Choice of Baltray for Irish Open ‘brilliant’, say golfers
It will be the first time in the event’s 48-year history the Baltray links gem will play host to a major European Tour event.
Ireland’s premier golf tournament will again be staged the week after the British Open from the 22nd to 25th July, 2004.
And it was revealed yesterday in Valderrama that Paul McGinley has been pivotal in the Tour agreeing to stage the event at the long time East of Ireland Amateur host venue.
McGinley, a former Baltray junior, has been in discussion for some time with Ken Schofield, the Tour’s Chief Executive, along with David Garland, Director of Tour Operations and David Probyn, a tournament director.
“I have had a few meetings with the Tour about the decision to come to Baltray and I briefed them as best I could that it would be a suitable venue,” said McGinley after finishing with a closing round 71 for a seven over par tally in the Volvo Masters.
“Everyone loves playing Baltray and it has to be one of the favourites in Ireland. It’s great the Irish Open is being played on a links course as Ireland is renowned for its links courses.”
Padraig Harrington, who hinted of the move to Baltray at last week’s Madrid Open, recalled some memorable East of Ireland and Irish Closed Championship encounters at the venue including victories over McGinley and Mark Gannon, current Captain of Irish Amateur team and reigning Home International champions.
“It’s a fantastic move taking the Irish Open to Baltray and I look at the decision much more from the point of view of what my fellow European players are going to think and they will just have a great time there,” said Harrington.
“They’ll find the support from the local community fantastic with the whole area built for golf.
“I played lots of Irish Close Championship events at Baltray and remember losing the final to Darren (Clarke) in 1990 but beating Paul (McGinley) 5 & 4 in the first round.
“I beat Mark Gannon in either the quarter final or the semi finals and I know I out-chipped and out-putted him and that was probably my finest moments in amateur golf.
“I think I broke his heart that day but it’s a brilliant move to take the Irish Open and it will be the same atmosphere as we had in Ballybunion (2000) and all through the years at Portmarnock.
“Golf course wise, Baltray is thoroughly deserving of an Irish Open and certainly of all the amateur championships over the years, the course has the best greens and that will be the strength of it, the par threes and the speed of the greens.
“If they can get them firm and fast that would make for a brilliant Irish Open.”
Harrington ended his eighth season on the Tour and a third place on the Order of Merit by holing a delicate three foot putt at Valderrama but not before some misadventure at the 5th.
Players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls throughout the second and third round but it was back to play it where it lies for the last round.
But on seeing a lump of mud on his ball after his fifth hole tee shot Harrington inadvertently picked up the ball and cleaned it before realising his one shot penalty error to eventually end in a share of 19th place at two over par with two closing rounds of 70.
“I just get stuck behind the trees too much on this golf course and I was just dropping too many shots where on another golf course, I might have got away with it,” he said.
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson clinched a third victory of the season after defeating Spaniard Carlos Rodiles over four play-off holes to claim the Volvo Masters.
Both players had finished regulation play locked on 12 under par with the Swede fighting back from a double bogey at Valderrama’s 17th hole to tie Rodiles with a last hole birdie.
Darren Clarke was staring at an anxious wait watching TV coverage of the Chrysler Classic on the US Tour to establish if he’s finished top 30 on the money list and a place in this week’s Tour Championship in Houston.
Clarke finished the best of the Irish in Spain, in a share of 13th, and ending with a level par 72 for a one over par total despite a big tally of 123 putts over the four rounds.
The Dungannon golfer was officially confirmed as runner-up to Ernie Els on the Order of Merit.
Peter Lawrie will be officially confirmed tomorrow as the European Tour Rookie of the Year and is the first Irish golfer to win the award first presented in 1960.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
