Mcdowell: Irish Open is buzzing
THE atmosphere is “buzzing” at the sellout Irish Open at Royal Portrush and the tournament has the feel of a Major championship, world No 11 Graeme McDowell said yesterday.
The appearance of Northern Irish trio McDowell, Rory McIlroy and British Open winner Darren Clarke at this week’s event, plus triple major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, has helped the European Tour to achieve a first by declaring a sellout for all four days.
Organisers are expecting around 100 000 people to turn up as the tournament returns to the famous old links course for the first time since 1947.
“When these crowds come in over the next few days it’s going to feel like a Major championship,” McDowell told the BBC at County Antrim.
“The golf course will certainly be Major championship standard and there’s no doubt there will be a little bit of added expectation from the fans looking to see the Irish boys play well.
“Royal Portrush is a golf club with a huge amount of history, given the British Open was staged here in 1951. But in the modern era this is one of the proudest moments for this golf club, for the area and for Northern Ireland.
“It’s a huge thrill to see such a great field assembled and everyone is buzzing and excited.”
World No 2 McIlroy has fond memories of Portrush, where as a 16-year-old he shot a record 11-under 61 during the 2005 North of Ireland Championship.
Now 23, this will be the first time 2011 US Open winner McIlroy has played in front of his home fans as a professional.
“To be one of the three or four guys who helped make this happen through our Major successes also gives me a huge sense of pride – it’s great to have played a part and it’s kind of a dream come true,” added McDowell.
Meanwhile, Briton Sam Walker capped a frenetic 24 hours when he became one of the final 10 to qualify for the British Open after final European qualifying at Sunningdale on Monday.
Following his victory in Sunday’s Scottish Hydro Challenge, Walker flew to southern England where he finished second in a tough 96-man field with a six-under 133 behind compatriot James Morrison, who was first with 131.
The result represented suc- cess at last for Walker who, after 10 failed attempts, finally gets his chance to play at the British Open at Royal Lytham from July 15-22.
It was disappointment for Ryder Cup captains old and new, with Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal both failing in their bid to qualify, finishing equal 14th and 30th overall respectively.
A five-man play-off decided the last of the two qualifying spots with Briton Lee Slattery and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen holding their nerve to come through. – Reuters