'm just delighted."

In July David Higgins narrowly missed out on qualifying for the British Open after his five-under was one shot short of the qualifying mark at St Annes Old, with former Ryder Cup pair Barry Lane and Paul Broadhurst, both squeezing in.

However on the PGA Catalunya's Stadium Course, Higgins signed for a final round 70 to earn one of the most cherished of prizes - one of the 25 automatic places - and made a return to the European Tout five years after losing his card.

In 2013 a second place finish at the Open D'Italia Lindt gave him Higgins late hope of an automatic place for next year, in what was a very disappointing season with too many missed cuts. Including the Irish open at Carton House and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

At 115th he could miss out unless Higgins can cards a big week in Perth.

Personal Fact File

DOB: December 1st 1972 in County Cork.

Attachment: Waterville GC

Career:

1989Irish Boys Championship

1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship

European Challenge Tour

2000 NCC Open;

Günther Hamburg Classic

Rolex Trophy

European Tour
2007 loses Tour card
2012 Qualifies for 2013 season after finishing T16th

7/05/2014

Irish Duo Left In Smalrus Wake

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Graeme McDowell finished two-under par and signed for a 69 to hold a share fourth place on three-under with Michael Hoey on Friday. The Shandon Park golfer was three strokes better with a round of 66 on a most demanding of courses.

Damian McGrane hold a share of 11th place and jeeps Martin Kaymer company signing for a 69.

"I did a lot of hanging on out there, holed three or four decent putts for par and then had a super finish," said McGrane.

It's a difficult course but I hit a lot of good tee shots as well," added McGrane, who tied third here in 2007 and enjoyed three other top-20 finishes at the French Open.

Gareth Maybin finished Friday with 68 strokes on the card.

Padraig Harrington bogeyed his closing holes and missed the weekend by two shots and notches up his eighth cut in 16 this year after a round of 73.

Peter Lawrie signed for a 77 and missed the cut.

The Dubliner was joined on the early departure by Simon Thornton, who was nine-over after a second round 74, David Higgins +13 after a 76 with Rookie Kevin Phelan + 14 after an 80 on Friday.

Paul McGinley missed the cut but had already withdrawn on Thursday morning with bursitis in his shoulder.

Overnight leaderKevin Stadler, son of Craig "Walrus" Stadler, celebrated Independence Day by claiming a three shot halfway lead in the Alstom Open de France, despite a shaky finish to his second round.

Stadler carded a flawless opening 64 at Le Golf National and did not drop his first shot of the tournament until his 32nd hole at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.

But after bouncing back in style with birdies on the next two holes, the World Number 62 shanked his approach to the par five ninth - his final hole - to run up a double bogey seven.

"I just tried to get a little too much out of it," admitted Stadler, who had to settle for a round of 68. "I didn't have the best of lies and had to hit the shot perfectly. I got a little too steep on it and it came off the hosel and into the deep stuff.

"It was not exactly how I planned to finish the day but overall it was another good day so it's all good. I putted brilliantly the first couple of days. I got a little sloppy on my final nine today but other than that struck the ball very well as well, had a lot of chances and rolled in a lot of nice putts."

Stadler won his maiden US PGA Tour title in February and was half of the first father-son pairing to play in the same Masters Tournament in April with his father Craig, the 1982 champion.

The 34 year old finished joint eighth at Augusta National but that has been his only top-ten since winning in Phoenix and he added: "It's been a little rotten the last couple of months but it's starting to show some signs of form again and I've hit plenty of good shots the last couple of days.

"Hopefully I can do more of the same at the weekend, the putter keeps co-operating and I am looking forward to the last couple of days."

Stadler's nearest challenger is Parisian Victor Riu, whose only bogey in a round of 67 came on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker, with 2012 winner Marcel Siem two shots further back on five under after a 72.

11/15/2013

Higgins Fails School Test

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David Higgins faces a long solitary journey home to Kerry from Western Australia after just one level par round at the ISPS Perth International and finishing on Sunday one over par for a share of 56th place. More than twenty places adrift of safety in the Race to Dubai Rankings needed to claim automatic playing rights for next season.

After thirteen visits to Qualifying School since 1994 the talented Higgins contemplated the journey once again after a season's best earnings of €215,000 fell short by fifteen thousand euro. Reflecting an indifferent first half to the season this year.

“I’m naturally disappointed but you have to try so this is where we are now,” he said.

“Nothing worked out over the weekend. I played lovely on Sunday but just didn’t get any breaks on Saturday so it’s back to Q School.

“I thought after making the cut I could shoot a couple of 60 somethings but it just didn’t work out and it’s very frustrating.”

Higgins is a multiple winner of Irish PGA order of Merit in recent years, and added the Irish PGA Championship to his trophy list in 2012.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season.

Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again.

However Higgins lost his card at the end of 2007.

Although he failed to qualify for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's, along with a bigger disappointment in the September when he failed to make it through European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Dundonald Links that same year.

In 2011 at Stage 3 of European Tour Qualifying School at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man missed out once again on a quick return to the main Tour

None less than the World Number One, Rory McIlroy, the 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, the 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell and three time major winner Padraig Harrington.

Amidst the carnage though Higgins exuded composure travelling around Wentworth with a remarkable consistency and carding three rounds of 70, with only the one blip on a windy Saturday when reaching the historic Gothic clubhouse in a two over par 74

In was his third consecutive appearance at the BMW PGA Championship with Higgins slaying his own demons on the Sunday to finish in tenth place.

"I remember looking at the trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it.I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I'm just delighted."

However on the PGA Catalunya's Stadium Course in December 2012, Higgins signed for a final round 70 to earn the most cherished of prizes - one of the 25 automatic places - and made a return to the European Tour five years after losing his card.

At 115th in the Race to Dubai Higgins returned to European Tour Final Qualifying and finished 59th after six rounds.

Only the first 25 were guaranteed qualification.

Fact File

DOB: December 1st 1972 in County Cork.

Attachment: Waterville GC

Place of Birth Cork, Ireland

Family Wife: Elizabeth (m. 2008)

Interests Shooting, dogs, fishing

Turned Pro 1994 (plus 3)

Qualifying School (1994), 95*, 97*, 99, 01, 03, 04, 06, (08), (09), (10), 11, 12*, 13

Career:

1989 Irish Boys Championship

1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship

European Challenge Tour

2000 NCC Open;

Günther Hamburg Classic

Rolex Trophy

European Tour

2007 loses Tour card

2012 Qualifies for 2013 season after finishing T16th

Phelan Earns Tour Card

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Kevin Phelan earns a full European Tour card for the 2014 season after a final three under par round at the European Tour Final Qualifying in Girona on Friday, which earned him one of the elusive 25 places on offer at the end of day six.

The University of Florida graduate carded six birdies on The Stadium Course, three of them in the first four holes, to gather momentum on what is normally a tense final day. To add to his woes three bogeys just before and after the turn, drag him back to -1. Threatening to unravel his good work thus far.

But birdies on hole 15 and then the last ensured a three under par finish and a jump up the leader board to 16th spot at one point.

When the dust settled and all the scores were in, a five way share of 17th was good enough to secure him full playing rights for next season.

Yet despite his best efforts the final 10 under par aggregate was fifteen strokes behind of the winner, Carlos del Moral from Spain, who proved consistent from the outset this week. Rounds of 67-71-69-63-65-67 from Del Moral will serve as warning to Phelan of the many tests that lie ahead in order to keep that hard earned Tour card.

In the end Phelan was the only Irish player who get closest to that blistering pace from the Spanish winner.

The Waterford native revealed afterwards that some advice from three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington played a big part in his rapid rise from the amateur game, having been the subject of so much hype and expectation.

“I have been told a couple of times not to read anything that has been written about me,” said Phelan, the only player to have jumped from outside the cut mark on day six to claim a card. “I haven’t done that in a couple of years now so I don’t really pay any attention to expectations that are put on me, just what I put on myself.

“Harrington said it to me a while ago and my coach Mark McCumber tells me all the time. It definitely helped a lot.

“Padraig is definitely a big inspiration for me. I played a practice round with him at the US Open the first time I played it and at the Irish Open in Killarney and again at Carton House this year. He’s been very nice and very helpful and I've always looked up to him so it’s nice to get some good feedback from him. I look forward to joining him on The European Tour.”

David Higgins on the other hand will reflect on a poor run of form since his second place finish at the Open D’Italia Lindt late in the season and a chance he failed to build on with the last few events of the season. Even travelling to Perth in search of a top twenty finish to retain his card. However it was not to be and missing out by a handful of Euro.

At PGA Catalunya as the pressure increased the experienced Higgins was unable to react and completed his 14th trip to Q School in level par. And also leaves empty handed.

Friday’s card saw the Waterville man sign for a triple, double and a bogey, wiping out the hard fought gains of six birdies. Realistically though Higgins was never in contention for a top 25 finish this week after fading following his promising 67 on the first day.

It is now a well-worn route for the three time Challenge Tour winner and he will use the generous exemptions available to him this season to perhaps stage a comeback playing on the European Tour.

Ruaidhri McGee continued the downward spiral of the past two rounds with a final day 74 dropping him to 66th place.

Having won the Stage 1 in Wychwood Park in September it looked like the breakthrough was to be made this year for the Rosapenna attached golfer. And up to midweek he still looked on course for one of the automatic places.

But such is the tormented way of Q School McGee lost his momentum and once he plummeted down the leader board there was little hope of reversing matters.

However it was a very creditable performance this season from the young McGee and in time his ambition – and talent – will find reward on the European Tour.

Of those who made the grade, there were five European Tour winners - Scotsman Alastair Forsyth, who endured a roller-coaster two over par round of 74 which included three double-bogeys and five birdies before making it on the mark, Swedes Mikael Lundberg and Patrik Sjöland, as well as England’s James Morrison and Estanislao Goya of Argentina.

Some of the names to narrowly miss out included former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, who was two shots short of the mark, and former European Tour winners Oliver Fisher of England and Welshman Bradley Dredge, who missed by three and four shots respectively.

Ten of those who qualified will be playing their rookie seasons in the top tier of European golf next season, including Phelan and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, who impressed in the American collegiate circuit.

A record four USA players qualified, three of which were under the age of 25.

The winner Del Moral was delighted to become the first Spanish winner of the Final Stage since Carlos Rodiles in 2006.

“It feels very special to be the winner of this event,” said the 28 year old, who finished the week 26 under par. “It’s such a long week and after the year I have gone through it is a pay-off for all the hard work.

“Sometimes you feel like it’s all a waste but it is showing now and hopefully I can keep up the good work for the next few weeks in South Africa and for the 2014 season.”

Del Moral endured a difficult season on The European Tour last year, making just four cuts in 16 events, but he feels like his imperious victory this week will help him wipe the slate clean and start afresh, beginning at next week’s season-opening South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni.

“I'm done with 2013 now,” said the Valencia native. “I want to erase the whole year in terms of results but I think I have done some great work on the basics of my swing and my mind so I think 2014 will be different and I hope to keep up the good work.”

Fabrizio Zanotti finished runner-up after a four under par final round of 68 left him on 21 under for the tournament while Italian Marco Crespi finished six shots further back in third place on 15 under.

11/14/2013

Kevin David and Ruaidhri McGee

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Kevin Phelan remains the only Irish player - from the three remaining at PGA Catalunya - with a glimmer of hope ahead of the last day of European Tour Final Qualifying of sneaking one of the final 25 places.

Phelan, who starred in the 2013 Walker Cup as well as the US Open Championship in June, where he briefly flirted with the top of the leaderboard before making the cut. A two under par fourth round proved insufficient to make that one stroke move from seven under and enter the mix.

The Waterford golfer carded five birdies on Thursday but with three bogeys damaging any promise of a low score signing for 70 after his days work on the Stadium Course.

David Higgins finds himself in familiar territory in Girona playing the final round as a formality having finished two strokes over par and a share of 66th. A level par score for the week marks the distance with the pace of the event with sixty three players under par, and the top ten all -11.

Fortunately Higgins faces the loss of automatic playing privileges for a year but still holds access to 17 events in the 2014 season, from which he can no doubt yield some better dividend.

Ruadhri McGee saw his hopes fade in an earlier round and a score of 75 on the fifth day reflected the pressure of surrendering to Tour School at this level. All of which will prove a learning experience with much time on his side to make a comeback.

McGee suffered a final nine holes of the fifty seven variety on three consecutive holes - carding a birdie on the third, a double on the fourth and then a bogey on the fifth – to sign for for a 75 on +1 overall.

In a share of 70th place the Rosapenna attached golfer trails the bottom of the leaderboard having been up in the top then after round three.

Del Moral though increased his commanding four shot lead thanks to a seven under par fifth round of 67 and moved to 21 under par.

Another high powered round which included no less than eight birdies, thereby virtually securing his return to The European Tour and a fourth promotion via the Qualifying School in the last six years.

With the top 25 and ties at the conclusion of the final round earning European Tour status, the dreams of many were still hanging in the balance in Girona, north-east Spain.

The cut-off point for promotion sits at eight under par currently, with six former European Tour winners including James Morrison, Mikael Lundberg and Alastair Forsyth all inside the mark while former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson is just one shot outside the crucial number heading into the final round.

Once more, though, it was Del Moral who stole the show as he followed up a stunning fourth round 63 by again claiming the best round of the day over a Stadium Course which he has played three times this week, gaining 17 shots to par along the way.

The 28 year old has his girlfriend Karin Dedering on the bag this week and he believes that she has played a huge part in his success as he looks forward to a full season on The 2014 Race to Dubai.

“I have struggled a lot this year and so I decided that no one knows me better than my girlfriend and she’s a great golfer too, a scratch handicap, so she knows what she is doing,” said the Qualifying School specialist.

“She is very supportive and it has been very emotional for both of us, first of all playing for just a Challenge Tour category at Second Stage and then here for a European Tour card, so hopefully we can have an unforgettable finish tomorrow.

“She is a great putter and every time I have a doubt I ask her. She knows my game and my distances very well and she is doing great as a caddie. She gives me that emotional support too and if I have a bogey she might come and say, ‘you’re cute’, so it cheers me up. It’s really nice to have her out there.”

The Stadium Course itself is proving something of a second love for the romantic Valencia native and he is hoping for another stress-free day as he looks to become the first Spanish winner of Final Stage since 2006, when Carlos Rodiles topped the qualifiers.

“I’m not stressed at all on that course,” he said. “I'm playing every shot really calm and positive and I'm not making many mistakes out there.

“I feel like if I have any putts between five and ten metres I have a chance so I don’t need to go for pins and when you don’t have to go for pins it’s a lot easier. I have got a lot of trust in my putter and hopefully it will be the same tomorrow.”

Four shots back in second place is Chile’s Fabrizio Zanotti, who signed for a four under par 68 to move to 17 under par and also virtually guarantee a return to The European Tour, having finished 140th in The 2013 Race to Dubai.

“I’m in a good position but tomorrow I need to do more of what I have been doing these last few days,” said the 30 year old. “I need to hit it shot-by-shot and stay patient. It is going to be a long day again so you just have to do your best.

“It is a little tiring. We have already played five rounds and we’ve still got one to go, but I think the Q-School is a fair tournament. It is a very good way of deciding who is going to play on The European Tour.”

While 32 players currently sit inside the cut mark for a European Tour card on eight under par or better, there are likely to be twists and turns aplenty in what is always one of golf’s most dramatic finales.

The promising 21 year old Belgian and protégé of Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Pieters, is on course for a rookie season on The European Tour after a four under par 68 moved him to tied tenth on eleven under.

11/13/2013

Phelan Carries Irish Hopes

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Kevin Phelan heads into the final 36 holes of European Tour Final Qualifying in share of 41st place after a one under par fourth round on the Stadium Course on Wednesday, signing for a 71.

The Waterford man's two middle rounds of 67 and 68 eased him comfortably past the cut mark of with all those inside 62^nd place just making it through, Which fortunately included Ruadhri McGee and David Higgins both on 2 under for the day. Just one stroke to the good with a total of -2 and little margin of error fro either player.

Phelan remains 11 shots off the leader Carlos del Moral but only a two stroke swing from a much sought after 25th place. So his chances are still somewhat realistic.

McGee though suffered a double bogey in a mixed day and finished 2 over par 74, dropping 30 places. An untimely reverse having been very steady throughout his campaign thus far.

David Higgins also ended 62^nd despite a two under par round on Wednesday with a mix of bogeys reducing any gains from birdies on holes 6, 11 14 and 17. The veteran of Q School requiring now two out of the ordinary rounds to get close to the mix with those 20^th on the leader board on -8

Amateur Dermot McElroy signed off with a round of 68 to finish 96th.

American Daniel Im and Italian Niccolo Quintarelli were two of the big winners as they showed the requisite nerve at crunch time to not only earn their place in the final two rounds but also climb into contention for European Tour promotion.

The fourth day at the gruelling six-day marathon is always an exciting one as the axe falls and the 156-man field is chopped, with the top 70 and ties making it through to the final two days.

The cut sat at two under par for much of the day but at one point it all came down to Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl in the last group. If the Dane had shot over par for the day then he could have moved the qualifying mark back a shot, but a level par 72 meant the seven players on one under par were eventually left disappointed.

Im was one of those to make big gains in round four as he signed for an impressive six under par 64 to move from outside the cut mark on one over par to inside it on five under.

The Californian is now looking forward to pushing ahead and vying for a European Tour card after the disappointment of missing out on graduation from the Challenge Tour on the final day of the season less than two weeks ago.

“Coming into the day one over I knew I had to give it a good score,” said the 28 year old. “The weather held up and I saw the cut line at one so I knew I had to do something.

“Since Oman on the Challenge Tour I've been really flat but I kept practicing and I never lost hope. I just kept grinding and today everything just fell into place. I made some putts and I birdied the first so I just said to myself, ‘let’s do this’.

“I kept it going and on seven, I chipped in with a great chip for eagle and then you think things are going your way, but you just never know with this game.

“I guess you can take the disappointment of the Challenge Tour Grand Final both ways. I was inside the number going into the final week but I didn’t play well and I had to come to Q-School but at the same time, I get another chance at getting my European Tour card.

“The first few days here I was losing hope a little but I had a good rest in Barcelona after Dubai and had some fun with Agus (Domingo) and my brother and we had some good tapas and ham!

“I have to give it a go now. I'm not here to finish top 50. I'm here to get my card so I can go after it now full throttle. I'm really looking forward to the next few days but hopefully the weather will hold up.”

Quintarelli, meanwhile, carded one of the rounds of the day as the 24 year old fired an incredible 11 birdies, including five in a row, to move from one under par to nine under at PGA Catalunya Resort.

The Venetian said that it was one of the rounds of his life as he climbed to tied 13th place, with the top 25 and ties earning European Tour status at the conclusion of this week’s gruelling six-round marathon.

“I played awesome,” said Quintarelli, who finished 97th in the Challenge Tour Rankings this year. “I was looking forward to today after shooting one under on the Stadium Course on day three and I played one of my best rounds of golf in the last few years so I’m very happy about that.

“I holed a lot, struck the ball good, so I’m very happy. My irons were very good today, especially the short irons which were unbelievable, and I hit a lot of those inside ten feet or so, and even left tap ins a lot of the time, so my long game was pretty perfect really.

“Also, when I had to hole a long putt, I did so. It really was a perfect round apart from that double bogey at the 15th. But anyway I had a great last three holes, finishing birdie-par-birdie, which was awesome.

“I just want to keep trying to do my best the last two rounds, to try and earn my card, and we’ll just have to see what happens as I am feeling positive and playing well so I think I can do it.”

Some others who made the climb inside the qualifying mark to at least guarantee a Challenge Tour card for the 2013 season as well as a shot at European Tour promotion over the next two days included Tain Lee. The American carded a stunning eight under par 64 on the Stadium Course to climb from level par to eight under overall.

Englishman Ben Evans also ensured another two days’ play at the stunning resort near Girona in Spain after a five under par 65 on the Tour Course moved him to two under and just inside the cut line.

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