The Spin Doctor
AT 7am on Thursday morning it looked that the attire for the day would be waterproofs, but an hour later, Rory McIlroy and co were peeling off their goretex and applying the factor 50.
With the amazing blue skies came a huge crowd, 17,812 to be exact, who obviously all had the same idea - to get there early and watch Rors in peace.
“I have never seen as many people for an 8am tee time on Thursday” said an incredulous McIlory afterwards.
The large crowds were treated to a stunning opening day’s play. All the talk of possible 59’s and 58’s on the supposedly easy Killarney track were firmly put to one side as the head greenkeeper seemed to get an extra couple of rolls of the ball after he shaved the greens down.
That extra speed coupled with the undulations on the greens certainly flummoxed those who were aggressive and three putting abounded.
McIlroy carded eight birdies also dropped four shots, all through greenside sloppiness. I think Rors could have a big round in him today now that he knows the form on the greens.
Best of the Irish were Darren Clarke and Damien McGrane. Clarke played flawless golf throughout on his way to a 5 under, 66. Indeed Clarke could be four or five shots better off, had some more of his well struck putts gone in rather than shaved the hole.
One shot better was Meathman Damien McGrane who kept his good recent form going with a 6 under, 65. He said afterwards that playing with Major champions Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell helped him. “It’s easy to get sucked along when you’re in that company” he said.
Harrington finished on 3 under with McDowell on 1 under after a sluggish start. Again the questions flew at Harrington about his win drought, his game, his confidence, etc.
It’s getting pretty tiresome watching Padraig have to give the same answers week in week out. For me he is playing rock solidly, he’s not getting that bounce of a ball or bit of luck that it takes to get over the line and it cannot help to have to go on the defensive straight away in every interview like a novice boxer.
Defending champion Shane Lowry finished on 3 over as he bogeyed the last three holes. I think Shane has been under a lot of pressure this week with all the media attention and obligations he has to fulfil. He may be one to watch in the coming weeks when he can go about his business without all the fanfare. On the range, Lowry hits the ball the way most of the others can only dream about.
In a day full of highs I encountered one mild low when I came across Daniel Vancsik throwing a bit of a mid round tantrum. After being particularly miffed that his iron to the green on 12 didn’t come out as intended, he walloped the club off the deck before flinging it in the general direction of his bag. His caddy dodged the missile and you know what, the ball hit the green.
To end on a lovely touch, I saw Francesco Molinari’s caddy spot a bunker that had not been raked up to Tour standards, possibly by one of the amateur’s caddies in one of the previous groups.
He duly raked the bunker though his man had nearly advanced to the green. He had to sprint with the bag to make up the ground but he managed to do so. He told me the Tour can fine a caddy up to 300 for not raking a green properly, so it was a nice touch to help a fellow caddy avoid a costly day.
Roll on round two.
Did you know that the pro’s call Saturday “moving day”? If so then Friday is “packing day” for half the field.
