Harrington Happy About Rio

Padraig Harrington is thrilled to be going and dreams of gold.

“I’m really looking forward to Rio. My whole family are going,” the 44-year-old Irishman said after a long session on the practice putting green on a sizzling hot and stormy Baltusrol, where the PGA Championship begins on Thursday.

“We’re busy getting our tickets organized for the second week that we’re there. It’s a big deal for us.”

Harrington, winner of the 2008 PGA Championship and two British Open titles (2007, 2008), accepted the honor of playing for Ireland after the withdrawals of four-times major champion Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell citing concerns over the Zika virus.

Later Shane Lowery also withdrew over Zika worries, opening the door for 297th-ranked Seamus Power to join Harrington in the 60-man Rio field as golf returns to the Olympic programme after an absence of 112 years.

World number one Jason Day of Australia, the defending PGA champion, and Americans Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, ranked second and third, respectively, also bowed out from Rio consideration due to health concerns.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which the World Health Organization says is spreading rapidly in the Americas, can cause crippling defects in babies and has been linked to the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre in adults.

“I’m going down there to try and win. No doubt about it, I believe I can win,” said Harrington, who has slipped to 150th in the world rankings.

Harrington, like others who played at the Open at Royal Troon, are returning for the season’s final major with just one tournament week in between them in a tour season condensed to make room for the Olympic tournament.

Some players, including world number eight Adam Scott of Australia and South Africa’s world number 15 Louis Oosthuizen, said they opted out of the Rio Games for scheduling reasons.

Harrington said he had planned to play two majors and the Olympics this summer. “I wanted to do my preparation for all three and if I played well in one of those three would have a good chance of winning,” he said.

“It didn’t happen at the (British) Open. I’ve won three majors and I’m happy to take either,” he said about this week’s PGA or next month’s Summer Olympics.

“I could understand if you haven’t won a major, making that more of a priority. But I think an Olympic gold would add a lot to my career.”

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McIlroy Needs Major Putt

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Former world number one Rory McIlroy sits in fourth place in the latest official world golf rankings. The Northern Ireland man sandwiched below Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, and just ahead of European Tour member and Open winner Henrik Stenson. Despite having won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in May the Holywood golfer last wins were in 2015 at the DP World Tour, WGC Cadillac Match Play and Omega Dubai Desert Classic the latter venue that gave him his first professional career win in 2009. The next came at Quail Hollow when he took his first PGA Title at the age of 21 and the first player since Tiger Woods to win on the PGA Tour at that tender age. The next season his ascent to top came when at Congressional he won his first major as the youngest player since Bobby Jones in 1923. 

By 2014 McIlroy had four major titles to his credit and looked at emulating Woods winning record of 14 majors in his career. Two years hence the momentum seems to have wilted somewhat. And as Woods faces the inevitable reality of the sunset of his career, or at least never returning to the dominance he once held in the game, McIlroy faces his own battle to return to world number one. Also get back on the major trail that at one time looked a feat within his grasp to equal Tiger Woods. However, the past few years have generated some new names in those top ranks that have made those records much trickier for Rory. Or indeed holding the aspiration of winning the grand slam in one season almost seem impossible. 

The arrival of Jordan Spieth started the turbulence in 2015 when the Texan won all around him only to see that momentum fade this year. The almost perennial nearly man Jason Day finally came good in 2015 despite some close calls prior. Failures that almost drove he Australian to consider giving up the game given his wilting self-belief. Fortunately for the game Day reversed all that at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights. The epic win followed by the Barclay and BMW Championship in the same season reviving confidence that led to the Aussie replacing Spieth as world Number 1 this year.

McIlroy’s tribulations are not unique as Spieth can vouch this season where his indestructible form has eked away. Not least at Augusta when leading the Masters, his defence of the title unravelled bizarrely at the twelfth hole after a string of bogeys already had reduced his lead. Not unlike McIlroy in 2011 the collapse was very public and uncomfortable for all concerned and a place from where Spieth has yet to emerge. In the case of McIlroy, he overcame it all within months when he clinched the US Open with a record score at Congressional. The context of which he built on to until his injury playing football with friends denied him the defence of The Open title he so convincingly seized at Hoylake in 2014. 

His return this year to the event at Royal Troon only showed some sparks on the final day. But insufficient to even contend on the final day. Where another nearly man Henrik Stenson demolished championship course with a round of 63 on the final day when pin positions are usually deemed inaccessible. Particularly on the perilous back nine at Royal Troon. Even more admirable an achievement when being chased and pressed by Phil Mickelson. This year though McIlroy was not in that final race in this major, nor was he at Oakmont where he missed the cut and Irish interests were represented by Shane Lowry in the end. Or the Players Championship where he finished 12th. 

An unlikely season for McIlroy and his quest for majors or indeed emulating Woods record all the more difficult. What Royal Troon has also shown that the hunger in the likes of Stenson has now been triggered, as it has for Dustin Johnson who for so many years was another nearly man. Indeed, in the top ten there are enough names to put the fear in anyone’s golf bag as each one could - on their day - destroy any field. Not to mention some of the younger talents racing up the field eager to earn their prize money and win these elusive major titles. Which for a number of years were littered with Irish names; Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, McIlroy and Darren Clarke. Currently that momentum has wavered. Albeit Lowry came very close last month in the US Open - suggesting his day is getting closer.

The shift in McIlroy’s putting grip in June highlighted some issues on his mind and shifting from his left hand grip back too conventional at Oakmont was a search for some improvements. The PGA Tour stats though show him 60 in the putting ranking and well behind the top three that included Day, Mickelson, Speith and even Jamie Donaldson. As numbers don’t lie it is clear that it is a part of McIlroy’s armoury which leaves him exposed on the course. Even with his number one place in drives there is a much better putting brigade hat are well ahead of him – no matter how easily he goes from tee to green. 

In Scotland there were a significant number of missed putts that were coming from a talented golfer not convinced himself that he is on terms with his putter. So it needs urgent attention if this year is to see a major win given the PGA Championship at Baltrusol Golf Clubs is the last remaining event in that class. In fairness though the season thus far has one win, and with a top finish everywhere he has played - part for the US Open. Although all good results well below the expectations McIlroy would have set himself back in January. 

Rory McIlroy - 2016 STATS PGA TOUR

Irish Golf Club Gazette - All rights reserved

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McIlroy Claims Irish Open Title

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Rory McIlroy produced a sensational finish to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for the first time at The K Club.

McIlroy had seen his three-shot lead turned into a one-shot deficit with three holes to play as Scotland’s Russell Knox carded four birdies and an eagle in a final round interrupted twice by hailstorms and torrential rain.

But the world No 3 then birdied the par-five 16th as Knox three-putted and, after lipping out for birdie on the 17th, fired a stunning approach from 252 yards to within three feet of the hole on the 18th for a closing eagle.

The resulting 69 meant McIlroy finished three shots clear of Knox and Wales’ Bradley Dredge to claim the first prize of €666,660, which he will donate to his own foundation which hosted the tournament for the second year.

Dredge surged through the field with a 66 to secure the biggest pay-day of his career, with Knox returning a 68.

McIlroy had missed the cut in his home event for the last three years, but completed an error-free 70 in the weather-delayed third round on Sunday morning to claim a three-shot lead over Masters champion Danny Willett.

And, although Willett’s challenge stalled in the final round with 13 straight pars before he collapsed to a closing 77, Knox ensured McIlroy would not have things all his own way.

Using a driver borrowed from Sweden’s David Lingmerth after cracking the face of his own club on Thursday, Knox missed good birdie chances on the first two holes before holing from 20 feet for eagle on the fourth.

Playing partner McIlroy birdied the same hole to retain his three-shot advantage before Knox birdied the fifth to reduce the gap, with both players then dropping a shot on the sixth.

After a delay of 69 minutes following the first deluge, McIlroy edged two shots clear with a birdie on the 10th, only to three-putt the 11th and then see Knox draw level with a birdie on the 14th before play was temporarily halted again due to another spell of hailstones.

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Warren Makes Marc at K Club

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Marc Warren rediscovered his form in spectacular fashion at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation on Friday and will head into the weekend battling it out with Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett.

With Willett making his first European Tour appearance since his victory at the Masters Tournament and McIlroy playing host for the week, all eyes were on the two highest ranked players in the field in the build up to play at the K Club.

That continued on day one as the pair moved to the top of the leaderboard, with Willett and McIlroy continuing to engage in a nip-and-tuck battle throughout the second morning before Warren made a brilliant move.

The Scotsman had made just three cuts in his nine starts so far this season but birdied three of his last four holes - with a brilliant chip-in coming on the eighth - to register a 66 and move to eight under.

That was good enough to give him a share of the lead alongside Willett who signed for a 71, with McIlroy just a shot further back after his round of 70.

Willett's triumph at Augusta was his second of the season while McIlroy has yet to finish outside the top ten, but Warren is a three-time winner himself and felt he was due a low score.

"I felt, especially the last three events, I felt as if I was close to some decent form," he said.

"The first few months of the season were a little bit of stop-start scheduling-wise.

I feel as if I'm starting to get into a little bit more of a run now, so hopefully that's the reason for the good form and hopefully it continues - Marc Warren

The 35 year old carded seven birdies to a single bogey in the calmer morning conditions - with the wind and rain arriving for the afternoon starters - and was delighted with his performance.

"I think everything was pretty solid overall," he added. "I kept the ball in play off the tee, which is obviously important in these conditions, and the short game is good."

Willett came into the day with a two-shot lead over McIlroy and while he was caught twice by the Northern Irishman, five birdies and four bogeys just kept him at the top of the leaderboard with Warren.

"A little bit scrappy but grinding out quite nicely," he said. "Marc's score today is a fantastic round of golf.

England's Matthew Southgate coped wonderfully with the more difficult later conditions to record a 69 and sit at five under, a shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton, who went one better in the afternoon.

South African duo Richard Sterne and Jaco Van Zyl were also at four under after rounds of 68 and 72 respectively.

Jorge Campillo, Jamie Donaldson, Bradley Dredge, Sébastien Gros, Russell Knox, Eddie Pepperell, Richie Ramsay, Brett Rumford, Callum Shinkwin and Chris Wood were then a further shot back.

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McIlroy the Hostest with Mostest

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Rory McIlroy put himself in an excellent position heading into the weekend at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation and then declared he was confident he could go on to win his home event.

The Northern Irishman is playing host to the tournament for the second consecutive season but had missed the cut three years in a row before rounds of 67-70 saw him make a good start at the K Club.

His previous best finish was seventh in 2008 and the four-time Major Championship winner said before the start this week and after the first round how eager he was to at last taste victory on home soil.

To do that he must overcome an elite field, with Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett and three-time European tour winner Marc Warren both a shot ahead of him at eight under heading into the weekend.

But after striking the ball beautifully over days one and two, McIlroy believes if he can cut out the mistakes, he will be right in the mix come Sunday afternoon.

"I'm making enough birdies," he said. "I think I made six birdies yesterday. I made six birdies today. So the birdies are there. I just need to limit the mistakes. Four bogeys today, a couple of really soft bogeys as well.

"I know that I'm hitting enough good shots and I'm holing enough putts. If I can live with the mistakes, I feel like I'll be right there.

"Obviously I haven't made the cut here for a while, and to be in for the weekend and play a solid two rounds of golf, I'm right there in the mix. I'm excited for the weekend."

McIlroy came into the second round two shots behind Willett and while he twice reined him in, he twice fell two shots behind again with a closing birdie from 20 feet on the ninth - his last - cutting the gap to one.

"I was getting quite frustrated there," he added. "Especially the end of the round, I felt I was giving myself chances and wasn't converting, and any time I did make a mistake, I wasn't saving par.

"To hole that birdie putt on the last, it was nice. It gives me a little bit of momentum going into the weekend, and I'll need it."

Willett is playing his first European Tour event since his maiden Major triumph at Augusta and McIlroy is delighted to have the man he beat to the Race to Dubai title last term in contention.

"I don't think anyone was happier than me last night because of what Danny shot, and then obviously me being up there," he said. "Both up there for the weekend, the Masters Champion and myself, it's a good leaderboard.

"It's great to see Danny up there, as well. I was very pleased that he committed to come and play here."

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