In 2007 on this very turf, Rory McIlroy burst onto the scene at the Walker Cup, two years later Shane Lowry won the Irish Open as an amateur in Baltray. On Thursday 17-year-old Roganstown amateur Seán Keeling gave a glimpse of what might be possible.
As darkness fell, Keeling provided the bright spark that the Irish performance at Royal County Down needed when after seventeen successive pars, he rolled in from 15-feet for a closing birdie on 18 to complete a remarkable bogey-free round of 70 to lie just four shots off the lead on his Amgen Irish Open debut.
“I loved every minute of it. It was brilliant,” beamed Keeling who is one of two Irish under par. “I had to stay patient on the back nine, waited for my birdie on the last. I’m happy enough with a bogey free round there, I will take it.
“It was lovely, finishing in the dark, we were just about done. I enjoyed that putt on the last.”
Walking the fairways his hero Rory McIlroy walked in 2007, 2015 and today, Keeling was only three years old when Lowry won his national open in 09 which coincidentally was also his tour debut. Who knows what could happen over the next 54 holes.
“I know what I’m capable of and I knew I could go out there and shoot a score and I’ll try to do the same in the next few days,” said a confident Keeling who is not here to make up the numbers.
“I’d say make the cut, try and get a good run on the weekend and you never know. Why not give myself a chance to win? I wasn’t in Baltray but I know what happened. Anything is possible. I’ve got to believe in myself.”
Speaking to Keeling there is a glint in his eye and a tone of expectation in his voice. He is taking everything in his stride, this is what he is meant to be doing, regardless of his age.
“Yeah, of course, there’s always going to be pressure on a stage this big and I sort of enjoyed it. It’s not every day you get to play Royal County Down in the Irish Open so why not enjoy it.”
Seventeen pars and one birdie around this difficult Royal County Down layout was a terrific effort and one of two bogey-free rounds on day one. But it was far from boring.
A player better known for his imperious ball striking ability rather than his course management, things could have gotten off to nightmarish start for Keeling who had to hit provisional tee shots off the first and second holes.
He took an unplayable on the first and saved par from 146 yards before rolling in from 11-feet and 15-feet for pars on the second and eighth.
“The first two holes could have been bogeys or worse but I ended up making two good pars and sort of from there I played pretty solid and hit plenty of greens which was solid the whole way around.
“I sort of told myself before I went out, if you lose your patience, around here, you’re in trouble. So you’ve got to have a good attitude and just be resilient. You’re going to have bad shots or mistakes, it’s just how you deal with them.”
This was far from a rescue mission as Keeling looked at his ease on the back nine, giving himself multiple birdie chances but he showed patience beyond his tender years and lack of experience and he was rewarded when he pitched to 15-feet on the last to a huge roar from the Roganstown and Swords faithful who stayed until the end.
“It is a dream come true really, sort of like coming to this tournament for the last six, seven years and to be playing in it is amazing. I am delighted to be here. I had some good roars holing some putts, it was great to have support from friends and family.”
From the outside the only pressure that may be put on Keeling is the pressure that he puts on himself but this is a teenager tipped for big things and he has already taken a gamble by choosing to not do his leaving certificate, instead taking the Student Aptitude Test and heading to Texas Tech, once a stable of Ludvig Äberg.
“To be fair, I wouldn’t say it was a very tough decision for myself,” he laughed. “But I’m delighted where I am and I’ve enjoyed it so far over there.”
He also needed special dispensation to come back from Texas after just two weeks to play in this one very special tournament.
“It was too good of an opportunity not to play and the coach understood that. He had no problem letting me come back and play.”
Keeling played a practice round with Pádraig Harrington on Monday and he left a lasting impression on the 53-year-old but this 17-year-old kid has the words of wisdom from a three-time major winner ringing in his ears.
“One thing he said as well was consistency is overrated. You’re better off winning than just making cuts or finishing top 10s. You’re remembered for your win.”
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