Moriarty proudly earns a place at St Andrews
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Colm Moriarty will take proudly his place at the British open at the old course at St Andrews from Thursday week next July 15 until Sunday July 18. The World's greatest golfers will battle for the famous Claret Jug, which has been won in 2007 and 2008 by Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink claimed the coveted silverware last year. It will see the famous 17th "Road Hole", possibly the most famous hole in golf, lengthened for the first time in over 100 years.
A member of Glasson Golf club, he joins the Irish group of Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Gareth Maybin and Graeme McDowell after winning the qualifier at Kingsbarns, in Scotland. Needless to say he was pleased with his
performance when he took time out at the weekend to talk to The Voice.
“To be honest I have been playing well all year, but obviously to get into the British open and into a major championship in the home of golf is fantastic, and it is something you dream of when you are growing up that is to qualify for these tournaments and to play well. It is a big step in my career to play in my first major also."
Colm hit five birdies and an eagle, which saw him take control after round one with a 67 and he added a 70 to that total in the second round of the day to top a field of 72 players, three ahead of the field. Was that some of the best golf he has played?
“There were two very good rounds with seventy-nine players with just three spots created a bit of a rampage. I went there in the knowledge that if I played well I would have a great chance of qualifying. I came in from Tenerife on Monday and I only got to play nine holes of practice. I hadn't seen the course before and I just went out and I played really well on the first round and shot a 67, and then a solid seventy and ended up winning it by three shots."
Playing at the excellent St Andrews course is nothing new to Colm. " I have probably played at St Andrews on twenty or thirty times. As an amateur I played in a number of events but I haven't played it in a number of years."
One Irish golfers that took part in qualification and went close was David Higgins of Waterville who looked at one stage looked to be on course to make the event in Scotland. He had a first round 66 but then carded a 73 in the second round and finished two strokes outside the qualifying mark.
Colm says he will go into the event with both eyes open. " I am going there with no expectations but with the same expectations that I have for any other event and to play the best that I can. I know that if I play well I will do well and if you don't play well you would do well. It is the same as any other event really, obviously it is a lot bigger and it's the biggest event I have ever played in, but I have been playing lovely all hear and I hope to keep that going."
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