Pro Focus - Brendan McDaid

As a result of growing up in a house where golf was everything I started playing golf just after learning to walk and was hooked on golf at the age of 18 months.

I was lucky enough to be born in Donegal to two parents who were passionate golfers. My Mother was a keen golfer and played golf for Munster, Connaught and Ulster. My mother also represented Ireland.

My father was also a keen golfer and played off a handicap of 6.

As a young child the family moved to Cork where my passion for golf continued. I started to play in competition golf from a young age and some of my golfing achievements include:

Qualified and Played on the European Tour in 1989

Winning the Irish Independent Philishave weekly prize with a score of 44 (aged 11).

Youngest player to reach the last 16 in the South of Ireland Championship in 1976

Youngest winner of the Irish Youths Championship (aged 16).

Member of the first Irish Youths Team to leave the country and play in the Youth Championships (which Ireland won)

Qualified and Played on the European Tour in 1989

Winning the Irish Independent Philishave weekly prize with a score of 44 (aged 11).

Youngest player to reach the last 16 in the South of Ireland Championship in 1976

Youngest winner of the Irish Youths Championship (aged 16).

Member of the first Irish Youths Team to leave the country and play in the Youth Championships (which Ireland won)

Winner of the Kerry Boys Championship in 1976, 1977 & 1979.

Member of the School Golf Team which won the Aer Lingus National Championship in 1978 & 1979

Member of the School Golf Team which won the Aer Lingus National Championship in 1978 & 1979

Winner of the Munster Boys Championship in 1978 beating Ronan Rafferty in the final

Member of the School Golf Team which won the Aer Lingus International Championship in 1979

Leading Individual in the Aer Lingus International Championship in 1979 which meant I qualifies for my first European Pro Am at the age of 18

Winner of the Munster Youths Championship in 1980 & 1981

Played for Castletroy in 1980-1981 and won Aer Lingus Clubs Championship and runner up in the International Final.

Represented Munster on the Senior Interprovincial Team for 4 years.

In 1984 I qualified as a PGA Pro European Tour Coach and for five years I combined playing golf with teaching golf.

However it was in 1989 that I decided my true passion was teaching golf. A combination of touring and trying to teach made me realise that I loved teaching golf more than playing on the tour.

Since then I have focused on my passion of providing golf lessons across the full spectrum of golfer from beginners to members of the European Tour.

Head coach to PGA Pro and European Tour winner Peter Lawrie when he claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the Open de España in 2008, defeating home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off. 

Provide golf lessons at some of the countries finest golfing facilities and use all the latest golf technology to cater for all your tuition needs.

Regardless of whether you are learning to play golf for the first time, want to improve your handicap or win more on the European Tour, I can improve your golf game and increase the pleasure you get from your round of golf.

Providing golf lessons in:

Dublin

Limerick

Naas

Athy

Contact: info@brendanmcdaidgolf.com

Twitter @BMcDaidGoll
www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

[If you wish to include your club in the Pro Focus email news to irishgolfclubgazette at gmail.com]

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McIlroy Beats Na in Sudden Death

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Rory McIlroy relishes the mano a mano combat of raw matchplay, and the Northern Irishman – seeking to defend his title – was forced to demonstrate all those survival instincts to see off American Kevin Na in the WGC-Dell Matchplay Championship in Austin, Texas.

It required a sudden-death playoff to move on out of the group, but McIlroy ensured his progress into the last-16 and a match with British Open champion Zach Johnson. McIlroy, unbeaten in his last 10 WGC matchplay matches, is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods (2003 and 2004) to win back-to-back titles.

“I had to dig pretty deep, Kevin’s a very good competitor and he wasn’t giving me much out there, so I holed a few long putts and I kept it together when I needed to . . .for the most part, I played pretty good. I responded to some of his good shots with good shots myself and that gives me some confidence going into the weekend,” said McIlroy afterwards.

In a way, McIlroy got the worst of any swing glitches out of the way early: a double-bogey six on the 446 yards Par 4 second – when his tee shot was pushed into the right rough and his approach found a greenside bunker from where he failed to find the putting surface – gave Na the impetus.

And the American went two-up on the world number three when his lob wedge approach to three feet on the fifth set up a birdie three. McIlroy responded with a tee shot to eight feet for birdie on the seventh and then won the ninth to level matters at the turn.

Again, McIlroy was forced to play catch-up when Na won the 10th and the Northern Irishman showed he was up for the battle when he rolled in a 30-footer for birdie on the Par 3 11th and then assumed the lead for the first time in the match when he rolled in a four-and-a-half footer.

However, he played the Par 5 16th poorly and almost salvaged a half when his pitch for birdie hit the hole but stayed out as Na levelled affairs.

Both McIlroy and Na halved the first playoff hole in pars but the match swung in the Ulsterman’s favour when his opponent pulled his tee shot into the hazard and was forced to take a penalty drop. He then put his third shot into a greenside bunker and a par was sufficient for McIlroy to close the deal.

Of facing Johnson, McIlroy said: “This is a course that sets up well for Zach, a precision sort of course and if he gets the ball in play he will be hard to beat. My matchplay game is pretty good and no matter what he does I will have to respond to it.”

Shane Lowry’s disappointing campaign finished with a 4 and 3 defeat to British Open champion Johnson, who won all three of his matches.

Johnson’s form was such that he never got beyond the 15th green in any of his matches and, so, after defeating Lowry, the American decided to finish off by playing the 16th, 17th and 18th holes on his own. “I hadn’t seen those holes since Tuesday,” explained Johnson.

“Shane didn’t have his best but rallied at the end and gave it a fight,” he added.

For Lowry, it is a case of moving on to next week’s Houston Open, his final preparation tournament ahead of the Masters.

Hot streaks can turn cold, as Adam Scott – after two wins on the Florida Swing – discovered in failing to escape from his group, after the Australian was trumped by Bill Haas who won by one hole to advance into the last 16.

“I can’t be upset I lost the match playing like that,” said Scott after his exit, shaking his head at what had been an unpredictable match in which no hole was halved from the seventh to the 18th. Over the last seven holes, the pair factored in five birdies and an eagle between them.

Haas, who had only required a halved match to move on to the knockout phase, duly secured a morale-boosting win when he rolled in a 12-footer for birdie on the 18th to rub salt into Scott’s wounds.

There was a much smoother transition from the group stage to the knockout phase for Jason Day who recovered from the back injury that flared up on Wednesday and which had threatened his participation.

He made it three wins from three in the group when his opponent Paul Casey withdrew after just six holes of the final group match. Casey had been battling an upset stomach all week. Although the Englishman won the opening two holes, Day had levelled the match by the sixth when Casey decided to call it a day .

SATURDAY ROUND OF 16 TEE TIMES

12.30pm Bill Haas v Chris Kirk

12.41pm Rory McIlroy v Zach Johnson

12.52pm Matt Kuchar v Brooks Koepka

1.03pm Jason Day v Brandt Snedeker

1.14pm Byeong-Hun An v Rafael Cabrera-Bello

1.25pm Patton Kizzirev Ryan Moore

1.36pm Dustin Johnson v Patrick Reed

1.47pm Jordan Spieth v Louis Oosthuizen

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McIlroy All Smylie After Second Austin Win

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Rory McIlroy, if not exactly firing on all cylinders, made it two wins from two matches in his defence of the WGC-Dell Matchplay championship with a 3 and 1 victory over American Smylie Kaufman in the second day of group play.

As McIlroy marched on in pursuit of back-to-back wins in the championship, with a final group match against Kevin Na set to decide who progresses, there was only disappointment for Shane Lowry, who went from a position of strength in his match with Australian Marcus Fraser, three up at the turn, to collapse on the back nine and end up with only a halved match that ended any chance of progression into the knockout phase.

“Is there any point me coming down?” Lowry enquired forlornly to his caddie Dermot Byrne after hitting his tee-shot on the Par 3 17th into the hazard.

There wasn’t, the ball was never found, and despite Byrne’s best efforts, the ball was never found and that poor tee shot in effect – leading to a bogey on that hole for the second day in a row – ended Lowry’s hopes in the championship a day early. His final group match against Zach Johnson will be purely a matter of pride.

Lowry had started like a train – a birdie-birdie start giving him a two hole lead – and he turned three up and seemingly in total control only to lose the 10th and 11th to birdies and the match was back to all-square after Fraser holed from off the green on the 14th.

For McIlroy, there was again a doggedness about how he went about his business in his pursuit of defending the title. Just as his opening group match with Thorbjorn Olesen swung his way late on, he benefitted from the travails of his opponent, Kaufman, who hit one water ball after another on the homeward run.

McIlroy was one up through the turn but lost the 10th and 11th in what appeared to be a momentum- changer to go one down. He didn’t need to produce any heroics of his own, however, to regain the initiative as Kaufman was twice in the water on the 13th and again found water on the 14th for McIlroy to go all-square and then move one up.

Kaufman’s woes were evident again on the 17th, where a pulled tee shot into the same territory as Lowry ahead of him had found resulted in a concession of the hole and the match to McIlroy. The Northern Irishman will complete his group stage against Kevin Na in a winner-takes-all conclusion to see who advances to the last 16.

“It was nice not to go down the last but then it was a little scary at the start of the match, but I’m happy Smylie did concede there at 17 and I move,” said McIlroy, adding: “I certainly feel now after these two days that the longer the match goes on the better my chances are . . . the pleasing thing over the last couple of days is that when I needed to play some of my best golf, I have been able to do that.”

McIlroy made it two wins from two, as did Patrick Reed with a comprehensive 4 and 3 win over England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick to set up a showdown with Phil Mickelson.

Jordan Spieth also made it two wins from two with a 5 and 4 win over Victor Dubuisson.

Graeme McDowell’s involvement came to an early end, as he halved his match with England’s Paul Casey. 

Jason Day, who suffered a back injury in defeating McDowell on Wednesday, received intensive physiotherapy to enable him to play and confirmed his well being with a 5 and 3 win over Thonghai Jaidee that has the Australian set to move on to the knockout phase.

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McIlroy Wins as GMAC and Lowry Lose

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A shake of the hand and a pat on the shoulder from Shane Lowry to Martin Kaymer demonstrated his magnanimity after losing out to the German in the first match of the group stages of the WGC-Dell Matchplay championship at Austin, Texas. But such gestures were delivered with a sense of utter wonderment at how the Claraman had ended up on the losing end of the deal.

For most of the match, Lowry had the upper hand and was one-up with three holes to play only to lose the Par 5 16th and then three-putt for bogey on the 17th to lose back-to-back holes that swung the match in Kaymer’s favour. The one hole defeat has left Lowry with an uphill battle to escape the group stages.

In contrast, Rory McIlroy - who had trailed Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen for most of their match - fought back from being two down after 13 holes to win his match on the 18th green. The Northern Irishman birdied the 14th and 15th to get back to all-square and then won the 18th after the Dane missed the green to claim a one hole win.

Graeme McDowell was given a front row seat to two performances in his opening group match: the first was a close-up view of world number two Jason Day, his opponent, continuing his stellar form on the back of his Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament win; the second was an closer view of the Australian’s back injury late-on in their match which cast a cloud on Day’s 3 and 2 opening day win.

Day was required to undergo immediate treatment on his ailing back after suffering what were described as “shooting pains” down his lower back and into both legs, which has put a question mark over his continued participation in the WGC event and also a worry over his participation in the upcoming US Masters.

“He grabbed his back and said, ‘oh, I just tweaked it,” his caddie Colin Swatton said of his player’s injury, adding: “Up until that point, there was nothing.”

In fact, Day - who had opted not to play any practice rounds ahead of the tournament - had demonstrated his status as one of the game’s in-form players with a comprehensive win that also showed resolve. He was two down to the Ulsterman after just four holes, but won the fifth with a birdie and then claimed the eighth and ninth holes to turn one up.

McDowell’s day got worse on the Par 3 11th, where, with 192 yards to the flag, he put his tee shot into the lake and was ultimately forced to concede the hole. Day won the 12th with a birdie four to go three up, but instead of coasting home had to endure a painful finish as he suffered back problems from the 15th fairway where he was seen holding his back and stretching. By the time he reached the green, he was grimacing and in obvious pain.

“I’m not going to say it rubbed salt in my wound when a guy is 3 up with three to go and then he starts hurting and is able to limp up and win the match, but it does put a salty edge in it for me,” McDowell said, before adding, with a laugh: “Go down six holes ago if you're going.”

“But you never wish an injury on a guy,” he said, “especially on a guy on top of his form like Jason is, and as good of an athlete as Jason is.”

Day would move ahead of Jordan Spieth into the world number one spot with a win in Austin but that prospect was reduced by his latest medical setback and there is a question over whether or not he will be able to complete the two remaining matches in the group, with the winner advancing to the last-16. And, with the Masters just two weeks away, his fitness for the season’s first Major is an even greater concern.

As his caddie put it, “He’s been great all year,” Swatton said of Day’s health. “Just out of the blue. I don’t know if it was one swing or what it was.” Subsequently, his agent issued a statement confirming that Day’s post-round treatment had proven beneficial and he aimed to play his second round match.

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McIlroy Ready to Defend Dell Title

Rory McIlroy is prepared to scrap his way through the rounds at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship as he prepares to defend the title he won 12 months ago.

The Northern Irishman was taken to the 20th hole by Billy Horschel during the group stage and needed four extra holes to overcome Paul Casey in the quarter-finals before emerging victorious at TPC Harding Park.

This year’s event has switched from San Francisco to Austin Country Club in Texas, and the World Number Three is happy to go the distance once more – as long as he wins.

“I think definitely it prepares you more for the final,” McIlroy said after being drawn alongside Smylie Kaufman, Kevin Na and Thorbjørn Olesen in the group stage.

“It makes the final that little bit easier, because you've faced scenarios. 

“Whether you've had to birdie the last two holes to win or win in extra holes, I think those experiences serve you well.

“It's a bit like in the early stages of a Grand Slam tennis tournament - if you see a Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal or Novak [Djokovic], taken to four or five sets, it's almost like it's good for them to take that experience and be challenged.”

McIlroy is looking forward to the format switch, with the 64 players drawn into groups of four and the 16 winners progressing to the weekend’s knock-out stages.

“It's about playing the player that's in front of you there on the first tee,” said the 26 year old.

“It's a sprint; it's 18 holes; you don't really have time to find your rhythm. 

“You need to try to make birdies from the get-go, and that's the approach I've adopted the last few years. 

“Kevin I've played before in this event, back in Arizona, and he's playing very well. He's had a great year. 

“Thorbjorn is a good friend of mine. I've known him for a long time playing The European Tour - we've got a little bit of history. 

“Smylie, I really don't know that much about. I know that he got off to a great start in his PGA Tour career. No matter who you draw in this event, you know you're going to get a tough match.”

As well as trying to win a third World Golf Championships title, McIlroy believes there is a chance to land some early psychological blows ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup.

Darren Clarke’s team will face the US at Hazeltine at the end of September, and McIlroy believes that will add an extra incentive to any European-American showdowns this week.

He added: “I feel if there is a head-to-head between a European and an American, whoever gets the upper hand in this event, maybe just some psychological advantage going into the Ryder Cup. Maybe that will happen this week.”

Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell are also in the field in Austin.

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A Good Day as McIlroy Fires 66

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Rory McIlroy eased any concerns about the state of his game heading into the first major of 2016 as Jason Day set an imposing clubhouse target in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Day added a flawless 65 to his opening 66 for a 13-under-par halfway total of 131, just one shot outside the tournament record shared by fellow Australian Adam Scott, Tom Watson and Andy Bean.

"It would be nice to go eight under tomorrow," joked Day, whose best score at Bay Hill before the start of the week had been 68.

Starting on the back nine, the US PGA champion birdied the 12th, 16th and 17th to reach the turn in 33, before picking up four more birdies on the inward half and closing his round in style by holing from 35 feet on the ninth.

"I said after yesterday's round I was just trying to stay patient and came out and started off really solid and kept it up," the world number three added on PGA Tour Radio. "I drove the ball nicely, hit a lot of good quality shots into the greens.

"I had one kick-in on three but for the most part played the par-fives great again and just putted great. The two bombs that I holed today on 17 and nine definitely helped, but I felt like these sorts of scores were coming, I just had to be patient with myself.

"It's very easy to get ahead of myself, especially with how I've played earlier this year. It hadn't been that great and I get a lot of media saying 'What's wrong, what's wrong?'.

"You can get a little bit caught up in it sometimes but you just have to make sure you're doing the right things, you're working hard, you're working towards that goal and the last few days has been fantastic."

McIlroy, who blew a four-shot lead in the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship and carded an opening 75 here, had kept pace with Day in the group ahead for much of the round thanks to six birdies in his first 14 holes.

However, the world number two failed to birdie three of the four par fives and eventually had to settle for a 67 after dropping his only shot of the day on the seventh - his 16th hole - after missing the green off the tee.

That left McIlroy on two under par and safely inside the cut, which was projected to fall at level par.

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Moy Park Stays with DDF Irish Open

European Tour

Moy Park has announced its continuation as an Official Sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation, which takes place at the world renowned K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22, 2016.

Moy Park, which is part of the JBS Group, the largest protein company in the world and the second largest global food business, will be celebrating its fifth year as an Official Sponsor and at this year’s tournament will showcase its products in the Moy Park food court at the Championship village food pavilion. 

Alan Gibson, Moy Park’s UK and Ireland Director, said: “As one of Ireland’s largest companies and the country’s number one poultry brand, we are delighted to continue to grow and develop our partnership with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – one of the world’s most iconic sporting events.

"Attracting players and visitors from across the globe, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open gives the Moy Park brand a great platform to build upon the huge success of last year’s Championship at Royal County Down. We are thrilled that Rory McIlroy has announced his commitment to host the tournament again, on behalf of his Foundation, making this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the prestigious K Club all the more special.”

James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open, said: “The European Tour is delighted to secure the continued commitment of Moy Park for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K Club. We are excited to be working with one of Ireland’s biggest companies who will actively promote their involvement in the championship via a number of consumer promotions. We thank Moy Park for their continued support of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the European Tour.”

To celebrate its sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Moy Park has launched an on-pack competition to win a money can’t buy Irish Open experience. Running from the March 21 – April 29, shoppers across the UK and Ireland can win the ‘Ultimate Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Experience’ – which includes tickets, overnight accommodation and corporate hospitality – by picking up a promotional pack of Moy Park chicken in participating stores.

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Harrington Set to be Hero

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Padraig Harrington this week returns to India for the first time since 1992 and is in no doubt of his target in the Hero Indian Open.

“I’m looking to be in contention,” declared the Irishman in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

To do that, and to have a chance of following in the footsteps of the event’s inaugural champion in 2015, home favourite Anirban Lahiri, Harrington will not only have to overcome a strong field but also a course notorious for its tree-lined trickiness.

The winning score at Delhi Golf Club last year was just seven under par – SSP Chawrasia matched it but lost to his fellow Indian Lahiri in the play-off – and many players have suggested they will opt to jettison their driver, given the premium placed on straight hitting.

Not Harrington, however, who said: “I’ve heard players say they’ve taken out the driver but if I need to make eagle on the last hole then I will be hitting driver. I’ve got to have that club in my bag and that option if I’m chasing with nine holes to go.

“It is difficult off the tees. You get the ball going the wrong way and it might end up into the trees. A lot of intimidating factor off the tees but the goal is conservative off the tees and aggressive attacking the greens. 

“You have to accept that you will make a few mistakes which results in double bogeys but hopefully you make enough birdies to counter that.”

The 44 year old last played in India at the Amateur Golf Championship of India in Calcutta, and in the intervening years has forged a brilliant career, amassing 14 European Tour victories, including his Open Championship double in 2007 and 2008 and the US PGA Championship in the latter.

He last tasted victory just over a year ago in the USA, but he is intent on returning to the winner’s circle in New Delhi.

“Every week I go out there, I look to be in contention heading into the last nine holes,” he said. “I know if I did that every week, then I know I will have enough wins by the end of the year that I’ll be happy with. The goal is to have a chance and feel the pressure on Sunday.

“It is a strong field, probably stronger than I imagined. A lot of European players have come here as it is perfect scheduling time.”

Headlining the strong line-up are Lahiri, who claimed his second win in as many weeks 12 months ago, another home favourite in Jeev Milkha Singh and Australian Scott Hend, who won in Thailand last week.

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