The Irish Golf Club Gazette

7/16/2013

GMAC Open to Muirfield Challenge

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Graeme McDowell watched from afar as the carnage unfolded at Muirfield in 2002, but still rates the Open Championship as his best bet for a second major title.

McDowell was just beginning his professional career that year and, having failed to qualify, was sent off to Germany to compete in a second-tier Challenge Tour event instead.

And even though that event also suffered from bad weather and was eventually reduced to 54 holes, McDowell's second place kickstarted his career in the paid ranks and two weeks later he won his firstEuropean Tour title in the Scandinavian Masters.

"I just remember that weather on the Saturday, the last time the Open was at Muirfield in 2002," recalled McDowell of the rain and wind that sent the Grand Slam-chasing Tiger Woods crashing to an 81 and Colin Montgomerie to an 84.

"I remember where I was, I was in Germany playing my first ever Challenge Tour event. I finished second to Iain Pyman that weekend. I remember sitting in the clubhouse after the round and watching the carnage unfold at Muirfield.

"I had been to Open qualifying and missed. Chubby (Chandler) was managing me at the time and he put me on a plane, kicking and screaming, to Germany to play a Challenge Tour event.

"Considering I had just played The Great North Open, Irish Open and European Open as my first three starts I was ready to go from a European Tour point of view, but in hindsight he did the best thing that he could possibly have done for me in getting me on the Challenge Tour and getting my confidence back up.

"I played another one the week after, finished top 20 then went to Sweden and won. So it was the precursor to something good happening."

Eight years later McDowell would win his first major title in the US Open at Pebble Beach and the 33-year-old is now targeting more glory at Muirfield after a strange season which has produced three wins and five missed cuts in his last eight events.

"I think the Open is the one I am most likely to win," the Northern Irishman added.

"I wouldn't put Augusta (venue for the US Masters) up there, that needs a bit of work. The US PGA is obviously an unknown quantity, sometimes they set it up like a US Open and sometimes they don't. So the Open, for sure.

"Which one would I love to win the most, if I could only win one more? Probably the Open over the Masters in a photo-finish. Probably just because of the home feel, the links and the history."

Concentrate on Golf Rory - Nick Faldo

Sir Nick Faldo has told Rory McIlroy he has 20 years at the top to win as much as he can and should be concentrating solely on golf.

In the last six months the 24-year-old Northern Irishman, whose high-profile relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has also come in for some criticism, has changed equipment suppliers and management company.

He has not won in that time and since finishing eighth at the Players Championship in May he has missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship, tied for 57th at Memorial, finished 41st at the US Open and missed the cut at the Irish Open.

After that last appearance he departed determined to discover the right driver which worked for him and now claims, after testing a tNike's London base, he has done just that. But although recently Faldo has criticised the Northern Irishman's decision to change his clubs it is his overall focus which is now the target.

"I actually think it's a lot going on in his mind," said the three-time Open champion, two of which were won at this week's venue Muirfield in 1987 and 1992. "You need 100 per cent concentration, off the golf course, practicing, as well.

"Most ideal I can think is to go to the club at nine in the morning, hit balls all day long, and leave at five. You have to do that. You have a 20-year window of opportunity as an athlete. Concentrate on golf, nothing else."

Faldo admits his chances of success this week are limited to making the weekend, which in itself will be a significant ask considering his last competitive round came at St Andrews in the 139th Open Championship in 2010 where he missed the cut on nine over. But he believes the current crop of younger professionals are the best prepared of any generation.

"I'm 56 on Thursday. About two months ago I was at my gym at home and I thought 'You're just strong enough to have a go. It might be the last chance I get to walk with fellow Open champions'.

"But when you see the test that they've prepared you start grand ideas of survival, of how close to the cut could I get? That would be impressive for a guy that hasn't hit a competitive shot for three years."

On the younger, fitter competitors he is up against Faldo added: "These kids, they've got it all now. They have this knowledge, it's not a guess any more - in our era we were still guessing. They all have the knowledge and understanding of the game."

7/15/2013

Selfridge Wins Cathedral Eye

Chris Selfridge won the Cathedral Eye Clinic North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush in Saturday’s final defeating Gary Hurley by 2 and 1.

“I was sick on the days leading up to the championship and was on the point of withdrawing but then decided to give it a go. I really wanted to play in the event and my coach, Johnny Foster, wanted me to play, even if I was sick.

“Johnny told me that he had a real good feeling that I could do well at the North this year,” revealed Selfridge.

Foster’s feeling proved spot on, as Selfridge eased through the matchplay field after qualifying on the cut-off mark.

“I did feel a bit under pressure as Gary (Hurley) got off to a good start but I had faith in my own ability so I just told myself to stay patient. I knew I had it in me to win,” stressed the Moyola Park player.

Maynooth undergraduate Hurley (20) stormed off by winning the first hole when Selfridge missed from five feet, but the new champion’s touch on the greens was back in evidence when he rolled in a 20-footer at the fourth hole for the first of his five birdies to level the match.

The next four holes were halved before Selfridge got his nose in front at the ninth to turn one up. He was three feet from the pin and when Hurley missed par from four feet he conceded his opponent’s putt.

It was back to square at 10, however, when Hurley rolled a 60-foot downhill putt to three feet and Selfridge, after sending his 20-footer four feet past, missed the return. At the 12th hole, Selfridge slotted in a birdie three from 25 feet and Hurley missed from five.

Toledo-based Selfridge went two up at 15 as Hurley was in rough twice and also in bunker trouble.

The match ended two holes later. Hurley was pin high right with a fairway wood as Selfridge was 80 yards short with a six Iron but steered his third approach to six inches. Hurley needed to hole his chip for eagle to keep the match alive but he missed on the right and the Moyola man was champion.

“I made five birdies and two bogeys which wasn’t bad for a final and I was well under par all week. I’m delighted,” enthused the new champion.

7/14/2013

Maybin Shares Fifth at Scottish Open

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Gareth Maybin kick started his season at Castle Stuart this weekend with a share of fifth place after a final round of one under par at the Scottish Open.

Three birdies were the reward for the day but with shots dropped at the e9th and fourteen Maybin ended the day on -14 and a valuable cheque for 124,860 Euro.

Paul McGinley finished in 24th with Shane Lowry unable to build on his opening round of 66 to end the weekend sharing 31st place.

Damien McGrane signed for a 75 on Sunday and dropped seven places to end the final day five under par and 42nd on the leader board.

Simon Thornton, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Padraig Harrington and David Higgins all failed to make the cut.

Phil Mickelson went from agony to ecstasy to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after a play-off with Branden Grace.

Needing just a par five at the last to secure victory in regulation play, the American uncharacteristically took three from the edge of the green.

That meant extra holes with South African Grace, who was already in the clubhouse on 17 under at that stage.

But on the first trip back down the 18th, Mickelson produced a stunning wedge to within a few inches of the cup and Grace could not match his birdie.

"This is really cool," said Mickelson, who claimed his first individual victory in Britain just four days before the start of The Open Championship at Muirfield.

"I have been coming here for some time and had some opportunities and I almost let it slip away today. To come out on top was terrific.

"I was so mad at myself for mentally losing my focus that I came out on that 18th pretty focused to make a four."

Mickelson began his round with a double bogey six on the first after topping his second shot and three-putting, but birdied four of his next five holes and also picked up three more shots at the start of the back nine.

A birdie on the 14th gave him the lead for the first time and three straight pars, including an excellent save on the 17th, had seemingly secured the €579,080 first prize.

However, the four-time Major winner's closing bogey meant a round of 69 to match that of Grace in the group ahead and a second Scottish Open play-off, the left-hander having lost out to France's Gregory Havret at Loch Lomond in 2007.

Overnight leader Henrik Stenson and Denmark's JB Hansen shared third place on 15 under, Hansen having threatened to pull off one of the most remarkable victories ever seen.

The 22 year old began the final round just two shots off the lead but his chances of a maiden European Tour title looked to have disappeared with a quadruple-bogey nine on the par five second.

However, Hansen bounced back with five birdies in succession, picked up another shot on the ninth to be out in 34 and when he birdied the tenth as well was suddenly in the outright lead.

The Challenge Tour graduate also got back into a share of the lead after Stenson had overhauled him with birdies on the tenth and 11th, only to drop three shots in his last four holes.

A place in The Open was on offer to the winner of the tournament if not already exempt, but with Mickelson taking the title first reserve Scott Stallings gets the Muirfield berth.

Harry Happy with Major Haul

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Padraig Harrington, who once won three major titles in the space of 13 months, insists he will be happy with his career if he never wins another.

Harrington won the Open in 2007 at Carnoustie and became the first European to successfully defend the title since 1906 when he triumphed again 12 months later at Birkdale.

When he also won the US PGA Championship three weeks later it meant the Dubliner had won three of the last six major championships contested, but that victory at Oakland Hills remains his last in any tournament on a major worldwide golf tour.

The 41-year-old has certainly not given up trying, finishing eighth in the Masters and fourth in the US Open respectively last year, but has come to realise that he already has plenty to be proud of.

"That's my one piece of advice whenever I see someone win a major. I remind them this isn't going to happen every week. Make the most of when it happens and enjoy it," Harrington said ahead of next week's Open at Muirfield, where he finished one shot outside the play-off in 2002.

"They don't happen as often as you think they will happen, even in a great career. If you look at my contemporaries, Tiger has actually won 14, and then you've got Ernie (Els) and Phil (Mickelson) have won four, but you really don't win that many majors. That's the way of the world.

"I played a practice round with Nick Faldo at Augusta one year and he had already got his sixth major, and he's working so hard on the golf course. I asked him why and he's just trying to win one more.

"I hope I'm not that person, that I can enjoy the three I've won as much as I'm trying to win as many more as I can. You do have to stand back at times and say three is pretty good, let's enjoy that.

"I'm always going to give it 100 per cent. Some kids you need to give a kick up the backside to get them out there to work.

"I'm the opposite; I need to taper things down. In order to get four and five and six and seven, I need to accept that I've done well as it is. The fourth one is not going to make the first three any better."

7/16/2013

GMAC Open to Muirfield Challenge

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