McGrane’s gamble paying off in rich dividends

MANY people were extremely surprised when Damien McGrane decided last year to quit his job as club professional at Wexford Golf Club.

While he and his family had settled in the southeast and were extremely popular there, the 34-year-old McGrane decided he would return to his native Kells in Meath and concentrate exclusively on the European Tour.

It looks as if his confidence in his own playing ability wasn't misplaced, for he was 68th in the order of merit before this week with more than €183,000 to his credit.

And at the halfway stage of the €3.4 million Smurfit European Open at The K-Club, McGrane is three under par after yesterday's 71 and only two shots off the pace being jointly set by Thomas Bjorn and Jamie Donaldson. McGrane, out in the last match on the course, carded two birdies and just one bogey, a performance of remarkable consistency.

It was an even more creditable effort given that his playing partners, Raymond Russell and Simon Wakefield, between them totalled a massive 24 over par!

"I've been playing steady all along and that's what you need around here," McGrane reported.

"It's a difficult course which can bite fairly hard. I've started hitting the ball well off the tee and not making things too difficult for myself which is nice.

"I've been keeping it in front of me, nothing radical and staying out of trouble. I inflicted one bit of torture on myself by knocking my first putt from 20 feet five past but got the one back and I've had only two bogeys so far.

"It's nice to be staying at home this week, get away from the hotel atmosphere and that and I'm very happy where I am."

Graeme McDowell had another up and down day having mixed an albatross, eagle and birdies with a whole host of dropped shots on Thursday in an even par 72.

He found it a lot tougher this time and needed to birdie his last two holes, the 8th and 9th, to get round in 75 for three over.

He admitted to being "unable to make sense of what's going on. I'm playing some great golf when I get going but also making some ridiculous errors. It's very unlike me and I'm not sure what's up.

"I said to my caddy Matt on the 8th tee that I think we need birdie here and I hit a great six iron in there to six feet and made it. I hit another six iron close at the next, so I've got some great shots in there at the minute and some awful swings as well when I lose focus.

"My putting from five feet is very uncertain. I seem to be second guessing myself which isn't conducive to playing good golf.

"I'm making enough birdies which suggests to me that I'm doing some good things to shoot a low number, I just need to put my finger on why there's so much rubbish in there as well."

Having done irretrievable damage to his prospects with Thursday's opening round of 79, Padraig Harrington literally limped out of the tournament yesterday following a 74 that left him nine over for the 36 holes.

Missing the cut in any tournament is bad enough, he conceded, but to do so in his own backyard is especially disappointing.

Nevertheless, he seemed more concerned by the injury he sustained during an early morning gym session admitting "that I slipped and tore the skin off my heel."

More positively, though, he commented that "If there was an event which suited me to miss the cut, this was it. I need a break now and have the best part of two weeks to prepare for the Open. I'm playing the J.P. McManus pro-am on Monday and Tuesday but that won't be too taxing. After that I will practice and play a few links courses in preparation for St Andrews. It's a pity to miss out in your own country but to be honest, I had nothing left to give this week."

Harrington was joined on the sidelines by Ryder Cup teammate Paul McGinley who also looked completely out of sorts as he struggled to a 75 he, too, had five shots too many. McGinley and McDowell have withdrawn from next week's Scottish Open for contrasting reasons, although both will be at Adare Manor for the McManus on Monday and Tuesday. McGinley feels in need of a break before the Open Championship while McDowell plans visits to a few links, most notably in his native Portrush and Portstewart, in preparation for St Andrews.

The four Irish qualifiers are Darren Clarke, McGrane, Gary Murphy and Graeme McDowell.