Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dunne will be aiming Hai in China WGC
CHINA will provide a massive stage – and opportunity for Paul Dunne this week.
It will certainly feel a lot different to anything he’s done before in his golfing journey.
Sure, we all remember his headline grabbing exploits at the 2015 Open in St Andrews.
But two years ago, he was a wide eyed amateur still making his way in the game. His debut at a WGC event at this week’s HSBC Championship will feel like another staging post in a very promising career.
Dunne, who was crowned British Masters champion 24 days ago, tees it up as a fully fledged tournament winner.
He’ll also carry the flag as the only Irishman competing in the Shanghai field that includes World No1 Dustin Johnson and US Open champion Brooks Koepka.
Both bring their own pressures, but going on what we’ve witnessed to date, there’s zero reason to believe Dunne won’t rise to the challenge.
He has certainly enjoyed an amazing couple of years since leaving the amateur game.
Many players harbour dreams of fame and fortune when they turn pro, but only a few turn them into reality. Paul is one of the few.
It’s worth remembering how he has climbed more than 600 places to 81st in the world in just over two years in the pro ranks.
He gained a Category 17 European Tour membership for 2016 by finishing 16th at Q-school and only sneaked in with a 106th place finish on the Race to Dubai point list.
That was an achievement in itself, but he has really kicked on this year; learning and improving all the time.
He lost out narrowly in a playoff to Edoardo Molinaro at the Trophee Hassan in April, before recording his maiden European Tour win earlier this month.
Triumphing at the British Masters and becoming the first Irishman to win the event since 1992 was huge.
Paul sits 12th in the Race to Dubai heading into this week’s WGC-HSBC and has four massive tournaments to look forward to as the season heads towards its climax.
He has a lot to play for, not least the possibility of cementing a Ryder Cup spot for next year’s transatlantic shootout in Paris.
Dunne is a 66/1 outsider heading into the final WGC event of the year – but he has nothing to fear and everything to gain.
The stakes will feel higher in China, but he’ll relish the opportunity to cause a shock.
Can he win? It’s a big ask, but belief runs in his DNA.
It has been a hallmark of his recent rise to prominence.
At the moment, nothing would surprise me with such a unique and focused talent.
I don’t believe for one moment he’s there to smell the roses.