It was a lowkey weekend for Irish golf, many of our big hitters were absent from competition with much of the focus on the smaller tours across the globe.
Still, there were some standout performers and we try to dissect who looks to be trending in the right direction and who needs to get back on the horse after a disappointing week.
HITS
Ronan Mullarney
The opening event of the Alps Tour season got underway in Egypt at the Ein Bay Open and 2023 Order of Merit winner Ronan Mullarney made an early charge towards notching another win on tour.
The Galway man teed off five shots adrift of the lead but a final round of 67 saw him set the clubhouse target on twelve-under which was eventually pipped by Switzerland’s Luca Galliano who made birdie at the par-5 17th.
Mullarney would have to settle for second place but it’s an encouraging start to the campaign.
John Murphy
John Murphy hopefully began his ascent back up the golfing pyramid with a first made cut on any tour since the Irish Challenge last July.
It was just the sixth time the Cork man had made it to the weekend since 2023 and a blistering back nine helped him do so.
Hugh Foley, Robert Moran
Hugh Foley picked up a top-10 finish on his professional debut while Robert Moran enjoyed a solid start to his second campaign on the Alps Tour.
Seán Keeling
Seán Keeling secured the highest finish of his freshman year at Texas Teach after a final round of 69 saw him claim fourth place at The Prestige Individual.
Keeling finished on one-over-par eight shots shy of winner Sihan Sandhu who was the only player to finish the week in red figures at Terra Lago Golf Club.
MISSES
Conor Purcell
Conor Purcell’s early DP World Tour struggles continued at the Magical Kenya Open as he missed his fourth cut in six starts.
Dermot McElroy
Dermot McElroy was unable to grasp a rare opportunity on the DP World Tour as he joined Purcell with an early flight ticket home from Kenya after a missed cut.
Leona Maguire
Leona Maguire carded her second successive round of 70 – and third in red figures – to close out the LPGA Thailand, but it was only enough to see her finish tied for 33rd and a whopping 22 shots behind winner Angel Yin.
Maguire had been in good form heading into the LPGA’s Asian swing but while 33rd is by no means a disaster it’s by no means a hit either.
Pádraig Harrington
If only he could putt…
Short distance issues plagued Harrington throughout the 36 holes that he did play at the Mexico Open. And although it was papered over by an opening 69, his issues continued on the greens and he turned what looked like an opportunity to get into weekend contention to become the oldest winner on tour, into a missed cut.
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