Links life has its rewards for focused Kevin Phelan

Feeling comfortable in one’s surroundings is the key to success in many things in life and for Irish golfer Kevin Phelan life is pretty good heading into an Irish Open at Royal County Down midway through a successful second season on the European Tour.

The 24-year-old from Waterford, buoyed by two top-three finishes in March, is well on the way to retaining his European Tour card for next season and having previously won an interprovincial title with Munster at Royal County Down in 2012 he goes into this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in good spirits, great form and eager for the tough challenge this renowned links will lay down for the next four days.

Sitting in the RCD clubhouse after a practice round in the company of Shane Lowry and fellow Munstermen Cian McNamara and former team-mate Gary Hurley, Phelan told the Irish Examiner about his love of links golf, playing the Irish Open and his adjustment to life on the European Tour which has seen him settle in nicely this season with a runner-up finish at the Joburg Open and third place at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.