Rónán MacNamara in Straffan
Even the golfers are laughing at Ruben Amorim’s disastrous reign as Manchester United manager.
Amorim was afraid to watch a penalty shootout against the mighty Grimsby Town of the fourth tier of English football in last week’s Carabao Cup round two defeat. Brundell Park was hardly the cauldron that Bethpage Black will be when Team Europe head to New York this month for the Ryder Cup.
Luke Donald will at least have the stomach to watch one of his twelve players stand over a downhill left to right putt from six-feet surrounded by 50,000 American fans who are baying for blood.
Both Manchester United and Europe have recent barren records away to Grimsby and USA respectively. Although the last time United travelled to Brundell Park before last week was 1948… Meanwhile, Europe are looking for redemption after two heavy defeats and a record breaking loss since they last conquered US soil in 2012.
Lowry, who will be part of Team Europe, knows that Donald will have his charges well prepared for the hostile atmosphere expected, something which he believes will compare to a football team going to a rival ground.
“I suppose, you talk to any sports person who plays home and away fixtures, like let’s say a home and away fixture in football. If you’re a Liverpool player playing at Old Trafford or if you’re a Man U player playing at Anfield — well, if you’re a Man U player playing at Anfield, you’re probably going to get beaten,” chuckled Lowry.
“Luke will get the ball rolling how we’re actually going to prepare for that next week. I’m sure he’ll be putting some things in place over the next while, and we’ll be very well prepared.”
Protest
The Amgen Irish Open is the biggest week on the Irish golfing calendar but for some it is seen as an opportunity to protest against the tournament sponsor.
Outside the North entrance to the K Club, Unite the Union set up a stall to voice their displeasure at Amgen contractor, Jones Engineering. They want the contractor to top union-busting.
“Two years ago, construction workers in Dublin and Kildare took lawful industrial action against Jones. Unite members were demanding a reinstatement of travel time payments which saw them compensated for some of the time spent traveling to sites across the country,” a statement read.
“Instead of sitting down with Unite to resolve the issue, Jones has targeted union representatives and tried to break the union.”
Harrington double?
It’s already been a week of celebration for the Harrington clan. Pádraig’s son Paddy won the pre-tournament pro-am alongside Jhonattan Vegas and Tom McKibbin
Harrington is aiming to become the oldest winner on the DP World Tour with a victory this week. The man who will never give up trying to win on the biggest stage has already had reason to be cheerfu.
“Well, the Harringtons already have a win this week. My son won the pro-am this morning, so starting off on a good foot,” he smiled.
Smile and wave
Ah yes, the famous Madagascar quote from the scheming penguins.
Harrington is loved by all everywhere he goes and at 54 he still feels like he can win a second Amgen Irish Open and a first since 2007.
But if he doesn’t he will assume full Dad mode and just smile and wave to the crowd who continue to line out in their droves for him every year and he will lap up their adoration.
“I know that if I go out there tomorrow and I smile and don’t get too stressed, don’t get angry or anything like that, I pretty much can hit any shot and they’ll still like me out there and still give me a few claps. I’m a little bit more relaxed about it. I’d love to play well and compete, but if that doesn’t happen, I will wave to the crowd, smile and wave at the crowds and enjoy it.”
Looks like rain, Ted.
One cannot attend an Irish Open without getting wet at some stage. The torrential rain showers already put paid to the final round of a PGA Open Series event in Dundalk and have left the odd puddle on the practice areas at the K Club this week.
It takes no expert to guess that the going will be soft this week.
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