Sugrue brings number of Irish Troon troops to six

KILLARNEY’S Danny Sugrue brought Ireland’s representation in this week’s British Open Championship to six when he came through the qualifying process at Western Gailes over the weekend.

He joins Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell and European amateur champion Brian McElhinney at Royal Troon on Thursday.

A Munster Interprovincial and junior international golfer in his amateur days, Sugrue shot 67 over the par 71 course on Saturday and added a 72 yesterday to lead the four players who came through over the 6,911 yards links. Born on St Patrick’s Day in 1978, Sugrue turned professional in 2002 when he got to the final European Tour School and played all six rounds, but failed to win a card. That performance, however, gained him a place on the Challenge Tour on which he played nine events, made two cuts and earned 812.