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.

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Meadow Clinches Third at Pinehurst

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Stephanie Meadow, in her first professional tournament, finished third in the US Women's Open on Sunday - three shots behind tournament winner Michelle Wie - thanks to a final-round 69.

Ahead of the event Meadow, originally from Jordanstown,  called upon advice from Rory McIlroy on how to play Pinehurst after he competed in the men's US Open on the course last week.

On Saturday Meadow forced her way into the penultimate group for Sundays final round on the notoriously difficult Pinehurst No 2 course. Tied third with Julie Inkster on two-over through 54 holes, Meadow teed it up with the seven-times Major Champion and Solheim Cup veteran for the final round.

Though Inkster faded out of contention, Meadow recovered from a couple of bogeys on her outward nine by landing a fabulous eagle three at 10. A phenomenally successful start to her new career, ensuring Meadow will hit the ground running in professional golf.

Meadow completed a glittering amateur career a fortnight ago by finishing as the joint top-scorer on the British and Irish team beaten in the Curtis Cup at St Louis Country Club.

A record-breaking nine-time winner during her four years on scholarship at the University of Alabama and a leading member of the Crimson Tide's National Championship-winning team two years ago, Meadow made it through to the US Women's Open as a first-alternative in a recent qualifier.

"I waited probably three weeks when we were at a training camp in Atlanta for the Curtis Cup and I got a phone call," she explained. "It was from New Jersey, and I'm thinking, 'Okay, this is the USGA'. And I'm thinking, please don't be about Curtis Cup, please be about US Open. To start my professional career here is so amazing. I'm so blessed that it happened.''

Meadow has been based in the States since age 14, when she joined the Hank Haney Junior Golf Academy in Sea Island, Georgia. She's accompanied at Pinehurst by her dad Robert and mother Louise.

After opening with a one-over-par 71 last Thursday, Meadow followed up with a 72 on Friday before Saturday's 69 propelled her to within four strokes of 54-hole leaders Michelle Wie and Korea's Amy Yang.

"I didn't really have expectations," said Meadow of her mission at the US Open. "I just wanted to go out and see where I was. I knew I was playing well.''

"I knew that my game could be up here against the best in the world and I've proven that, obviously."

Meanwhile Wie won her first major title with a two-stroke triumph over world number one Stacy Lewis in the US Women's Open at Pinehurst.

Joint overnight leader Wie, 24, carded a level-par 70 to see off the challenge of Lewis, who posted a 66.

South Korean Amy Yang, playing with Wie, fell away with a 74.

"I had a lot of fun," Wie said. "I walked up 18 with goose bumps and kind of had the same putt as Martin [Kaymer had to win the men's US Open last week]. I didn't hit as hard as him though.

"There were moments of doubt [during my career] but all the people around me never lost faith in me."

Wie burst on to the scene a decade ago by playing men's tournaments as a teenager. She failed to make a cut in her first seven tournaments but came back into form earlier this year with her first win in three seasons in April.

The Hawaiian's renewed confidence showed early in the final round at Pinehurst as Yang gave in to the pressure of playing in the lead group.

Wie holed out bravely for double bogey on 16 after he approach shot landed in a bush, ensuring she stayed a stroke ahead of Lewis.

However a superb birdie putt at the par-three 17th followed and, with her swagger back, Wie drilled her final drive down the last to set up a closing par and the victory.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew equalled Lewis' final-round best to finish tied-10th on five over par, though it was Meadow's stunning performance that most impressed of the British contingent.

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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.

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Rookie Meadow in US Open Mix

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Stephanie Meadow, who turned pro before the U.S. Women’s Open, enters Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst No. 2 tied for third, four shots off the lead.

“You couldn’t dream of a better start,” Meadow said.

A native of Northern Ireland, Meadow, 22, helped the University of Alabama win the NCAA women’s championship in 2012. She also helped Great Britain & Ireland win the Curtis Cup that year.

With a 1-under-par 69 Saturday, Meadow was just one of eight players to break par.

She isn’t overwhelmed being in the hunt in her pro debut.

“It’s awesome,” Meadow said. “I’ve worked my whole life for this.”

The 22-year-old, originally from Jordanstown, takes her first steps this week as a fully paid up member of the pro ranks after a stellar amateur career, one that included two Curtis Cup appearances.

Speaking before the US Open Meadow told the media

“I have completed my degree at the University of Alabama and it’s the perfect moment to come here and make this my first event,” said Meadow who moved with her entire family to the United States as a 14-year-old.

“This is the right time and I am definitely ready. I have waited a long time for this moment.”

When the Meadow family made the decision to emigrate to America some eight years ago it was probably considered something of a risky move but, rather like Graeme McDowell, Stephanie flourished in the Collegiate system, winning numerous awards.

A member of Royal Portrush Ladies, Stephanie has already played in a US Open as an amateur, the 2012 staging at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin and is in something of a hurry to get going.

“I am just excited to be a professional, I have dreamed about it for so long,” she added.

“To finally get it organised, to wake up and be able to say I am a professional, was great.

“As regards the US Open, at the end of the day, it is still golf course, a ball and a hole. Not much changes really, you just carry a bigger bag.”

Meadow had indicated that the Curtis Cup [at the start of June] would be her last event as an amateur but the official announcement was delayed by on-going administrative efforts to get her visa extended.

The issue has had a knock-on effect on her ability to make concrete plans involving signing contracts etc, but she is hopeful the matter will be addressed in a couple of weeks.

As it is, the planning process for the weeks after the US Open continues with Stephanie looking to sort out a schedule of events.

“It is very flexible at the minute,” she added.

“I will try and Monday qualify as often as I can for LPGA events and I also have an exemption into Symetra Tour event in August.

“I have written to a number of events in the hope of getting an invite. A lot of them haven’t made any decisions yet so it is really a case of waiting to see.

“I don’t think I will be playing much in Europe. I will focus on America and go to Q-School in the States.

“That’s the plan at the moment, but it could change. I have entered the final qualifying for the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale next month, but I will make a decision on that nearer the time.”

Sunday's final results could change things for the better.

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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."

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