Ryder rather than Rio - GMAC

Graeme McDowell says making the Irish Olympic team for Rio next year is well down on his list of priorities.

GMAC is more focused on putting himself into contention for a place on Darren Clarke's Ryder Cup team and going to France to participate in the French Open, a tournament that has served him well in the past.

While McDowell says the calendar for next year is "a mess", he has clearly stated where his priorities lie and championed Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry to represent Ireland.

"Where will I be? I'll probably be in France, and I'm okay to sort of admit that. I'd like to have the option, like I say, but France has been very good to me, and that's probably where I'll have to be," McDowell told in an interview with Irishgolfdesk.com.

"It's going to be difficult because Shane is obviously a fantastic player. Padraig has obviously shown some big signs as well.

"I'll be more interested in making the Ryder Cup team, to be honest with you, come that point in the season. That's always my focus. I think the Olympics are so hard to quantify.

"I'm not going to get myself into a race with Shane or Padraig. I'm just not going to get into a race with them. I'm going to be trying to take care of my own business and get myself on a Ryder Cup team and have a big 2016.

"If the Olympics gets in the way, great. I'm not going to get myself in a head-to-head battle with these guys. There's no point. I can only control my golf ball. Of course I'd love to be there, let's be honest."

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Dunne Plans Professional Move

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Irish amateur Paul Dunne will turn professional later this year after hitting the headlines at the 144th Open.

Dunne began the fourth round at St Andrews in the final pairing and was looking to become the first amateur to have his name engraved on the Claret Jug since Bobby Jones in 1930.

But a six-over-par 78 saw him drop down the field into a tie for 30th, nine shots adrift of eventual play-off winner Zach Johnson of the United States.

Now the University of Alabama graduate has announced his intention to join the paid ranks following the conclusion of the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St Annes in September.

"Certainly once the Walker Cup is over, whether he's selected or not, he's certainly going to have a go at turning professional," Dunne's father Colum told RTE.

Graeme McDowell, the 2012 US Open winner who, like Dunne is a University of Alabama alumnus, believes the 22-year-old has what it takes to succeed at the top level.

He said: "I played with him early in the week and he hit the ball very well with a technically-correct swing. Listening to a few of his press conferences he seems like a wise-old owl for someone his age.

"He seems like a really cool character. I liked his comments about being surprised to be leading an Open Championship but not surprised about the numbers he shot. He has that Jordan Spieth maturity to him a little bit."

The Ryder Cup star believes had Dunne maintained his progress and finished strongly in the final round he should have turned pro immediately.

"If he had a good finish I don't know what he would have needed to have waited for the Walker Cup for," McDowell added.

"The Walker Cup is one of the fondest memories of my career but it means nothing as soon as you press the professional button.

"He needs starts and has an opportunity between now and the end of the season to perhaps get his European Tour card and those extra five weeks could be beneficial to him. It is a tough call and I'm not the guy to advise him."

Dunne was one of five amateurs to make the cut at St Andrews and there was intense competition for the Silver Medal, won by American Jordan Niebrugge.

"When you see three amateurs within three or four shots of the lead it says how good they are," said McDowell.

"It is a belief and acceptance level of competing at the top level as a youngster - 19, 20, 21 years old. There is a readiness that is there what wasn't there when I was turning pro.

"I am probably a bad example as I had never been to a professional tournament until I played in one (as a professional).

"Tiger Woods and subsequently Rory McIlroy and Jordan have raised the bar to say you don't have to be a late 20s- early 30s mature veteran to be able to compete in the top tournaments - the WGCs (World Golf Championships), majors - you can do it right this second."

Route 66 for Lowry and Harrington

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Padraig Harrington finished Thursday at Carnoustie in a tie third place after a six under par 66 in the Alfred Dunhills Links Championship. Despite bogeying the last two holes.

The Dubliner was joined on the leader board by Shane Lowry, who played the first round at Kingsbarns and also carded a 66.

Rory McIlroy signed for a 73. in sharp coitrats to his dmeoition of Ricky Fowler last Sundat at Glenbeagles.

 

"A little bit flat, if I'm honest," McIlroy said when asked about his round. "Obviously with the crowds and everything we were playing in front of last week, to come here it seems a little quiet out there, but it was fun to get to play with my dad.

"I wish I had played a bit better and made a few more birdies but hopefully that will happen over the next couple of days.

"I want to win every week and I want to play well this week and at least give myself a chance. It was not the best score out there for me but we got the hardest course out of the way."

Oliver Wilson produced a sensational return to form as course record-equalling 64 at Carnoustie gave him the first round lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links championship.

A member of Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup side, the nine-time European Tour runner-up had slipped to 792nd on the Official World Golf Ranking as Paul McGinley’s side retained the trophy at Gleneagles last week, and now primarily plays on The Challenge Tour where he finds himself outside this season’s top 100.

However, a second round 63 in Kazakhstan last month showed that his best form might not be too far away, and nine birdies and a single bogey – including a 30 foot effort at his final hole – gave the 34 year old a one shot lead over Raphaël Jacquelin.

“It's nice to just get out there and take advantage,” said Wilson. “Looking at the forecast, getting Carnoustie out of the way is theoretically the best thing, but you've still got to go and play and shoot a good score to take advantage of it, and I'm delighted that I have. 

“Dunhill Links is always one of the best tournaments of the year. I'm obviously grateful to be here, but just trying to work on my own game to try to get a chance to get back on that team. 

“It's a great tournament. It's good fun, and you think everyone's attitude is a little different, it's a little different to the cocoon of a normal tournament. You have your caddie and amateurs to spend time with and look after. 

“We had a good fourball and it was fun, and that helps in this format because you're out there for quite a long time. 

“It's nice to be on that board - like I said, I was really pleased with how I played. I've been working hard and the game is improving all the time.” 

In an unusual change from recent years, both of the top two played Carnoustie in the pro-am event which is also played over the Old Course at St Andrews and Kingsbarns.

Carnoustie is traditionally the hardest of the three courses but was playing relatively easy in benign conditions.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher was the best-placed of the Gleneagles quartet in the field after a 68, with fellow rookie Victor Dubuisson returning a 71, World Number One Rory McIlroy a 73 and Martin Kaymer a 74. European Captain Paul McGinley shot 72 in just his second European Tour event since July.

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No Easy Ryder for McIlroy at Carnoustie

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Rory McIlroy, was struggling to reproduce his Ryder Cup form on the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.

McIlroy was an approximate eight under par in beating Rickie Fowler 5&4 in the singles at Gleneagles as Europe defeated the USA for the eighth time in the past 10 events.

The 25-year-old failed to register a birdie in the first 12 holes of his first round in the pro-am event which is played over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Carnoustie is traditionally the hardest of the three courses but was playing relatively easy in benign conditions, with the top four on the leaderboard all at the Open venue.

France’s Raphael Jacquelin had recorded four birdies and an eagle to lead the way on six under par after 13 holes, one ahead of his compatriot Alexander Levy, England’s Oliver Wilson and the Ryder Cup vice-captain Padraig Harrington, who won the first of his successive Open titles at Carnoustie in 2007.

McIlroy had recorded one bogey on the sixth and 11 pars to place in jeopardy his ambition to win a fifth tournament this year and also make the cut in the team event, thereby allowing his amateur partner – his father Gerry – to play the Old Course at St Andrews on his 55th birthday on Sunday.

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mates Martin Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher were also playing Carnoustie – Kaymer one over par after 11 holes but Gallacher one under after eight and Dubuisson level par at the turn.

McIlroy finally registered a birdie on the par-five 14th but bogeyed the 16th and eventually signed for a one-over-par 73, nine shots behind clubhouse leader Oliver Wilson, who had fired a 64 on the same course.

“A little bit flat, if I’m honest,” McIlroy told Sky Sports 4 when asked about his round. “Obviously with the crowds and everything we were playing in front of last week, to come here it seems a little quiet out there, but it was fun to get to play with my dad.

“I wish I had played a bit better and made a few more birdies but hopefully that will happen over the next couple of days.

“I want to win every week and I want to play well this week and at least give myself a chance. It was not the best score out there for me but we got the hardest course out of the way.”

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