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6/23/2014

Fota Irish Open Proves Crowd Buster

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The 2014 Irish Open proved to be another wonderful celebration of golf both on and off the course, with more than 100,000 fans flocking to Fota Island Resort across the week as Finland’s Mikko Ilonen was crowned champion.

Another impressive crowd of 29,387 lined the fairways during Sunday’s final round, making the total attendance figure for the four tournament days and Wednesday’s Pro-Am 104, 810 – the second time it has passed the 100,000 mark in the last three years.

With pop acts such as Imelda May and Il Divo also performing in Cork during the tournament week, it has been a festival atmosphere both inside and outside the ropes, with fans travelling from afar to join the passionate Cork crowds in supporting the international line up at Fota Island Resort.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director of the Irish Open, said: “We are delighted at the response from both people in Cork and those from further afield who have come out to support the 2014 Irish Open.

“With Sunday’s crowd taking us past the 100,000 mark, the Irish Open has once again been one of the most popular tournaments on The European Tour, and once again demonstrates the incredible passion and appetite the Irish public has for golf.”

The baton will now be passed to Royal County Down Golf Club, which will host the 2015 Irish Open from May 28-31, as the event returns to the famous Newcastle links for the first time in 76 years.

6/22/2014

Flying Finn Wins Fota Irish Open

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Mikko Ilonen survived a final hole scare to win the Irish Open at Fota Island with a closing one-under 70.

The Finn had a two-shot teeing off at the par five final hole but drove into trees, hit his recovery up against another and could only punch his third 100 yards down the fairway.

However, a solid wedge to the green allowed the 34-year-old to two-putt for a bogey six and take his third European title with a score of 13-under - a shot better than Italian Edoardo Molinari and two in front of Swede Kristoffer Broberg and English duo Mattew Baldwin and Danny Willett.

Graeme McDowell's bid to delight his home Irish fans and score a first win on home soil ended in frustration as a cold putter denied him the chance to convert numerous birdie chances.

He managed just one all day in a round of level par 71 which left him down in tied sixth place with Swede Magnus A Carlsson.

McDowell said: "One of the worst putting.rounds as a weekend of my career as regards being in contention. I let a lot slip away yesterday and continued in the same vein today. I kind of got in that mode where I was starting to search a bit on the greens, over-reading, over-technicalising.

"I'm very disappointed. I did the tee-to-green stuff. Gave myself the opportunities coming in but just couldn't get the ball in the hole.

"Really disappointed but what a fantastic week. A great Irish Open, great fans and I'm just disappointed I couldn't do a little bit better for them."

Ilonen had laid the foundation for victory with a new course record of 64 in the opening round and although that only lasted until Willett, aided by a hole-in-one, shot 63 on Saturday, the 34-year-old Finn took a one-shot lead into the final round.

Birdies on the second and fourth took Ilonen three clear of the field until Willett carded his second birdie of the day on the ninth, but that was as close as anyone got until Ilonen dropped his only shot of the day on the last, ironically after hitting an iron off the tee for safety.

English teenager Matt Fitzpatrick, who was the only amateur to make the cut in the US Open last week, finished in a tie for 29th in his first tournament as a professional following a closing 68.

Illonen Lead Faces GMAC Attack

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Mikko Ilonen remained in front after three rounds of the Irish Open at Fota Island Resort, but some notable names made up ground on the Finn.

England’s Danny Willett birdied the last three holes for a course record 63 to be only one behind in second, while home favourite Graeme McDowell overcame some average putting to move into third on ten under.

Ilonen remained on course to claim his fourth European Tour title with a wire-to-wire victory thanks to a birdie on the last to complete a round of 69.

And the 34 year old former British Amateur champion - who won at Open venue Hoylake in 2000 - admitted his chances would be improved by partnering Willett rather than McDowell in front of the massive home crowds on Sunday.

"It will help," said Ilonen, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in January. "Graeme will be in front of us but it will be the same as today. I have been leading all the way and handling the pressure pretty well so far.

"I was off here and there today, especially with a couple of drives in the beginning on the par fives. All in all I kept it together nicely, I felt good on the course and pretty pleased with how I am placed."

A second hole-in-one in the space of two months helped England's Willett vault into contention for a second European Tour title.

Willett's previous ace earnt him a V40 Cross Country from the tournament sponsors in the final round of the Volvo China Open at the end of April.

And although the 26 year old did not win anything for his "slam dunk" effort on the seventh hole at Fota Island Resort - a £65,000 BMW 640 Gran Coupe was on offer on the 13th - it sparked a brilliant round which left him just one behind Ilonen on 11 under par.

"We had a perfect number, 168 yards with an eight iron but you never expect it to slam dunk," Willett said. "That was a bit of a bonus."

Fresh from finishing 45th on his US Open debut at Pinehurst last week, Willett had already birdied the fourth and added another at the eighth to reach the turn in 32.

The former English Amateur Champion's challenge was slowed by a run of four straight pars on the back nine, but he then birdied four of the last five holes to beat the previous record of 64 set by Ilonen on Thursday.

"We've been playing great for a long time but could not seem to get anything going on the greens," added Willett, whose sole Tour title to date came in the BMW International Open in 2012. "But holing a wedge yesterday (for an eagle on the second) and an eight iron today certainly helps.

"Coming from the US Open last week it was a slightly different mentality, it was quite tricky to stop playing 20 feet away from the flags and on the first day we were too cautious."

McDowell's challenge for a first Irish Open title at the 13th attempt looked to be petering out after he bogeyed the eighth and ninth to reach the turn in 37.

But the former US Open champion gave himself a talking to on the tenth and his patience paid off with birdies on the 11th, 16th and 17th to card a 69 and lie two off the lead on ten under.

"Walking down the tenth I had to have a chat with myself and stay patient, I only needed three birdies not six," said McDowell.

"It helps having been in this scenario before and it was nice to birdie two of the last three there and get myself back in this golf tournament.

"I really enjoyed the crowd interaction today, it's been a fun week and it would be nice to put the icing on the cake tomorrow with a big round.

"I'll try and give them what they want tomorrow, an Irish winner, but there's a lot of names on that leaderboard that will have some issues with that.

"It would be special on many levels. It would be a kickstarter for my season. It would be a big boost in the world rankings and Ryder Cup rankings.

"But most importantly, to win here in front of my home fans, with everything that's gone on in Irish golf lately, with the Open Championship (at Portrush) announcement, Rory (McIlroy) and his Olympic announcement this week and just generally what's been going on in Irish golf, I think it would be fun to do the business tomorrow.

"Having played in Ryder Cups and Major Championships I guess thankfully I'm experienced with this type of atmosphere and this type of crowd. But there's something a little bit special about the dynamic of the Irish fans and I'd dearly love to give them what they want tomorrow."

Minister Rings in Irish Open Wecome

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Michael Ring TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, was an interested observer among the large crowds at Fota Island Resort for the third round of the 2014 Irish Open.

The Minister toured the facilities at Fota Island Resort and took the chance to welcome some of the players from the impressive international field, with seven different nationalities represented in the top ten at the halfway stage.

With three Irish players – Padraig Harrington, Gareth Maybin and Graeme McDowell – among those in contention, and with large galleries and glorious weather so far, this year’s Irish Open has already been a magnificent showcase for golf in Ireland.

The Minister, in the company of Tony Lenehan, Head of Golf Tourism for Fáilte Ireland, and James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open from the European Tour, were on the first tee to watch some of the leading groups tee off, including three-time Major Champion Harrington, who is Fáilte Ireland’s Golf Ambassador, and McDowell, who will start Sunday's final round just two shots behind leader Mikko Ilonen.

Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, also visited Fota Island Resort during Thursday’s opening round and welcomed more than 100 members of the international media at a reception at Fota Island Hotel.

Then on Sunday afternoon, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will join George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, in presenting the trophy to the 2014 Irish Open Champion.

6/20/2014

GMAC's Open Eyes are Smiling

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Graeme McDowell admitted it was a pleasant surprise to be in contention for the Irish Open after moving into a share of the lead on Friday.

McDowell made his tournament debut when Fota Island last hosted the event in 2002 and finished 27th, but that was one of just six halfway cuts the former US Open Champion has made in 12 appearances.

The 34 year old has never recorded a top-ten finish, but added a 66 to his opening 68 to join England's Robert Rock in the clubhouse lead on eight under par.

"There's always a first time for everything," joked McDowell, who carded six birdies and one bogey. "Eight under is a nice total and although I don't expect it to be leading at the end of the day it doesn't have to. I am just excited to be in contention."

McDowell admitted he was feeling the effects of last week's exertions in the US Open in the first round, hitting his tee shot on the par three 17th so poorly that it came up more than 50 yards short of the green.

"I was a little sharper this morning, legs felt fresher," he added. "I missed two fairways, my iron play was better and I putted well. The Irish Open brings its own pressure, but it's the proverbial walk in the park compared to last week, which bordered on the unenjoyable. I'm more relaxed, trying to free myself up and enjoy my golf."

Starting from the tenth, McDowell began with three pars before holing from 20 feet for birdie on the par three 11th, only to promptly give the shot back on the next after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Joint second after the opening round at Pinehurst No.2 before finishing 28th, McDowell bounced back straight away with a birdie on the 15th and then made three in succession from the second.

And, after surprisingly missing from six feet on the fifth, he holed from a similar distance on the seventh to match the 66 of tournament specialist Rock, who had carded seven birdies and two bogeys.

Rock lost a play-off to Shane Lowry at County Louth in 2009, but claimed the first prize of €500,000 as Lowry was still an amateur, while he also finished fifth in 2006 and second to Paul Casey last year.

"It's a tournament I like playing, but I think it's more the time of year," Rock said. "I enjoy the tournaments at the start of the year (he held off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win in Abu Dhabi in 2012) but when we travel further afield I don't play well and it batters your confidence.

"It takes time to rebuild that and it seems to be this time of year it comes back."

Defending champion Casey had been trading birdies with playing partner McDowell until bogeys on his last three holes meant he had to settle for a second consecutive 69.

Ilonen Leads On Day One at Fota

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Mikko Ilonen carded a course record 64 at Fota Island Resort to establish a two shot lead after the first round of the Irish Open.

The 35 year old from Finland made eight birdies and dropped just the one shot during his seven under par effort, which left him two clear of Germany’s Marcel Siem, former European Number One Robert Karlsson and his fellow Swede Magnus A Carlsson.

Having turned in a three under 32 Ilonen bogeyed the first – his tenth – after missing the green with a wedge in hand.

Ilonen, who won the British Amateur title in 2000 at next month's Open Championship venue Hoylake, is looking to climb into the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 for the first time and boosted his chances with five birdies in his last seven holes.

“It was a slow start really,” said Ilonen, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters earlier in the year.

“The first sort of four or five holes I felt like I can't get anything going, but I stayed patient and then the birdies kept coming. In the end I managed to hit a couple of good putts which was nice.”

Siem stormed home in just 29 shots – almost holing his approach to the 14th in the process – as he carded seven birdies and two bogeys in his round of 66.

That was swiftly matched by Karlsson, who would have held second outright but for a missed five footer at the last following a sensational wedge approach.

The 44 year old has gone four years without a European Tour victory, but showed signs of return to form with a brilliant closing 63 at the recent Nordea Masters and started here with a bogey-free round.

"It was nice, I'm very, very happy," said Karlsson.

"I worked quite hard when I've been at home since the Nordea Masters, so it's been nice to keep it going.

"I've done a bit of work with my coach and things are coming together quite nicely. The long game was very, very good today."

Carlsson is targeting his first European Tour victory after two runner-up finishes, carded six birdies and a single bogey.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington returned a two under 69 matched by defending champion Paul Casey, who dropped two shots in his last six holes to finish one behind playing partner Graeme McDowell.

English teenager Matt Fitzpatrick, who was the leading amateur in last week's US Open, carded a one over 72 in his first tournament round as a professional.

Rory McIlroy could only manage an opening 74, despite the 25 year old having the added incentives of being able to move top of The Race to Dubai and getting back inside the top five on the Official World Golf Ranking with a good performance.

"I still drove the ball great and got in the positions that you need to, but short-sided myself a couple of times, hit a couple of loose shots with my wedges and could not get a putt to drop," said McIlroy, who had carded an approximate 62 in Wednesday's pro-am.

"I was pretty sloppy with the scoring clubs so I might head to the range this afternoon to work on those. I need to do better tomorrow to be here for the weekend."

Michael Hoey signed for a 68 and shares 9th place with McDowell and a number of others.

Peter Lawrie matched Harrington with an opening 69, along with Amateur Gavin Moynihan.

Shane Lowry, Kevin Phelan, John Kelly, Garethr Maybin and Cian McNamara all carded 71's.

David Higgins, Darren Clarke, Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton and Amateur Gary Hurley were a stroke further back.

Paul McGinley signed for a 73 and is joined in that crowded group by Brian McElhinney and Dermot McElroy AM.

With McIlroy on 74, four players two strokes behind - Mark Staunton, Gareth Shaw, Eamonn Brady and Daniel Sugrue.

Damian Mooney finished n 77 along with Ruardhri McGee.

Robbie Cannon AM ended the day on 79 strokes.

Brendan McGovern was eleven strokes over par on 88.

McIlroy Needs Good Friday

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Rory McIlroy blamed a "sloppy" short game for an opening round of 74 which left him facing a battle to avoid another early exit from the Irish Open.

McIlroy has a relatively poor record in his national championship, recording two top-10 finishes in seven appearances and missing the cut last year along with Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

The 25-year-old had the added incentives of being able to move top of the European Tour's Race to Dubai and getting back inside the top five on the world rankings with a good performance, but could only finish three over par in perfect conditions at Fota Island.

"I was pretty sloppy with the scoring clubs so I might head to the range this afternoon to work on those. I need to do better tomorrow to be here for the weekend."

Starting from the 10th, McIlroy hit his third shot to the 537-yard par-five over the green and had to scramble for his par, something he was unable to do on the short 11th after finding sand off the tee.

McIlroy split the fairway on the next but had to save par again after coming up short of the green with his approach, while another missed green on the 14th resulted in a second bogey of the day after a duffed chip.

A birdie on the par-five 18th took McIlroy to the turn in one over, but another bogey soon followed on the second when a misjudged approach flew well over the green.

McIlroy was lucky not to pull his tee shot into the water on the third, but failed to make the most of his good fortune before repairing some of the damage with a birdie on the par-five fifth.

After three-putting the sixth and failing to get up and down from a bunker on the seventh, McIlroy at least finished in style with a birdie on the last which prompted the two-time major winner to raise his arms in mock celebration.

"Not being able to do much on Monday and Tuesday was really frustrating, but I played well in the pro-am and had a good practice session on the range till about 8pm last night," added McIlroy, whose clubs only arrived on Wednesday morning after being mislaid in transit from the United States.

"It's tough because I feel like I have been playing well for a while and I am still getting days like this. When you are playing well you should be capitalising on that and not throwing in scores like I did today."

Playing partner Harrington fared considerably better than McIlroy, the three-time major winner also making a birdie on the last to return a two-under-par 69. But that was still five shots off the clubhouse target set by Finland's Mikko Ilonen, who carded eight birdies and one bogey to establish a new course record of 64.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick, who was the leading amateur in last week's US Open, carded a one-over 72 in his first tournament round as a professional.

Ilonen, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia for the Qatar Masters in January, had started on the back nine and was three under par at the turn before a bogey on the first proved to be an unlikely catalyst for five birdies in his last seven holes.

"On our 10th hole, the first hole, I made a mess out of it," said Ilonen, who enoyed a three-shot lead over England's Matthew Baldwin and Italy's Edoardo Molinari. "I hit a big drive, middle of the fairway with sand wedge and I walk off with a five.

"Luckily I didn't get too angry with it and I just get going and kept hitting greens and kept giving myself chances. Luckily in the end I made a few putts. I didn't feel so good with the putter today but in the end, it started feeling good."

6/19/2014

Paul Makes Casey for Title Defence

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Paul Casey returns to defend his Irish Open title, which he won in such dramatic circumstances last year.

The tournament is a hugely popular event among fans and players alike, and Casey’s three stroke victory last year, courtesy of a spectacular 45-foot eagle putt at the last, has given the Englishman even more motivation this time round.

“I always defend a title,” he said. “I won in Korea and I went back to Korea. If I won in Timbuktu, I'd go back to Timbuktu. I never get tired of defending. It’s exciting to me and this is an important championship. The Irish Open is one of the biggest titles I've won. It meant a lot winning it last year. “

The tournament will be held at Fota Island Resort in Co. Cork for the first time since 2002 this year – and there will be no shortage of stars on show vying to emulate Casey.

The home fans will have plenty to cheer about with Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington all featuring in this year’s world class field.

McIlroy’s form means he is almost guaranteed a place in Irishman Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup European team at Gleneagles Hotel in September, however Casey knows he must find his very best form soon if he is to feature.

“I need to play some stellar stuff,” he said. “I need to win at least one big one or a couple of others by the cut-off. I think it's plain and simple. And even that doesn't guarantee anything, but at least that might get me into consideration.”

The Arizona-based player has shown glimpses of the magic touch that saw him climb to third place in the Official World Golf Ranking back in 2009.

A second round 63 at the Byron Nelson Championship on the US PGA Tour last month showed the 36 year old might not be too far away from returning to his best form.

Casey is hoping to have some generous support from the Irish galleries this week, thanks to his Irish roots.

“Casey is a Cork name,” he said. “One of my cousins who lives in the States has done a whole bunch of research on all our ancestors so I will try this week to find out more. It was my great grandfather who was over here, and I think my grandfather on my dad's side moved to South Africa. So it's pretty close - I'll try and find out more.”

Casey’s exploits last year at Carton House Golf Club endeared him to many Irish fans. Another triumph this week would reinforce that bond and put Casey well and truly back in the spotlight.

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