The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Padraig

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2/25/2016

Lowry Tops Honda Leaderboard

Shane Lowry signed for an opening round of 67 at The Honda Classic courtesy of a birdie on the 17th and then an eagle 3 on the 18th in the opening round of The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. .

He shared a threeway lead in the clubhouse with Sweden's David Lingmerth and American George McNeill, who has missed the cut in his last five events and whose last competitive round was an 84 in the Farmers Insurance Open.

"It wasn't easy," McNeill told PGA Tour radio after a round containing six birdies, one bogey and a double bogey. "The wind always blows here, it was the opposite direction to what it was in the practice rounds and the pro-am and a little cooler.

"I putted pretty phenomenal, that's really all I did well. I haven't made a putt in two years so it kind of felt good! To see them consistently go in, I didn't expect to make that many, but it was nice.

"Being back in Florida I feel a little more comfortable being back on Bermuda grass and greens. The stuff out west, I have fits out there just because I can't read it and putt it there. Being back in Florida helps."

Out on the course, the start of Sergio Garcia's round was as spectacular as Lowry's finish, the Ryder Cup star holing his approach to the second from 148 yards for an eagle two.

The world number 19 then holed from six feet for birdie on the par-five third to move into a share of the lead, with playing partner Rickie Fowler a shot behind after birdies on the second and third.

1/15/2016

Honolulu for Harrington and McDowell

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Padraig Harrington carded a first round 66, hitting five birdies marred by a bogey on the first, at the Sony Open in Honolulu. Hawaii

Graeme McDowell was four shots adrift of the Dubliner after three birdies and three bogeys to leave him on 70 for the round.

Former world number one and 2005 champion Singh rolled back the years as he charged into a share of the first-round lead with a sizzling seven-under-par 63 in the opening round of the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii on Thursday.

Seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, the 52-year-old Fijian racked up seven birdies with his cross-handed putting style on the tight, palm tree-lined layout at Waialae Country Club.

He finished the day in a five-way tie along with Americans Ricky Barnes, Morgan Hoffmann, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker.

Singh, who turns 53 next month, narrowly missed a nine-foot putt for eagle on his final hole, the par-five ninth, as he ended a bogey-free display with consecutive birdies in relatively benign morning conditions.

“I was feeling good about my body, my swing, my mind, so I just went out there -- it was early -- started off well and just kept it going,” Singh told Golf Channel after making his 19th career start at the event.

“I scrambled very well. Early on, I didn’t hit too many fairways but I got it around the greens, chipped in once and my putter was working really well.”

If he wins on Sunday, Singh would become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, eclipsing the record held by Sam Snead, who won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at the age of 52 years, 10 months and eight days.

Singh, a 34-times winner on the PGA Tour, has not triumphed since 2008, and in recent years battled assorted health problems which impacted his trademark loose-limbed swing, but he still believes he is capable of winning at the game’s highest level.

“I just want to play,” he replied when asked what kept motivating him as one of the PGA Tour veterans. “I feel like I can come out and win any tournament if I play well. It’s been the same way for the last five, six years.

“I just haven’t produced the scores that I want to produce, but I’m always optimistic about my next day, my next round, my next tournament. Same this year,” added Singh, who has long been renowned for his workaholic approach to practice.

Among the leaders, Kisner and Snedeker played in the afternoon.

“I’ve always struggled at this course,” said Kisner, who credited his improvement to having had a chance to shake off the rust at last week’s Tournament of Champions on nearby Maui.

Reigning champion Jimmy Walker, who is bidding for an unprecedented third victory in a row at Waialae, carded a 69.

1/11/2016

Harrington Makes Moves in Hawaii

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Padraig Harrington closed with a final round 67 which consisted of six birdies and 12 pars in a tie for sixth in Hawaii at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday.

The Dubliner's performance at the Plantation Course saw him rise 22 places in the world rankings to 120th. However he will need to make his way back into the world's top 50 to gain a place at the US Masters in Augusta in April.

Jordan Spieth strolled to a seventh PGA Tour title with an eight-shot victory which saw him come close to a recording-breaking 72-hole score.

The world number one came into the final round five shots in front of Brooks Koepka, but there was never any danger of anyone catching him as he carded a six-under-par 67 to finish a staggering -30.

If his birdie attempt at 17 had not fell a foot short of the hole, he would have levelled the PGA record for 72 holes of 31 under which is held by Ernie Els.

Although the 22-year-old missed out on history, he was in glorious form in Hawaii and proved comparisons to Tiger Woods are not misplaced as he becomes the third youngest man to reach seven PGA titles, taking just a month longer than Woods.

Had Spieth matched his second-round score of 64 he would have broken Els' record, but he saved his highest score of the tournament for the final round.

It still contained seven birdies and one bogey and was enough to ensure a sixth tour win in the last 21 outings.

However, he is keen to play down any comparisons to Woods.

"I am nowhere near, I don't think there's any reason to compare, it is awfully early," he said. "I'm very excited with where I am at as a start to my career and what Tiger has done I can't imagine ever being done again, but it's very nice to be in that company.

"Any time that you can get into the company of him and other great players, it's a goal I've had since I was a little kid."

On his performance, he added: "I'm very satisfied. I felt comfortable all week, I felt it was just a short three-week break over the holidays and then just trying to continue what I was doing last year. It worked this week and all parts of the game were firing."

First-round leader Patrick Reed finished in second place after a four-under-par 69 ensured a -22 score while Koepka, who started the round in second place, slipped back to tied third with Brandt Snedeker.

Graeme McDowell finished on -4.

1/08/2016

Harrington Happy at Hyundai in Hawaii

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Padraig Harrington who bogeyed the last and carded four birdies a share of 12th place after day one of the Hyndai Tournament of Champions - courtesy of his win earlier this year at The Honda Classic.

Patrick Reed struck four birdies and an eagle in the final six holes to fire an eight-under 65 and take his place at the top of the first-round leaderboard at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The four-time PGA Tour winner was well down the leaderboard after turning on two under, but was in scintillating form on the back nine, reeling off birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th holes.

After hitting par at the 16th, he was back in the red with another birdie before bringing his round to a close with an eagle on the par 5 18th.

He came home in just 31 shots, six under par.

Reed's playing partner and world number one Jordan Spieth finished one shot behind on seven-under after another blemish-free round, registering seven birdies.

Brandt Snedeker, J.B Holmes and Danny Lee are all placed on six under while two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is a further two behind after shooting 69.

World number two Jason Day did not enjoy as productive days as Reed and Spieth, but is still well-placed thanks to a bogey-free three under.

Scotland's Russell Knox is the best-placed Brit on two under.

Graeme McDowell struck two double bogeys in his two-over-par 75

Harrington told the Golf Channel after his round: “Last year was quite a disappointing year for me. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked.

“But I liked what I saw today and that’s good enough for me, because it’s all about the moment and what you’re doing.

“I made a few changes during the winter and first week out I’m liking what I see and I hope that it will go from strength to strength during the season.”

Harrington has featured at six Ryder Cups but now finds himself 141st in the world rankings.

While not giving up hope of an unlikely spot on the European team later this year, the 44-year-old has admitted that his focus for the time being is very much on his own individual performances.

“It’s a big ask from the position I’m in,” he added.

“I’m going to have to have a big year.

“I’m literally going to have to win at least twice or a major.

“It really is going to have to be a big year for any guy to get into the Ryder Cup team.

“Especially as I’m not in those World Series events - I wasn’t in the ones at the end of last year.

“So as much as I’d like to play - and it’s a goal of mine - it’s not necessarily on my radar. I’ve got to go out and get a win under my belt and then I’ll start thinking about it.”

10/16/2015

Lawrie Facing Q School Trip

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Peter Lawrie missed the cut after shooting a second round 72 at the Portugal Masters and now set to lose his European Tour card and his automatic playing rights for next season.

Lawrie now needs a sponsor’s invitation to next week’s Hong Kong Open and needs to win enough money to move himself into the top 110 places in the Race to Dubai to avoid the dreaded trip to Q-School in Spain next month.

Mount Juliet’s Kevin Phelan will need a good weekend performance to avoid the same fate.

Phelan, who came through Q-School to earn his card in 2013, made the cut on the mark (one under par) but will need to go low over the weekend to earn enough prize money to move from 126th into the top 10. Even the weather looks to be against the 24-year-old however – heavy rain forecast over the weekend has put into doubt whether there will even be the full 72 holes played. If the tournament was shortened to, say, 54 holes, then the prize money would be reduced.

Paul Dunne and Padraig Harrington will join Phelan over the weekend with both players sitting 12 shots off the lead on two under par.

It is Dunne’s third and last sponsor’s invite of the season as he looks to add to the €80,000 he’s won already before heading to Spain next month to compete for the 25 tour cards on offer.

Darren Clarke and Michael Hoey both finished a long way off the cut-mark.

Damien McGrane still leads the Irish charge, despite a one over par 73 today. The Meath golfer sits on three under par, 11 shots behind tournament leader Andy Sullivan.

Severe storms with 50mph-plus winds are predicted for late Saturday morning and organisers have taken the rare decision to hold a shotgun start — groups teeing off on all 18 holes from 8am — in an attempt to get day three completed.

Sullivan, who began the day tied with Nicolas Colsaerts on seven under, is currently sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard after a second successive 64 moved him to 14 under and three shots clear of Belgian Thomas Pieters, who carded a 66 and is also looking for his third win of the season.

However, there is plenty of scope for that to change if the forecast at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club turns out to be accurate.

“Due to the extremely poor weather forecast for the next two days it has been decided that the best chance of completing the third round is to schedule a shotgun start from 8am on Saturday,” said a statement from the European Tour.

“All parties have agreed to this in the best interests of the tournament.”

8/07/2015

GMAC Fires 66 in Akron

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Graeme McDowell was cautiously optimistic after showing signs of a welcome return to form with a four-under 66 in the opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

McDowell set the pace at Firestone after firing four birdies in a front nine of 31, moving temporarily in to the outright lead with a six-foot gain at the tenth.

After dropping his first shot of the day on the 12th, the 36-year-old did well to scramble par on the next six holes to remain on four under and stay within one of early pacesetters Danny Lee and Jim Furyk.

“I drove the ball really well over the front nine,” McDowell said. “A few of the things that I haven’t been doing well lately have been driving and putting the ball and those are usually two of my go-to strengths.

“I hit it in trouble a couple of times on the back nine, but the fairways are a little narrow in places and if you miss them with the greens being as firm as they are you’re going to find yourself in a little bit of trouble.”

The Northern Irishman has managed just one top-10 finish on either side of the Atlantic this year, a share of ninth place in the early-season Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Although a poor 2015 has seen him drop outside of the world's top 50, McDowell remains confident an improvement in results could be on its way.

“The confidence should come back pretty quickly,” he added. “One 66 isn’t going to do it, I’m going to need a few.

“The putter was a lot more solid today. I know to what to do when getting on the board, it’s just a case of trusting my swing and continue doing what I’m doing.“

7/19/2015

Harrington Makes Sunday Move

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Padraig Harrington's lowest round in a Major shot him into contention for another Claret Jug, and he believes his experience could be a significant factor on the final day at St Andrews.

The Irishman carded a seven under par 65 to leap to ten under and create a realistic chance of capturing his fourth Major as the tournament heads for Monday finish.

His previous best single-round score was back-to-back 66s on the weekend to win the 2008 US PGA, having also made that score at The Open way back in 2001 at Lytham.

Harrington's first win on a major Tour in seven years came at March's Honda Classic, which also needed an extra day, but it is his memories of getting the job done on the final day of a Major that he will be looking to use on Monday.

"I always wanted to shoot 65 on the Sunday of an Open - obviously there's another round to go tomorrow," he joked.

"I'll be certainly telling myself that I know what I'm doing and I've done it before and I'll be using it to help myself for sure, having done it twice before.

"Clearly things were going well for me today but I didn't want to look up (to the scoreboard) and see somebody getting away and be disappointed.

"When things are going well you might as well just keep your head down and keep going.

"There's no point in looking around and getting distracted. I didn't look until I finished off on 18."

The 144th Open Championship over the Old Course is shaping up to be one of the closest in a long time with the top of the leaderboard tightly packed.

In a week that produces mixed feelings for Harrington - a decade ago his father died and he pulled out of the event at St Andrews, while last year his coach Bob Torrance passed away – the 44 year old insists he will not be wearing his emotions on his sleeve.

"I'm not going to try to get emotionally involved in any shape or form," he added.

6/11/2015

GMAC FedEx St Jude Ready

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Graeme McDowell hopes the FedEx St Jude Classic provides the "competitive sharpness" he feels he is lacking before he targets a second US Open title.

The Northern Irishman, who was victorious at Pebble Beach back in 2010, has endured a low-key season thus far, making six cuts at nine PGA Tour events.

He is therefore looking for a timely bounce at TPC Southwind, which holds a purse of €6m and acts as a warm-up for next week's US Open at Chambers Bay.

McDowell told pgatour.com: "When it comes to preparing for major championships there are a few ways you can do it, you can try and simulate the conditions you'll find the following week.

"The way that the US Open jumps around it's very difficult to have a solid warm-up venue the week before so you've got to take the rough with the smooth.

"Some years it's going to be a great preparation and some years maybe not.

"I think the comparison of the two golf courses is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum but I love coming here and getting some competitive sharpness.

"I think, going into a major championship, preparing and playing the golf course and having your game plan together is key - but being competitively sharp and feeling confident that you are playing well, those are just important.

"For me it's been a slow year, I kind of feel that my game's turning a corner so I'll be teeing it up and trying to get some competitive sharpness."

Dustin Johnson - currently ranked seventh in the world - is looking to claim first prize at Southwind for the second time having done so in 2012.

The powerful driver arrives in Memphis on the back of consecutive top-15 finishes while his fellow American Webb Simpson tied for third here a year ago.

Englishman Luke Donald this week sealed qualification for the US Open and makes his first start in the St Jude Classic.

Billy Horschel, Ryan Palmer and Phil Mickelson are also keen to perfect their games ahead of the second major of the year.

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