McElhinney already making mark in America

The biggest day of Irish golfer Brian McElhinney’s life is just a week away now – and he has had a notable victory as the Masters approaches.

Winning the British amateur title last June entitled the 23-year-old from Co Donegal to a dream trip to Augusta and yesterday McElhinney beat Italian Edoardo Molinari, holder of the American amateur crown.

They met in the now traditional Georgia Cup match at the Golf Club of Georgia in Atlanta and, on greens as fast as they will encounter at the Masters, McElhinney won three and two – even though he was approximately five over par when the contest finished.

“It’s definitely going to be exciting next week, but nerve-wracking as well,” said the quietly-spoken Walker Cup player.

He paid his first visit to Augusta on his arrival in America last week and comments: “It was unreal. Very tough, very long. You have to be accurate off the tee and hit the fairways to give yourself a chance.”

The par-four seventh is one of six holes lengthened since last year and McElhinney needed a four-iron approach into a slight wind – and could not hold the green with it. Unreal indeed.

“I’ve been nervous before, but it’s supposed to be a different kind of nerves,” he added. “I just want to enjoy it and play as well as I can. It’s an experience more than anything.”

On Sunday night he plans to stay in the Crow’s Nest at the top of the clubhouse, but for the rest of the week he is staying in a house with his parents and brother.

Molinari’s plan is to be in the Crow’s Nest all week – providing it’s not too hot there.

“I want to get the whole experience,” said the 25-year-old, whose brother Francesco, competing this week in the Portuguese Open, is flying out to caddie for him.

As the American amateur champion – he was the first Italian to enter the event, let alone win it – he already knows one of his partners for the first two rounds next Thursday and Friday. Defending champion Tiger Woods.

“I watched him on the driving range at the Open last year (Molinari made the halfway cut) and I’m hoping we might practise together one day next week,” said Molinari.

“I aim to ask him, and Sergio Garcia said last September he’d play a round with me too.”

The Turin golfer has already made two visits to Augusta and played five rounds each time. Last October two of them were 70s, but the greens were soft and slow then. Relatively slow, that is.