Every accomplishment on this magnificent golf course is earned, providing no shortcuts, with every mistake exacting its price. In the initial round of the Amgen Irish Open, those eyeing the prize were cautious, sometimes uncertain, till they found a safe haven in the final stretch towards Slieve Donard.
Todd Clements, a 28-year old English golfer, who is ranked 291 globally with one DP World Tour triumph during the previous year’s Czech Masters, skilfully scripted a five-under-par 66 to lead after the first round. However, those trailing close behind still have plausible hopes of narrowing the gap and even overtaking him. Among the challengers, Rory McIlroy is a key contender.
In the Irish Open, Rory chose the comforts of home, opting to stay with his parents, Gerry and Rosie, near Belfast, instead of staying in the adjoining 5-star hotel, the echoes of which often serve as reminders of the ongoing tournament.
“I’ve felt distant from the tournament, staying an hour away. It’s been quite a nice change, not being completely engrossed in it,” McIlroy commented.
Unlike in 2015, when he started off poorly and was written off early, this time around, he has successfully remained disconnected until he had to swing a club. The world’s third-best golfer finished the round impressively, landing three consecutive birdies on holes 16, 17 and 18 to score a final three-under-par 68, placing him joint fourth and just two swings behind the leader, Clements.
Pádraig Harrington spoke of the challenge he noticed and the motivation gained from observing the struggles of his fellow competitors. “You’d find a strange sense of hope upon witnessing the misfortunes littering the course,” confessed the champion who has thrice won Major titles while referring to the unexpected hurdles one can encounter due to minor missteps.
McIlroy, too, recognised the severe test that the course constituted, likening it to one worthy of a Major championship. “The golf course is definitely of a standard adequate for hosting an Open. It’s just a shame we lack the surrounding infrastructure to accommodate something of that magnitude here. Otherwise, we’d absolutely qualify to host an Open Championship. The logistical problems, however, coupled with our limited capacity, render it somewhat impractical. That said, it’s still one of the most challenging courses we play on.”
Several players who fell victim to the natural elements and the course’s intricacies included Thomas Detry, Bob MacIntyre, among others. Detry had his shot land on the eighth green, only to be blown off course leading to a quadruple-bogey eight. Ryder Cup player and two-time PGA Tour winner this season, Bob MacIntyre, experienced a similar fate with his shot on the 15th getting lost, which resulted in a triple-bogey seven. However, MacIntyre redeemed himself with birdies on the 16th and 17th, attaining an impressive level par score of 71.
McIlroy’s admirable resilience saw him overcome considerable adversity. Despite missing a birdie putt on the 13th that could have put him three under, and then bogeying the two following holes, he scored birdies on the last three homes to widespread applause from the crowds who followed him tirelessly across the sand dunes. As he removed his cap to salute the masses gathered around the 18th green, there was a skip in his steps. A scorecard with six birdies and three bogeys in his grasp resonated this upbeat mood.
In the context of a links-style course, particularly when confronted with problematic crosswinds, it’s paramount to effectively control your ball trajectory and allow an ample margin for error. This prevents minor inaccuracies from escalating into major problems. McIlroy expressed his familiarity with the course, focusing on correct shot-placement as a crucial element of his performance. Even when his strikes were off, he made sure to err on the safer side. Whether capitalising on recoveries or preparing for his next swing, he consistently kept himself in favourable circumstances.
McIlroy contrasted the strategies used at this course with those implemented in major tournaments. Though similar, he noted the unique pressures encountered in major competitions. However, the atmosphere was touted as fantastic and challenging, keeping players on their toes.
Still, McIlroy held his nerve well, bringing his A-game on the initial day. With three days to follow, he was in a strong position to put up a fight.