9-12C
There will be a fair amount of cloud and the chance of a few showers.

Find a...

Date Job Car Home











 




G-Mac so proud as fans live up to the hype

For hometown player Graeme McDowell, it was the realisation of a long-held dream, and after months of hype, expectation and promises, the return of the Irish Open to Royal Portrush, for the first time since 1947, delivered everything it said it would.

The US Open trophy won by McDowell in 2010 that sits in the Rathmore GC clubhouse by the 18th tee and 17th green is a big part of the reason why this tournament returned to the revered links land it shares with Royal Portrush. Because McDowell, inspired by Pádraig Harrington’s three-time major heroics in 2007 and 2008, won his major two years later and inspired Rory McIlroy to emulate him 12 months on. Then McIlroy’s success begat Darren Clarke’s at the Open Championship a month later and here we all are, along with three Northern Ireland-born major champions, on the Antrim coast to celebrate their success at the first Irish Open in the North since Belvoir Park staged it in 1953.

“It’s been a great run the last couple of years for Northern Irish golf,” said a proud McDowell on Wednesday, “and I guess to be part of the reason why this tournament is here.

“Growing up in this town, you dream of having a big type of event here, it’s a culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people. The town has been buzzing, and I think we are all very, very excited.”

More than 14,000 people had shown up that day, just to watch the Pro-Am as all four days of the tournament proper sold out in advance ticket sales. And of the 27,000 tickets sold for yesterday’s first round, more than 23,000 braved the appalling weather conditions that blighted the first few hours of play and caused a suspension due to the threat of lightning for an hour and 35 minutes in mid-afternoon.

None of which dampened the spirits of the crowds or McDowell, delighted to have a success on his hands despite his disappointment at only managing a one-under 71.

“It felt great. Crowds are fantastic, 10-deep down each fairway and great receptions every green. Fantastic. It’s like the Irish Opens the last few years, they have all just been incredible and this one is cranked up just a little bit more. It’s special.

“I felt like I got a nice groove and the crowds were fantastic and a really nice three ball with Simon [Dyson] and Pádraig. We had good fun. The atmosphere was great, despite the bad weather this morning.”

Amid all the hullabaloo, Yorkshire’s defending champion Dyson could have been forgiven for feeling like something of an outsider, particularly in a three-ball with two of the main attractions. Not a bit of it.

“It feels like you’re playing a British Open, it really does,” Dyson said after his 67. “The cheers Pdraig got when he holed his chip on the eighth, I mean, you won’t hear a bigger cheer all day. It’s fantastic. It’s great that they have come out and supported, really, really impressive.

“I loved every minute of it.”

So too did McDowell, filled with civic pride as his hometown rose to the occasion.

“I’m just so proud of the way that Royal Portrush have put the place together, the European Tour and everyone involved, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and all of the fans coming out and supporting us.

“They have really got behind this tournament at Portrush. It was a lot of fun to be out there and be part of it.”Home

More from the Irish Examiner