Higgins excels in testing gales

HE’S earned less than €20,000 so far this year, came into the tournament only a late invite from Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort owner Tom Kane, but keep an eye on David Higgins over the next two days.

Yesterday, as the gales blew in Adare, David was one of only eight players to end their round under par. Two-under he shot, a 70, five shots better than his 75 on Thursday, giving him a total of 145, one over par.

Doesn’t look very impressive, perhaps, but this was the new Adare playing at its snarling worst, the Adare the pros spoke of so fearfully, and most suffered accordingly. Not David. Then again, for a guy brought up on the Waterville links, one of the finest in the world, this was bread and butter.