Irish Open Diary

McElroy with an E

Dermot McElroy is the perfect example of a young golfer who lets his clubs, not his mouth, do the talking.

The 19-year-old Irish amateur international from Ballymena is recognised as one of the finest ball-strikers in the country and a player who rarely talks about his game. He was, in fairness, a little less reticent at Royal Portrush yesterday when he walked off the final green having opened his first Irish Open Championship with a one-under-par round of 71. He actually sat astride the leaderboard for a short while after an eagle at the ninth and birdies at 10 and 11.

True to form, he was quick to point out it was no big deal given he was a member of the first three-ball on the course. Had he seen his name on the leaderboard? “Yeah, I glanced at it but it’s just the first day,” he said with typical simplicity. “Neil [Manchip] the national coach is here and he’ll come to the range with me and check on my driving.”

That area of the game concerned McElroy, especially because of the double bogey at the 18th that sent him back into the pack.

Beemer for screamer

England’s James Morrison was in the market for a new car after becoming a father for the first time a fortnight ago and when fellow pro Andrew Marshall won a BMW for a hole in one in Germany last week he was told to make him an offer.

There is no need now after Morrison won one himself after an ace at Royal Portrush’s famous par-three 14th. Far from turning triumph into disaster, Morrison parlayed the 210-yard hole named “Calamity Corner” into a BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, worth more than €100,000 after holing his five-iron tee shot.

“It’s funny, I walked to the tee and walked by the car and said to myself, ‘why can’t it be me today’?” Morrison said after his four-under 68. “And then my five-iron goes straight in the hole. It was an amazing feeling and my first hole in one as a pro.”

Marshall will not have been so happy when the two bumped into each other after their rounds.

“He had said to me, ‘you can take it [the car]’ and I’m like, ‘you know, I might talk to you about that’. “Then when I see him in the clubhouse I can tell him he can keep his car; I’ve got my own.”

Daly bulletin

As a former British Open champion, John Daly would have no hesitation backing Royal Portrush as a future battleground for the Auld Claret Jug. In fact, the American feels he is playing in one this week.

Links fan Daly, the 1995 Open winner at St Andrews, opened his 2012 Irish Open account with a two-under 70 and immediately added to the clamour for the R&A to hand the Antrim course its first British Open since 1951.

“It really would be a great Open Championship here. I could see them turning nine and 10 into par fours, which would be brutal. I feel like I am playing a British Open, to tell you a truth.”

Bishop’s blessing

England’s Mark Foster started with a 66 after receiving a blessing from South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Foster carded seven birdies to a single bogey to lie one off the lead.

“He [Tutu] was sat behind me on the flight over and I had my photograph taken with him,” said the Worksop golfer, chasing only his second European Tour victory in more than 300 starts.

“There were some others on the plane who were more excited about Ronan Keating being there, but I told him it was an honour to meet him.

“After shaking his hand he gave me God’s blessing.”

Perhaps just as important were some words from wife Sophie.

“I had a massive negative not qualifying for the [British] Open on Monday [he actually pulled out despite an opening 70] and was really down,” he said.

“But she told me I’d played well on Sunday in Germany, it’s only Monday, so let’s go again Tuesday. I did a good job of forgetting it and I’m really pleased with this.”

And...

British Open champion Darren Clarke will receive the PGA Recognition Award at this December’s annual PGA Luncheon in London.