Playing on an invitation from the host venue, Damian Mooney would be forgiven for viewing the NI Legends at Galgorm as a free roll of the dice, where a good week could lead to further opportunities on the Staysure Legends Tour and a not-so-good week would matter little.
But the competitor in him won’t let him feel that way and he was disappointed with a three-over opening round that gives him a lot of work to do on days two and three if he’s to push his way up the leaderboard.
“No, I don’t have it in me to have a free roll,” he said. “You’re still proud, you never want to just let go, and I’m really grateful to the resort for giving me the invite.
“Gary Henry and his staff here have been very good to me the last two years and it’s been a great opportunity. I played OK last year, bar one or two holes, so I’m trying not to do that this year, I’m trying to be tidy.
“But there’s a pride in every golfer. I think you just can’t let go.”
Playing through arguably the worst conditions of the day with the breeze at its strongest and occasional rain adding to the difficulty, Mooney found himself five-over with six to play but birdied two of the holes on the way in and came desperately close to a third on the last but his downhill putt refused to move the final inch it needed for a closing birdie.
“The breeze was the major factor,” he said. “The rain wasn’t too bad unless you get caught somewhere at a bad time, but no, the breeze was a factor, clubbing was a factor, and I struggled a wee bit on the crosswind left or right.
“I pulled two shots trying not to lose it to the right and end up just in bad places. But then birdies always help.”
TICKETS ARE FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE EVENT – GET YOURS HERE
The Belfast native was appreciative of the support he received from the spectators, and
“That was really nice,” he said. “I’m known because I’ve worked at a few of the clubs as the PGA Pro and because I’ve played for a wee while on Tour and EuroPro and different things where I hit the bar and hit the post, so a lot of people would know me and there’s a few people out there cheering for me, so it’s nice to see.”
The current Head Professional at Lough Erne has come close at Legends Tour Q-School in the past, and he’s intending to try one last time again in January, providing there is a Q-School of course.
“I don’t know if there’s going to be one, but I’ll go if there is,” he said. “I don’t know what way it’s working at the minute, but yeah, I’ll go for the last time if I can.
“Like I’m 58 now, going 59, but that doesn’t matter. I’m still fit, still hit it OK. I’m probably smarter now than I used to be, but, I’ll go one more time, I think.”
As for the remaining two rounds and whether he’d like to see the wind continue to blow?
“If I hit good shots, then yeah,” he laughed. “If I’m a bit doubtful, then no, because if it gets into your head then it’s not very nice.
“But I sort of got a better feel for the greens coming in. I mean, the greens are fabulous, very true. The whole course is fabulous. But three-over after day one… I would need a low score somewhere, and maybe I can.”
TICKETS ARE FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE EVENT – GET YOURS HERE
Leave a comment