BOYHOOD battles for provincial titles seemed part of the distant past, as Gary Murphy shot an outstanding, one under par 70 at Druids Glen yesterday. Yet, his amateur rivalry with Padraig Harrington, has been crucial, "to Murphy's attempts at gaining European Tour status.
"When he won the Spanish Open, I thought of the times we had played together," said the 23 year old Kilkenny player. "And I remembered the tight matches we had before he beat me in the Munster Boys' Championship in 1987 and in the South of Ireland last year. ,He has been a great inspiration.
Then Murphy added with a smile. "You could say that the only difference between us is a couple of holes and £178,000." Clearly, he has discovered the need for a sense of humour while attempting to earn his professional spurs through the mini tours in England where £440 for a fourth place finish can cost up to £225.
It was Murphy's second Irish Open and by his own admission, he performed pretty miserably as an amateur at Mount Juliet two years ago. So, it was quite an achievement for him to hole a six foot putt for a nerve steadying par at the first yesterday. Indeed there were only two bogeys on his card, at the tricky, dog leg fourth where he drove into a fairway bunker and at the 14th where he also found sand.
His birdies came at the sixth, where a nine iron approach stopped within inches of the cup at the 12 yard eighth, where he hit an eight iron to six let, and at the long 11th, where a 40 foot putt compensated for some rather slack wedge play. Equally impressive was the manner in which he protected his score over the finishing holes, sinking eight footers for pars at the 15th and 16th.
Delighted to have received a sponsor's invitation here, Murphy has become acutely aware of the fine line between success and failure at professional level.
"All I can do is to try and keep myself busy," he said, looking towards a trip to South Herts next Monday for regional qualifying for the British Open. And further on, there will be another challenge in the Qualifying School, this time with the hope of success. . . just like Harrington.
