The Irish Open 2009
Links Golf From Ireland in The Race To Dubai on the PGA European Tou
Jun 23, 2009
The 2009 European tour and The Race To Dubai is warming up nicely and this week sees the strongest field since The Dubai Desert Classic. County Louth Golf Course, Baltray, north of Dublin is the venue.
Rory McIlroy's Comments about The Ryder Cup
Pre-tournament news surrounds Rory McIlroy’s comments about the Ryder Cup. McIlroy called it an exhibition match and that there will be no fist-pumping from him if selected. Colin Montgomerie counters that McIlroy will learn what it is about when, not if, selected. Typically they are drawn with each other on the first day.
The low round of day one comes from Francesco Molinari, maintaining his day four form from The Italian Open. He shoots 63 but is later disqualified for signing for the wrong score. Robert Rock and Roope Kakko make 66‘s and Sweden’s Johan Edfors 64. John Daly continues last weeks fine form with a 68.
Graeme McDowell looked to be having the weekend off after a 77 yesterday but is incredibly eight under par after the first eight holes of his second round and is set for a possible course record. Lee Westwood gets round in 66 and rises up the leader board to ten under.
Hole-in-one to Win an Audi Cabriolet
The weather improves in the afternoon and it looks like the cut will be one under par. Rory McIlroy has not hit the heights but is still -7 after today’s round. Thomas Levet and Robert Rock get to -11 and Paul Lawrie reaches the weekend one better after slam-dunking a hole-in-one on the seventeenth to win an Audi Cabriolet.
The amateur, Shane Lowry, is feeding off the home support and follows up his First Round 67 with a well crafted 62 to take the lead into the weekend on -15. The scoring has been fantastic in the benign afternoon conditions led by Graeme McDowell who does set a new course record with a 61 to make the cut with ease, but has to retire from the tournament due to shin splints.
Lowry, Edfors and Robert Rock pull away from the field during Saturday’s round. Edfors shoots 68 to get to -14, Lowry is coping very well with the attention he is getting after yesterday’s heroics to post 71 and Rock joins him in first on -16 after carding a 69. In contrast to yesterday players have had to work hard for a score. Westwood slides to a 78 and Paul Lawrie a frustrating 77. The Irish crowds are out in force supporting Lowry today.
Nick Dougherty and Marc Warren finish equal fourth but the fight is between Edfors, Rock and Lowry, who is holding his nerve pretty well but slipped to third and -15 after 11 holes. Edfors makes an awful chip on the 14th at a crucial time but somehow recovers to maker par. Lowry makes birdie and then holes an eight footer on the 16th to take the lead. His approach to 17 almost seals the victory. He misses the putt though and Rock makes birdie. They both par the eighteenth, Lowry finishing with his head in his hands after missing a four footer, to set up a play-off. Edfors finishes third on -15.
Shane Lowry, The Irish Open champion
The first play-off hole at the eighteenth saw Rock miss a ten-foot putt to win. On the second hole Lowry’s approach follows the contours of the green to give him a good chance but Rock holes an eight footer as they both birdie to force a third extra hole. Rock goes way over the green on his third shot and Lowry prevails in a classic, exciting finale. Rory McIlroy is among the throng who lift him onto their shoulders to celebrate with Shane Lowry, The Irish Open champion.
See also:
 |
