Alex Maguire may never fistpump after shooting a final round of 73 again but at this stage of his career every penny counts as he looks to climb the golfing ladder.
Beginning the week with just €5,595 in the kitty from eight HotelPlanner Tour starts, Maguire was starting to worry if he could afford to play next year but after securing a share of 50th place on his Amgen Irish Open debut and a €19,610.12 cheque has alleviated those concerns with the expensive Q-School to come.
“It was probably the first time I’ve ever done that in my life [thought about the money],” laughed Maguire who finished level-par after rounds of 70, 72, 73 and 73.
“Five grand to me, is a lot compared to what the boys are chasing out there.
“I was lining the putt up going I wonder how much this putt is worth? I didn’t think about it the whole week, but I was like, Look, if I can hole this, my family can have a celebration. I’m sure there were 30-40 people that came out and supported me today, so you know, they can at least celebrate one more time.
“I was sort of worried at the end of this year, going, Jesus, where am I gonna be able to play next year? Like, will I have the money? Will I have the sponsors to go and play? Wherever I’m gonna have to play, but at least this, whatever the cheque is, will sort of cover the cost.”
Maguire was full value for his prize money as he carded eighteen birdies (including six on Sunday) and an eagle which at the time of writing is level with Rory McIlroy who is about to hit the back nine at the K Club in pursuit of a second home title.
It was the four double bogeys throughout the week that cost the Laytown & Bettystown man a few fivers along the way but the good golf was there for all to see and he feels like he proved that he can cut the mustard at Europe’s top level.
“I found out this week I’ve got a lot of balls. So many times it could have slipped for me this week, hitting it out of bounds on seven the first day, losing a ball on the 17th when I was just about to miss the cut. Yesterday, making two doubles, an error on my part today,” added Maguire who made five bogeys and a double on 13 in another rollercoaster round.
“A lot of times I could have sort of thrown the towel in and come last by 15, but I really hung in there and 50th at the moment that I’m not not riding home saying I contended in the Irish open, but in my own race, I feel like can walk away pretty proud of myself,
“A couple of Wednesdays ago, I wasn’t even playing this event. I didn’t even think I was going to come out, come watch it, let alone play it. So to play a lot of good golf in between some ropey stuff. I guess I look back on it pretty fondly.”
In the end, Maguire finished ahead of Brooks Koepka and Danny Willett and level with Patrick Reed and he will take huge confidence into the First Stage of DP World Tour Q-School in Austria as he looks to hold a permanent position on tour.
“These are people I want to beat. I guess I did beat Brooks this week, but I thin it’s really fun. I think these are people that I watch day in, day out. Like I love watching golf. I love watching Rory, even seeing him hanging around here and being in the same events as him. It’s great, you know, I really, really enjoyed it. And hopefully this is the first of many as a pro.
“I’ll take a lot of confidence from that and bring that into Q-School, and then hopefully have a good few weeks, and we’ll be out here next year.”
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