Rory McIlroy concludes arguably the best year of his career with a trip to Melbourne for the Australian Open this week. It is his first time playing at the tournament in 11 years, but he comes with fond memories of previous trips Down Under.
McIlroy’s career was at an early crossroads in 2013 after he changed to Nike equipment, failing to record a win all year. As Ewan Murray wrote in the Guardian “it may not rank among the most high-profile but it is unquestionably one of the more significant” when he triumphed at Royal Sydney. He came from four strokes behind to shoot a final round of 66 to pip home favourite Adam Scott by a shot. A year later, McIlroy returned to the tournament having won two more Majors, as he finished tied 15th.
The Masters champion has always been attracted to events hosted on the world’s best courses, and Royal Melbourne is a fitting test as he takes on a field that includes Scott, Joaquin Niemann and Min Woo Lee.
“I’ve won there before,” McIlroy said ahead of the tournament. “I played there as an amateur in the Australian Open, qualified for it, went through a qualifier in 2005, got through like a nine-man playoff to get in, so I’ve always had a huge affinity for that part of the world.
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“So to go back, especially Royal Melbourne this year, Kingston Heath next year, two of the best golf courses in the world on the sandbelt, that’s awesome too.”
New book explores ‘the Irish way’
Ireland’s storied history in the Open Championship has been documented in a new book by former Irish Times golf correspondent Dermot Gilleece. ‘Chasing Ladybirds; Winning The Open the Irish Way’ chronicles the origins of Irish players in the Major championship, from Michael Moran’s shared third place at Hoylake in 1913 to the modern success stories of of McIlroy, Shane Lowry et al.
A veteran of the golf journalism beat, Gilleece has plenty of insight and titbits you may not have known or forgotten and includes an interesting tribute to the late Eddie Jordan and his life in golf. Speculation over another staging of the Open south of the border, at Dublin’s Portmarnock, is also assessed.
In the foreword, Dr Bob Rotella tries to explain Irish golfing success and writes the environment is ideal for producing Open-winning golfers, as someone who has worked with McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and others. He said Harrington’s win in 2007 created a “contagion” where Irish players believed they could win.
“If you were looking for a common denominator in their success, I think a key factor must be growing up in a lot of wind, rain and cold weather. It’s the ideal way to learn how to play golf,” Rotella writes.
“Too many players are trying to make golf a neat, overcontrolled game. The Irish are always challenged, having contests, playing the worst lie, downhill, uphill. They’re not trying to hit it straight; they’re playing the Irish way.”
Word of Mouth
“I have spent the last few months breaking Keegan Bradley’s heart.” – Shane Lowry joked during The Skins Game at Panther National in Florida, after denying the US Ryder Cup captain a skin with a birdie putt. Bradley had the last laugh in the 18-hole match – which also featured Xander Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood – winning $2.1 million to Lowry’s $200,000.
On this day: December 2nd, 2012
Graeme McDowell closed out his second win in three years at the World Challenge at Sherwood, California. Now held in the Bahamas, but still hosted by Tiger Woods and featuring a small field of some of the best players in the world, McDowell had beaten the host two years earlier in a dramatic playoff. This time it was Keegan Bradley who he put to the sword by three shots, and finishing eight shots ahead of Woods. The Northern Irishman shot four rounds in the 60s – 69 66 68 68 – as he proved impossible to catch en route to a $1.2 million pay-day before a 10-week winter break.
“It’s certainly my kind of course, there’s no doubt about it,” said McDowell. “It think it’s a premium on accuracy and a premium on good aggressive iron play ... I’ve always kind of rolled the ball well here.”
It moved McDowell up to the 13th in the world rankings, and he would stay in the top 20 until 2015.
By the Numbers: 10
Irish golfer Lauren Walsh finished 10th in the Ladies European Tour order of merit for 2025. The 25-year-old has earned herself a spot in next week’s LPGA Q-Series final stage as she bids to join Leona Maguire in the US.
Social Swing
“David Puig only had TWO bogeys all week... That’s how you win your first DP World Tour event.” – DP World Tour praises the latest winner after the young Spaniard won the Australian PGA Championship by two strokes.
“Really saddening to hear of the passing of Frank Urban Zoeller. Fuzzy Zoeller was one of our games great showman, who whistled while he worked. Playing with Fuzzy was good fun, relaxed, friendly & his sportsmanship was 2nd to none. You made a lot of people happy, thanks Fuzzy.” – Ken Brown remembers Zoeller, who died last week aged 74.
Know the Rules
Q: In match play, it is Player A’s turn to play but he realises that he has accidentally left a club on the previous hole. He decides to return to retrieve the club and suggests that his opponent, Player B, plays first to save time. If B then plays out of turn as suggested, have the players agreed to waive the Rules in breach of Rule 1-3?
A: No. When done solely for the purpose of saving time, a player whose turn it is to play may invite his opponent to play first. The opponent is under no obligation to accept the offer to play first, but if he does so, the player has waived his right under Rule 10-1c to recall the stroke played out of turn.
In the Bag: Shane Lowry – Skins Game
Driver: Srixon ZXi LS+ (9 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (18 degrees)
Irons: Srixon ZXi Utility (3, 20 degrees), Srixon ZXi5 (4, 5), Srixon ZXi7 (6-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack (52-MID, 56-MID, 60-ADAPT)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Z
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
