Hurley’s Christmas wish granted with Arizona invite

Christmas had to come a little early for Gary Hurley this week as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth golfer got his yuletide celebrations done in good time for a dash across the Atlantic and a prestigious date with some of the amateur game’s leading lights.

The Paddy Harrington scholar will have to be up bright and early on St Stephen’s Day morning to drive from his Dungarvan, Waterford home to Dublin Airport for a morning departure for Phoenix, Arizona, where he will take his place in an 84-man field for the Patriot All America Tournament, starting Saturday.

The event is a 54-hole strokeplay invitational at Phoenix’s Wigwam resort and Hurley, 20, booked his entry as a result of his selection for the European Palmer Cup Team, when he made history as the first Irish-based collegiate player to represent his continent against the United States.