Sure what else are you going to do on your Irish Open debut other than ask Ricky Elliott if Brooks Koepka fancies a few clips of a Wednesday afternoon?
It’s about who you know not what you know as far as 18-year-old Fota Island amateur John Doyle is concerned who used his contacts Louisiana State University – where he will attend next year – to arrange a pre-tournament practice round with the five-time major champion at the K Club.
“I got in touch with Ricky Elliott on Sunday because my college coach in LSU coached Brooks’ brother so he gave me the number and I said why not give it a shot and texted him,” said Doyle who may have a contacts list littered with big names in the future if he can fulfil his potential.
“Playing with Brooks and having Pete Cowen there I was nervous hitting shots but it was a good way to settle in but it was still nothing compared to how nervous I was this morning.
“A decent bit of chat. He’s very laid back, he’s nice.”
The Mitchelstown man shook off any signs of nerves with a dream start to what has been a dream week. Back to back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes saw the teenager sharing the front page of the leaderboard with Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry all of a sudden.
“It was a lovely start, I was very nervous but actually dealt with it quite well. It was lovely and I enjoyed the round. It’s a great experience getting to play I have a lot of family and friends down.”
The Irish Boys and Munster Strokeplay champion handed the shots back at the 15th and 16th but a lovely wedge to kick in distance saw him turn in red figures.
But his dream day came to a shuddering halt as the heavens opened to rain on his parade. Either side of a weather delay for the threat of lightning, Doyle made three bogeys in a row from the fifth but he did manage to arrest further damage with two closing pars for a two-over 74 which he feels should have been much better.
Kids nowadays aren’t here to just take part.
“Not very pleased. Hit it very wayward on the back nine, it was poor I thought. Didn’t get too much out of the round felt like I kept hitting it a yard or two in the rough, it’s silage, just silage,” he exclaimed.
“I had about a ten footer for bogey on 7, my 16th when play restarted and parred the last two, I would have taken that. Hit the ball a bit straighter tomorrow because everything else is really good. I could have shot a few better today but that’s life.”
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