The Irish Golf Club Gazette

5/16/2016

Profile - David Higgins

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David Higgins is a multiple winner of Race to Mount Juliet in recent years, and added the Irish PGA Championship to his trophy list in 2012.

Having won the Irish PGA Order of Merit on numerous occasions Higgins was fulfilling the promise gained from being part of a golfing family as his Father, Liam, is a veteran of the European Tour and Senior Tour.

Not surprisingly by the time David was twenty-one he was the country's leading amateur, and following match play victories over Pádraig Harrington in the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close championships - he decided to turn professional in 1994.

In his Rookie season in 1996 Higgins earned £67,000 finishing just inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit. The following year he broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horse riding accident and failed to rediscover his form on his return to the game dropping down to the Challenge Tour in 1999.

In 2000 Higgins won three times on the Challenge Tour and was ranked 2nd at the end of the season earning his playing rights back on the European Tour for the following season.

Having been unable to make the breakthrough over a few years Higgins returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 finishing 12th - earning playing rights for the European Tour once again.

However Higgins lost his card at the end of 2007.

In 2009 he qualified for The Open Championship in Turnberry and in winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit earned a place at the 3 Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - failing to make the cut at all three events.

But in recent seasons David has remained a consistent force on the Irish PGA Region, winning five times - including the Quinn Insurance Pro Am and a second place at the Southern Championship in Powerscourt behind Eamonn Darcy in 2010.

Although he failed to qualify for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's, along with a bigger disappointment in the September when he failed to make it through European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Dundonald Links that same year.

In 2011 at Stage 3 of European Tour Qualifying School at the PGA Catalunya the Waterville professional man missed out once again on a quick return to the main Tour

But in 2012 he came back stronger and improved on his two previous outings at the BMW PGA Championship, ending a magnificent performance at a sun kissed Wentworth Course, with a two under par final round 70, and slaying a tough West Course that over four days had taken a number of high profile Irish casualties.

None less than the World Number One, Rory McIlroy, the 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, the 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell and three time major winner Padraig Harrington.

Amidst all that carnage though Higgins exuded composure travelling around Wentworth with a remarkable consistency and carding three rounds of 70, with only the one blip on a windy Saturday when reaching the historic Gothic clubhouse in a two over par 74

In was his third consecutive appearance at the BMW PGA Championship with Higgins slaying his own demons on the Sunday to finish in tenth place.

Higgins then crowned the year by capturing the Irish PGA championship at Mount Juliet and underlined his ranking as the number one player after he beat assistant professional Noel Murray from Massereene in a play-off.

The Waterville man, who fired a best of the day final round of five-under-par 67 to reach the play-off, said it was the fulfilment of a boyhood dream to lift the trophy that his father Liam lifted in 1983.

"I remember looking at the trophy as a young lad and saying it would be lovely to win it.I tried for a long time to win it and did it today and I'm just delighted."

In July David Higgins narrowly missed out on qualifying for the British Open after his five-under was one shot short of the qualifying mark at St Annes Old, with former Ryder Cup pair Barry Lane and Paul Broadhurst, both squeezing in.

However on the PGA Catalunya's Stadium Course, Higgins signed for a final round 70 to earn one of the most cherished of prizes - one of the 25 automatic places - and made a return to the European Tout five years after losing his card.

In 2013 a second place finish at the Open D'Italia Lindt gave him Higgins late hope of an automatic place for next year, in what was a very disappointing season with too many missed cuts. Including the Irish open at Carton House and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

At 115th he could miss out unless Higgins can cards a big week in Perth.

Personal Fact File

DOB: December 1st 1972 in County Cork.

Attachment: Waterville GC

Career:

1989Irish Boys Championship

1994 Irish Amateur Closed Championship, South of Ireland Championship

European Challenge Tour

2000 NCC Open;

Günther Hamburg Classic

Rolex Trophy

European Tour
2007 loses Tour card
2012 Qualifies for 2013 season after finishing T16th

Star Cast at Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

The success of the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation - the first Irish Open sponsored by Dubai Duty Free - plus record prize money for this year's championship, has tempted a star-studded cast to The K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22.

Led by reigning Masters Champion Danny Willett, the field includes eight Major champions among 12 top-50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Rory McIlroy heads up the Irish contingent of Major champions, which includes 2007 Irish Open Champion Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, with Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Korea’s Y.E. Yang and South Africa’s Trevor Immelman making up one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: “The terrific inaugural tournament at Royal County Down last year, plus the fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision to extend our sponsorship to 2018.

“We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, The European Tour has announced an increase in prize money from €2,500,000 to €4million, making it one of the highest purses on the 2016 Race to Dubai and very appealing for international players to participate.

The staging of the tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive. With all these things combined, we are looking forward to a great event.

“By sponsoring the Irish Open it lifts the significance of the event considerably. At last year’s event it felt to me a bit like the re-birth of the tournament, with Dubai Duty Free and the Rory Foundation behind it. Having been without a title sponsor for a number of years it’s been a great boost for the event. The Dubai Duty Free brand is well recognised around the world and we certainly have a global reach. We believe that being involved in golf, is a good thing, particularly with golf being one of Ireland’s biggest attractions.”

McIlroy said: “The support we had last year from all our on-going sponsors, including fellow Dubai sponsorsEmirates Airline and Jumeirah Golf Estates, fans, volunteers and Royal County Down with a ‘sell-out’ tournament, attracting more than 100,000 spectators was incredible. It exceeded all expectations. I’ve got a good relationship with Colm McLoughlin and Dubai Duty Free and I’ve got a long-standing history with Dubai. I’ve got to know Colm over the years just by playing tournaments in the UAE. With our Foundation being involved it aligned very well with their charitable Foundation. It just seemed like a good fit.

“I was absolutely delighted when Colm and Dubai Duty Free came on board. They have a great sponsorship history in the Middle East and in Ireland and England, and the association has given the tournament that extra kudos. Coming together to benefit the lives of young people can only be a good thing. The other important thing for me is that I can learn a lot from Colm and his extensive experience doing charitable work.

“I would like to thank Colm McLoughlin and Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour for supporting my vision to develop the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into one of the leading events on The European Tour’s schedule, over the next three years. I am sure The K Club, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the club and their 10th anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup, and having held 11 European Opens, will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open.”

McLoughlin was equally impressed by Rory’s efforts with the tournament: “Rory has done a remarkable job in attracting the top golfers to play in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and bringing his Foundation into the mix has been a great initiative.”

Keith Pelley said: “The Irish Open is one of the most prestigious and most eagerly anticipated tournaments on The Race to Dubai, and having two powerful global brands in Dubai Duty Free and Rory McIlroy supporting the event as well as a record prize fund, will ensure that continues. We are delighted that Dubai Duty Free have pledged themselves to the tournament through until 2018 and we thank them for their continued commitment and vision, not just to the Irish Open but to The European Tour as a whole.

5/15/2016

Where are they Now - J.McHenry

John McHenry is a professional golfer who spent 12 years on the European Tour from 1987 to 2000 winning three Challenge Tour titles during that time. He also holds three Irish youth titles and four amateur European titles.

When the chance to become Director of the K Club presented itself, McHenry recognised it as another challenging opportunity, especially with the 2006 Ryder Cup, which under McHenry, proved to be an unequivocal success.

After the K Club McHenry moved down the road where he was retained to set up and run a luxurious golf facility at Moyvalley, County Kildare, which opened in 2008. However that ended in a legal wrangle a year later and was finally resolved favourably for the Cork man.

Hailing from the Douglas Golf Club John claimed Irish Youths titles in 1980, 1981, and 1985, and in 1986 became the Irish Close champion, winning at Royal Dublin by 4 and 3 against Paul Rayfus of Trim (now County Meath GC). Rayfus had won the West of Ireland title that year, but had no answer to McHenry in the Irish Close final.

McHenry added the South of Ireland title at Lahinch in 1986 which helped in no small way to his selection for the Walker Cup team in 1987 and on the road to what looked like a promising professional career.

Between his first season in 1988 and 1999, McHenry won €262,926 in prize money with his highest Tour being 81st in 1993. A spectacular performance ensured a third place finish in the 1998 Irish Open at Druids Glen and a cheque that secured a Tour card fop another season.

Since losing his card McHenry has mixed golf consultancy with a media career at RTE Sport been where he covers the Irish Open. In 2009 he joined the mobile phone company 3 as a consultant to the Irish Open bringing the event to Baltray that same year and then Killarney in 2010.

John currently runs McHenry Golf Limited (MGL) which specialises in the provision of a diversified range of specialised golf services to start-up as well as to existing golf resorts.

McHenry also writes for the Irish Examiner.

Fact File

Date of Birth: March 14th, 1964

Place of Birth: Cork

Turned Pro: 1987

Qualifying School 1987*, 88*, 89, 90

Titles

Open de Lyon 1991

Italian Boggi Open 1990

Rolex Pro-Am 1990

Profile - Stephen Grant

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Stephen Grant continues to progress in his career, having switched the football field for the fairways, after a lower back problem first prompted him to hang up his football boots at Shamrock Rovers.

A final round of 67 in St Augustine, Florida last week at St. Johns Golf & Country Club ensured further action at the PGA Tour Qualifying School. His fifteenth place sufficient for a place at Stage 2 in mid November.

A trip he will make after European Tour School Qualifying Stage 2 as he is scheduled to tee-off at Las Colinas on November 2nd along side Niall Kearney, Brenda McCarroll, Ruairdhri McGee, Damian Mooney and David Rawluk.

Before his premature retirement in 2004, Grant enjoyed a productive playing career as a striker in Ireland and England. A career was bookended with two spells at Shamrock Rovers where, after scoring on his debut against Bohemians in 1996, he returned five years later to end his playing days as the club’s leading scorer in the 2003/2004 season.

Grant recalls those times; “I had ten good years as a footballer, and enjoyed every one of them. The thing I miss most is probably the training, because it’s a lot of fun. It’s also handy having ten other players on the team to bail you out if you’re having a bad day!

“Whereas golf is obviously an individual sport, so it’s down to you and you only. Plus there’s a bit less camaraderie and you also spend a lot longer practising, so it can be quite a lonely experience at times. But I’ve no regrets, because I’m really enjoying testing myself out here.”

As a latecomer to the game Grant is understandably keen to make up for lost time.

“I was completely out of my depth when I turned pro only three years after touching a golf club for the first time. So I got some experience on the EPD Tour, played pretty well and was up near the top of the Order of Merit for most of the season. Then I travelled over to the States and spent a season on the Hooters Tour, which was another great learning experience for me.

“I think I probably jumped into the game too quickly, and expected too much of myself. Now that I’ve got a lot more experience to draw on, it should hopefully stand me in good stead this season and going forward.

“After I turned pro I was probably only making about 30 per cent of cuts. But over the last two or three years I think I’ve only missed three cuts in more than 50 events. So even though I haven’t managed to win a tournament yet, I’ve improved my consistency massively. I just want to keep playing and keep improving, and hopefully within the next couple of years I’ll make it onto The European Tour.”

During his football career Grant played for Athlone Town, Sunderland, Shamrock Rovers(two stints 154 competitive appearances), Stockport County, Burnley, Finn Harps, Waterford United, Boston Bulldogs, Galway United and Shelbourne.

After playing for Athlone and Sunderland reserves his first taste of senior football came when Pat Byrne signed him for Rovers in October 1996. He became an instant hero by scoring on his League of Ireland debut against rivals Bohemians. After 4 goals in 22 appearances he signed for Stockport for £10,000 in 1997.

Grant returned to Rovers in the summer of 2001 and wrote himself into the history books by becoming the first Irish player to score against a Polish side in a European competition when Rovers beat Odra Wodzisław in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in June 2003. In all he made 6 appearances in Europe for Rovers.

As a Republic of Ireland Under -21 he scored 1 goal in 4 appearances during the Madeira Cup trophy victory in February 2006.

These days though it is all about and this season Grant has been based in Florida and is playing on the NGA Tour, formerly the Hooters Tour, and his best finish was in March where he was T14 at the Milton Martin Honda Classic at Chattahoochee Golf Club.

On the Challenge Tour this season he has played only a third of the events compared to last year, and missed all three cuts.

FactFile

Height: 6'1".

DoB: Apr/14/1977.

Turned Pro: 2009.

Birth Place: Ireland.

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

GMAC Makes Move on Jason's Day

GMAC - Getty Images

Graeme McDowell signed for a 69 on Saturday to move himself up the Players Championship leader board on a day that frustrated many of the leading contenders at TPC Sawgrass.

The 2010 US Open Champions carved out a round of three-under-par, leaving him on five-under for the tournament - nine shots behind Australian Jason Day, who leads on nine under.

That was in stark contrast to Rory McIlroy, who tumbled downwards after a 75 that left him tied 18th with McDowell on five under after three rounds.

Lowry is also on five under after dropping six shots on a day that saw him just a solitary birdie alongside five bogies and a double bogey.

Both had been in the mix heading into their third rounds with the Holywood man three shots behind his potential Olympic team-mate, who added a 68 to his opening 65 to finish 11 under par, three off leader Day. However on a day which had more spills than thrills both men tumbled.

Butch Harmon accused tournament officials of letting playing conditions get "out of control" as Jason Day stayed in control at the summit. He was 14-under for the tournament, four clear of Hideki Matsuyama, Ken Duke and Alex Cejka.

Day had established a new 36-hole scoring record at Sawgrass when the delayed second round was completed on Saturday morning, the world number one having opted not to finish the 15th hole when play was suspended due to darkness on Friday after an earlier two-hour weather delay.

That proved to be an excellent decision when the 28-year-old hit his approach to 15 feet and holed out for a third birdie in succession, before pars at the last three holes meant the US PGA champion added a 66 to his opening 63 for a 15-under-par total of 129, a shot better than the previous record set by fellow Australian Greg Norman in 1994.

Norman dropped just one shot all week on his way to a tournament record of 24 under par and Day finally carded his first bogey on the third hole of the third round, three-putting from 40 feet.

Worse was to come on the sixth when Day four-putted from 17 feet and furiously threw his ball into the water left of the green, and although he bounced back with a brilliant approach to within a foot of the hole on the next, another double bogey followed on the eighth.

The Australian responded immediately with a birdie on the par-five ninth to take a two-shot lead over Matsuyama and Alex Cejka into the back nine, but Tiger Woods' former coach Harmon was not impressed with the hard and lightning fast greens.

After watching Ian Poulter three-putt the 12th, Harmon said on Sky Sports: "Okay I'll say it - these greens are out of control now. They've let them get away from themselves I think.

"These greens are almost unplayable and we don't even have that much wind. I will tell you what, they did not like that 15 under leading did they? They have taken care of that quickly with this course set-up.

"I would like to be a fly on the wall in that locker-room when these players get in there. It's not going to sound good."

The loudest complaints might come from Spain's Sergio Garcia after he six-putted from 70 feet on the fifth, the 2008 champion racing his birdie attempt eight feet past and needing five more attempts to find the bottom of the cup for a quadruple-bogey eight.

Rory McIlroy was similarly disenchanted after he three-putted the fourth from eight feet, the world number three missing from 12 inches for par and then flicking his ball into the water in front of the green in frustration.

McIlroy made amends with a brilliant escape from the trees on the sixth and a birdie from close range on the next, but three-putted the 10th and 12th to fall further off the pace.

Kevin Chappell added his voice to the criticism of the conditions after covering the front nine in 31 and the back nine in 39, telling Sky Sports: "I don't know if someone was trying to prove a point, but point taken.

"The golf course is difficult and probably got a little out of hand."

Despite such complaints, Matsuyama completed a 67 to set the clubhouse target on ten under that was soon matched by veteran American Ken Duke, the 47-year-old firing six birdies in his last seven holes to card a brilliant 65.

Day had birdied the par-five 11th to reach 13 under but McIlroy continued to slide down the leaderboard after another three putt on the 13th and a double bogey on the 15th.

5/16/2016

Profile - David Higgins

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5/15/2016

Where are they Now - J.McHenry

Profile - Stephen Grant

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