Major optimism for Irish duo

IT may not have been the finish either Major winner envisaged but Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will both head to the United States next week in positive mood following their Irish Open performances.

Both the current US Open champion and his predecessor finished well down the leaderboard at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club yesterday, with McIlroy’s level-par 71 leaving him at three under and McDowell finishing a shot better for the day and the week.

Yet the Irishmen have bigger targets in mind as they prepare to cross the Atlantic for this week’s World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, and the following week’s PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

And though McDowell finished the Irish Open with a bogey, he said he would still leave Killarney in optimistic mood after a difficult season to date.

“Not a very nice way to end the week I suppose but I played some decent golf this weekend,” McDowell said, “hit some good-looking shots and a lot of positives to take away.

“I’m talking about my ball striking and generally just the way my short irons are feeling. You know, some really good steps forward on my short game this week. Really just the sort of attitude, the mental game I suppose, I really enjoyed myself this week... which was the key.”

McIlroy was on a similar wavelength to the 2010 US Open champion.

“Head to Akron next week, and again, making sure that my game is in the best possible shape going into the event the week after. It will be great to get myself into contention next week in Akron and shoot a few good rounds, and that will give me some confidence going into the PGA.”

As for his week in Killarney, he said: “Every time you come to the Irish Open, it’s very special. It wasn’t quite the result I was looking for this week. But the crowds have been exceptional and the weather has stayed pretty nice for us. It’s been a good week. Just would have been nicer to shoot a couple of better scores.

“My iron play was really nice today. Gave myself a lot of chances and just couldn’t really convert them on the greens. But I felt as if I hit good putts. Just they were not dropping for me. So there’s a few positives to take into next week.”

It was Peter Lawrie who finished as the leading Irishman, tying for eighth place at nine under par, six behind new champion Simon Dyson following a closing 69 that featured four birdies and two bogeys.

There was a trio of Irishmen on five under par for the tournament with amateur Paul Cutler boosting his hopes of a Walker Cup appearance this September before turning professional as he shot a closing 72 to finish in a tie for 21st.

Also finishing on five under was Simon Thornton, who closed with a one-under 70 that had begun with back-to-back birdies. Two more followed but so too did three bogeys.

Damien McGrane’s title bid was undone on Saturday with a third-round 77 that sent him back to level par but he left Killarney in better spirits following a closing five-under-par 66.

Michael Hoey had been in touch with the leaders for the first two rounds before a level-par 71 on Saturday and he fell flat yesterday with a final-round 74 to finish on three under alongside McIlroy.

Of the other two Irishmen that made it to the weekend, Colm Moriarty started the final round at level par following a Saturday a 74, and the man who was the leading home player after his opening 67 went into arrears with bogeys at the second and fifth. The Glasson golfer recovered well, though, to post a closing 70, one under par for the week.

St Margaret’s professional John Kelly finished where he began the final day, at two over par.