Murphy is ready to pull trigger

THE FORGOTTEN man? Gary Murphy, the locker room comedian, would like to be taken seriously. For nine years as a tour professional, the Kilkenny native – who nowadays lives no more than a good three-wood from the links at Co Louth – has lived with the dreaded journeyman tag, a player able to make a very decent living from his chosen profession but unable to win a tournament.

In his time living out of a suitcase, visiting virtually every country in Europe and as many in Asia, Murphy – who has played in 236 tournaments – has had his nearly moments, his share of close calls.

Ironically, the closest of all came in last year’s Irish Open – at Adare Manor – when he finished third behind Richard Finch. Leading Irishman for what it was worth. Close, but no cigar. It’s the win that Murphy wants most of all, and he’s of the opinion that his best years lay ahead rather than behind. Once upon a time, Murphy was like the guinea pig on the treadmill. Wherever and whatever part of the world the European Tour pitched its tent, he’d more often than not be there. He’s learnt from those days of chasing his tail, become more selective in where he will play.

“I’ve been guilty of probably playing too much over the years and turning up at tournaments not really ready to compete but kind of playing because of (chasing) tour cards and stuff.” He added: “If you look at the top players, they play a lot less than the guys down the other end. That’s probably to do with (having) seven figures in their bank account.”

Yesterday, we witnessed a wiser Murphy. As the strong winds blew and many players were buffeted as they stood over their balls in practice, he took a rain check. He called it experience. “I’m not going to hit balls for three hours in the wind doing silly things.”

The thing is, Murphy knows that he is a better player than the stats tell us. His position of 123rd on the current Race to Dubai money list – with earnings of €75,917 – is at odds with his ability. He wants to change that, to achieve some of the targets he set at the start of the season.

“Obviously, I have not won on the European Tour yet and that’s my number one goal . . . and top-50 on the order of merit is always a goal as well. I’m just trying to be more consistent week-in and week-out, trying to have a solid week when the big tournaments pop up.”

Now, though, he heads into an important stretch of the season, starting here with the 3 Irish Open. Could fate play its hand on a course that he knows like the back of his hand? His failure to win has been frustrating.

“It’s a long time,” he admitted, “especially with the amount of Irish on tour now. We have more players than France and they have a population 20 times ours. And we have players winning, and it is frustrating I have not joined them . . . but there’s nothing I can do about that, only to keep trying and see what happens.”

Murphy has assembled a close -knit team around him, but he observed: “You are the only one pulling the trigger. You can have as many guys around you as you want, but it is up to you at the end of the day.”

Yet, with career earnings in excess of €2 million, and a chance to play the game he loves around the world, Murphy knows that he is one of the lucky ones. “There’s a lot more people in trouble than I am. It’s the best job in the world when you’re playing well, and feels like the worst job in the world when you’re not . . . but I’m thankful I’m in a position to possibly change my life every week.”