Weekly Irishman in Contention / Tour Golf 2009

Trampas

Mc Ilroy starting well.

2 off the lead

PhilipMarlowe

Harrington T3, -6 thru 16
-7 leads
Rory T17, -3 thru 14

madds

Rory now -4 after 15 holes. He missed from inside 6 feet on 13 and 14 for par. Swinging it well but I sometimes get feeling that if he's going to have a lapse in concentration it will be with the blade.

He's just had a go at the Par 4 16th green which is ~370 yards from the tee! Came up about 20 yards short in the front trap.

Harrington scrambling for his life and is -6 for 15.

Mike912

I was lucky enough to be at the final round of the Honda Classic. Although Sergio had the largest gallery, Rory's was a very close second and roughly triple that of any other competitor. The buzz was more about him being the "next Tiger" than his distance. Considerable pressure to be under.

I noticed something that doesn't show on the television and is probably nothing new to the astute observer. The average Tour player has obviously spent a considerable amount of time lifting weights or otherwise improving his fitness to further his game. Physically, Rory appears every bit the 19 year old he is. A boy amongst men. Although his game is near the top right now, with a couple of years for his body to mature, coupled with his natural ability, the sky is certainly the limit.

Mister Sifter

Mike912 wrote: »

I was lucky enough to be at the final round of the Honda Classic. Although Sergio had the largest gallery, Rory's was a very close second and roughly triple that of any other competitor. The buzz was more about him being the "next Tiger" than his distance. Considerable pressure to be under.

I noticed something that doesn't show on the television and is probably nothing new to the astute observer. The average Tour player has obviously spent a considerable amount of time lifting weights or otherwise improving his fitness to further his game. Physically, Rory appears every bit the 19 year old he is. A boy amongst men. Although his game is near the top right now, with a couple of years for his body to mature, coupled with his natural ability, the sky is certainly the limit.

The majority of players now seem to be pretty ripped. I read recently McIlroy has started to hit the weights - 2 days in tournament weeks and 3-4 times during off-weeks.

dvemail

Good 66 by McIlroy, eagle birdie finish. He is at -10 currently T3.
Harrington shot a 71 and is now on -7.

Hopefully McIlroy can keep it up for the weekend!!!!!

copacetic

another great round by Rory, all the attention really doesn't seem to bother him and neither does being out with the big guns. Seems to drive him on if anything. If anything he has left some shots out there the last 2 days..

thegen

With a bit of luck both Harrington and McIlroy will be top ten finished this weekend, with one of them winning it.

durkadurka

Looks like Mcilroy is going for it - 3rd on his own tonight after 13. Seems to know no fear.

PhilipMarlowe

Nice Hex.
3 bogeys in the last 5 holes has him back to -10 (10th) while -16 leads.
Harrington doubled 17 to finish 18th on -8. Didn't see any of it but apparently he had several chances for birdie on the back 9 but made only 1 on the 10th.
Woods had 5 birdies in a 68 today to lie 19th on -7 overall.

durkadurka

apologies

Adiaga 2

Damien McGrane tied for the lead after round one on 5 under. It's a very poor field and McGrane is one of the highest ranked players but still a great start. Michael Hoey and Michael McGeady also started well on -2.

Sky aren't even covering this one live although there's short highlights programme later tonight and for the the rest of the weekend's play.

Mister Sifter

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

Damien McGrane tied for the lead after round one on 5 under. It's a very poor field and McGrane is one of the highest ranked players but still a great start. Michael Hoey and Michael McGeady also started well on -2.

Sky aren't even covering this one live although there's short highlights programme later tonight and for the the rest of the weekend's play.

Hoey now joint leader. -4 for his round today.

Adiaga 2

Yeah Hoey now leading but just bogeyed to go back to -6, still one shot ahead of Haeggman. McGrane +2 for today but still well in it as scoring is high. Had a look at his stats for yesterday - hit very few fairways or greens but had only 20 putts :eek:

Hopefully the Irish boys keep it up for the weekend. The course looks beautiful if a little rough around the edges.

PhilipMarlowe

Open de Andalucia de Golf 09
Real Club de Golf de Sevilla
Seville, Spain

26 Mar 2009 - 29 Mar 2009

Michael Hoey
Paul McGinley
Damien McGrane
Peter Lawrie
Gary Murphy
Jonathan Caldwell

€1m prize fund with €166,660 to the winner, 10th gets €20k so a small enough tournament but still hope to get a good show from the Irish.
Himinez is the highest ranked (world) player.

Article here about Warren Bennett who is a former European Tour winner who is turning caddie after being forced to quit playing through injury...

Mister Sifter

Slow start from the Irish lads... McGinley the best on level par. I saw McGrane on SSN last night.... started fannying around with short putts on the last to leave himself over par.

Great start from some of the Scottish lads... in fact, i haven't seen Scotland dominate a leaderboard like that since i last looked at the heart attacks and coronary diseases list.

Adiaga 2

Gary Murphy had a great round going today after a poor opening round but let it slip again to finish bogie, double bogie and drop to +3 and miss the cut. Only McGinley and possibly McGrane have a chance to survive for the weekend.

Looks like the Scottish lads hit the deep fried mars bars last night.. Actually Doak came back well and Monty still has most of round 2 to get back into things..

thegen

Not looking good for the weekend. McGinley +9 thru 17, Lawrie +1, McGrane +2 and Murphy +3. Projected cut Par.

Adiaga 2

Not the best field again this week on the European Tour with most of the big names getting ready for the Masters. A few Irish in the field though and McGinley has made a good start to be -2 after 7 holes.

Lets hope for a good showing this week or else we'll have to rename this thread Weekly Jinx an Irishman in Contention...

Mister Sifter

Great start by Michael Hoey. 6 under par thru 14 holes. On behind leader Ross McGowan on 7 under. In fact, great start for the UK lads all round - top 6 places all either English, Scottish or N.Irish.

McGinley back to level with one to play.

Adiaga 2

Yeah super start by Hoey. He must like Portuguese courses - he had a brilliant start in Madiera a couple of weeks ago too.

McGinley finished with around of 70.

dvemail

Looks like theres going to be a playoff between Hoey and Castano in Portugal.
Hoey had a good chance for a birdie on 18 put left his putt short.

staker

harrington one shot off, -1 thru 4, 10 under.
love the way he likes to play "under the radar":D
c'mon padraig!!

irishtoffee

Well done Michael great win.:D

kc66

Was a great finish from the position he was in beside a tree on the last hole of the playoff. Great win.

PaulHardwick

Good lad Michael, long time coming.

Have it.

copacetic

staker wrote: »

harrington one shot off, -1 thru 4, 10 under.
love the way he likes to play "under the radar":D
c'mon padraig!!

now 3 over for the day, 6 under, well off the lead coming up 18.

PhilipMarlowe

I didn't see any of the American golf but I see -11 made the playoff and Harrington started the day on -9 and got to -10 thru 4 (before staker above hexed him) so a pretty miserable 77 on Sunday

PhilipMarlowe

irishtoffee wrote: »

Well done Michael great win.:D

Delighted also for Hoey... we're certainly getting spoiled in the last couple of seasons with the amount of Irish wins.

deko43

Great to see McGinley had a very good round today. Hope he keeps it going. He has been in the doldrums for a while now but 6 birdies today.