Rory rallies and Graeme grinds

FRIDAY on Tour usually means everything to a professional golfer. For those who have posted good rounds on Thursday, it is a day of consolidation.

For those on or around the cut mark, it can be a particularly tense day, a day when you don’t know whether you should push that little bit in the hope of making something happen or simply play conservatively.

The back nine determines your fate. It determines whether you enjoy your evening meal or whether you frantically search for an exit strategy, preferably as far away from the venue as possible.

Yesterday, as the plethora of talented Irish golfers set out for day two, there was cause for optimism in many quarters. Golf is a game of frustrations, but these men know all that. Yesterday’s round, especially for the likes of Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell needed to be all about attitude, motivation and, most importantly, momentum.

Both started well. Their attitude was great, they were clearly motivated to be around for the weekend but they were unable to build any momentum.

The Irish are a curious breed of fighters, individuals who love nothing more that to be the underdog, to rise from the ashes. If ever you needed proof of that then you need look no further back than Clarke’s victory at the Open Championship at Royal St George’s two weeks ago.

It was all about attitude. He had forced his way back into contention as a world force by winning in Majorca earlier in the year. He had earned the right to compete once again in the Majors and this was one of his last chances to become a major winner. He knew he was good enough to win an Open Championship, but many others can also make that claim. He was motivated. Most importantly, he had early momentum and much like a dog holding onto a bone, he was not going to let go. His attitude made him a contender. His play and his momentum carried him over the line.

Alas, yesterday was to be a cruel day for many of Ireland’s leading lights such as Clarke, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley, but for others Friday was a day of deliverance. Rory rallied and Graeme grinded. Once again, they proved their pedigree. Their challenge is alive and well.

But it was also the day the lesser lights shone. Lesser only because they have not won major professional championships. All are winners, all have won on either the European Tour or the amateur circuit before. All are capable of challenging this weekend. All will be motivated.

It will, however, take the right attitude and a lot of momentum to succeed for the likes of Peter Lawrie, Michael Hoey, Damien McGrane and even the outstanding Paul Cutler. Shane Lowry did it two years, so why not for the Portstewart man? Stranger things have happened.