Super Mac sticks out
McDowell leads acclaim for Portrush: ‘It’s been so special.. everyone tells me this is now their favourite Open venue’
ROBERT MACINTYRE will celebrate his magical Open debut by swapping his golf clubs for a stick at shinty training.
The outstanding Oban youngster (above) lived-out a childhood dream by hammering home a wonderful long-range putt on the 72nd hole in front of packed grandstands at the biggest event of them all.
Not only did the fantastic finale cap his week, the 22-year-old’s final-round 68 also put him in the top 10 and booked his spot at the 2020 Championship.
MacIntyre said: “I’m sure I’ll be with the Oban Celtic shinty squad. I do always go every week when I’m home.
“It’s 6.30pm until 8pm and it gives me peace of mind. I’m away from everything out there, just playing with pals. I’ll keep my feet on the ground.” SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP
CLYDE (0) 2 AIRDRIEONIANS (2) 3 Goodwillie 75 pen, 85 Roy 34 pen, 59 Att: 858 Eckersley 39 ST JOHNSTONE (1) 1 ROSS CO (2) 2 Tanser 8 pen McKay 30, 45 Att: 1,648
FRIENDLIES
Cardiff (1) 1 Valladolid (0) 1 (Cardiff win 4-2 on penalties) Gillingham (0) 1 Millwall (1) 2 Holstein Kiel (2) 2 Sheff Wed (1) 3 Juventus (0) 2 Tottenham (1) 3 Rangers (1) 1 Blackburn (0) 1 Shrewsbury (0) 0 Aston Villa (0) 1
T20 BLAST North Group
Old Trafford: Lancashire 189-3 (S Croft 65 no, G Maxwell 58) v Durham 117 (S Steel 58) Lancashire win by 72 runs Edgbaston: Leicestershire 115-9 (F Edwards 4-22) v Warwickshire 117-3 Warwickshire win by 7 wkts South Group
Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 145-5 v Kent 146-8 (A Blake 57 no) Kent win by 2 wkts
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Division Two (day 1 of 4) Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 339-7 (T Smith 79 no, R Higgins 76, C Dent 58) v Worcestershire 1st WOMEN’S TEST (day 4 of 4) Taunton: Australia Women 420-8 dec (E Perry 116, R Haynes 87) & 230-7 (E Perry 76 no) v England Women 275-9 dec (N Sciver 88, A Jones 64, S Molineux 4-95) England Women drew with Australia Women
BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE Castleford (12) 27 W’ington (8) 18 Leeds (6) 24 Hull (12) 26 London (14) 32 St Helens (6) 12 Salford (16) 40 Catalans (8) 14
VITALITY WORLD CUP Final
Australia 51 New Zealand 52 Bronze Medal Match England 58 South Africa 42 FRIENDLIES
Southend v Leeds (2) Warrington v Acc Stanley (7.30)
THE PREMIERSHIP Wolverhampton v Peterboro (7.30) GRAEME McDOWELL declared he was “proud at all levels” after the other big Irish winner of the week was Royal Portrush.
From Darren Clarke striking the opening drive on his way to birdie to Shane Lowry’s ovation at the last, the Antrim course has been a massive hit.
The 68 years since the last Open in Northern Ireland proved worth the wait as the atmosphere and a record-breaking crowd guaranteed a swift return of the oldest Major across the Irish Sea.
Even home favourite Rory McIlroy missing the cut and yesterday’s horrendous wind and rain could not dampen spirits just down the road from the Bushmills Distillery.
Portrush’s McDowell, who fought back the tears before his first tee shot, said: “It’s been special. The people have been amazing this week. The golf course has been phenomenal. I’ve enjoyed every Everyone is telling me this is their favourite Open venue they’ve ever been to.
“It was emotional times this week. Thursday morning on the first tee was very emotional. Really, really proud at all levels. I’m proud of Portrush and proud of Northern Ireland and I’m proud of Ireland. Ireland is pretty proud of Shane Lowry.
“We knew this was going to be a special Open. To have an Irishman at the top of the leaderboard is extra special. Listen, it could have been me, Darren or Rory – having a Northern Irishman, it might even be another notch more special.”
McDowell, who fought to qualify for his home Open, added: “Probably the thing I’m most proud of is the atmosphere the crowds have
PORTRUSH BY NUMBERS created. They have amazingly this week.
“I’ve had several comments from players about Rory coming in Friday night. It was like a Ryder Cup, like he was leading the tournament. And obviously Shane coming up the last. Saturday was one of the most fun days I’ve had on a golf course outside of a Ryder Cup. There were tens of thousands of people cheering me on in the third group on a Saturday morning.
The Dunluce Links attracted equal praise. Asked where he rated Royal Portrush against other Open venues, Paul Casey said: “Top couple. The crowds and the golf course were just fantastic.”
Tom Lewis added: “It has been excellent and lived up to all expecsecond. 2000: St Andrews, Scotland:
2019: Royal Portrush, N Ireland:
2015: St Andrews, Scotland:
2017: Royal Birkdale, England:
2006: Royal Liverpool, England: treated us tations. We golfers like to complain about anything but I haven’t heard a bad word.”
McDowell agreed: “They just love the golf course. They feel it’s the best links they’ve ever seen. It’s got length, it’s got some short – it’s got some quirkiness.”
With £17million invested in the town and redesigning the course, the R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said pre-tournament that he expected Royal Portrush to remain on the Open rota “for many years to come”.
A sell-out crowd of 237,750 – second only in history to St Andrews in 2000 – and strong merchandising and corporate hospitality sales could see a return sooner than expected, with Turnberry unofficially off the rota until owner Donald Trump is out of the White House.
“I’ve heard the whispers that we could be back here as soon as five years from now,” said McDowell. “Hopefully we can get back soon. It would be very, very special.”