Sam Murphy admits his body feels the best it’s ever been and he is chomping at the bit to get his maiden professional season underway next week.
Murphy turned pro after securing full Category 6 status for the 2026 Alps Tour campaign having finished tied for third at Final Qualifying in Rome and he hopes to enjoy similar success to his fellow Galway man Ronan Mullarney who secured a HotelPlanner Tour card for next season.
“It was unbelievable. I was gutted after the final round because I was in a position to win, I knew it was my last event as an amateur so it would have been really cool to finish that off with a win,” said Murphy who aims to play in almost every Alps Tour event that he can when the season begins in February.
“But if you told me three or four months ago that I would come second and first in the two Alps qualifiers I would have taken your arm off.
“You never know until you go out there and see what it’s like. My game matched up to a lot of them out there and I know I can go low out there. It is important if you are going to win you have to go low out there. Shooting 64 in the qualifier was a massive confidence booster; it was special.
“I’m just so relieved to have a full schedule for next year and a job.”
The Portumna star is a big believer in fate. In another world, the former Connacht Strokeplay champion would be embarking on another college campaign with Little Rock.
After his four seasons with Grand Canyon University were plagued by injuries, Murphy was allowed an extra collegiate year and was excited to be transferring to Little Rock – where Anna Dawson came through.
However, some US VISA issues put paid to those plans so he decided to give the Alps Tour Q-School a try as an amateur. His plan was to turn professional if things went well or else stay amateur and wait another year.
Here he is entering the pro ranks a year earlier than anticipated but he is by no means less ready.
“I should still be in America now. But I had some VISA issues so I was gutted about that,” said the 23-year-old. “Then I thought about what I could do over the winter to get me going for next season. I spoke to a few people and came to the conclusion of doing this Q-School a year younger. I was quietly confident that I would get through it and it was unbelievable to be there as an amateur. If all went well I would turn pro and if not I was happy to stay amateur until DP World Tour Q-School next year.
“I had an extra year with injury so I transferred to Little Rock. I was really excited for it, something different. I had to get a new VISA because my four-year one had expired and they basically said you already got your degree you don’t need to get another one. It was so strange because I had no interest in staying out there beyond the year I was going to play competitive golf because I hadn’t played too much in my four years out there because of injuries. I wanted one full season of being fully fit and competing but fortunately I have that now with the Alps Tour.”
Of the four years he spent in GCU, Murphy reckons he was sidelined for two and a half of them. He was struck down by arthritis in both ankles meaning he had no side to side movement.
He only managed seven competitive appearances in his last two seasons with GCU. Such is the nature of 36-hole collegiate golf, he was often crawling into bed after tournament days and couldn’t even stand up in the shower.
In 2023 he enjoyed his best season to date, winning the Connacht Strokeplay at his home club of Portumna while he was also runner-up at the East and had two top-6 finishes stateside.
At that time he looked like he would become the next youngster to break into the top level of Irish amateur golf and regularly contend to win championships. Seemingly at the peak of his powers he was dealt another injury blow. A pattern that left him wondering if he would ever be fully healthy on the golf course.
“When you’re playing college golf it’s 36 holes a day carrying a bag. I would crawl into bed afterwards and sit down in the shower and some days I couldn’t even walk,” he explained.
“It was a tough one to take, my game was great then I would be out injured for six months, a year and when I should have been taking big steps forward I was just stuck at a red light for a long time.
“It was tough but thinking of it now I would go through it again if you told me I would have an Alps Tour card at the end of it. I do believe everything happens for a reason, I wouldn’t say I would go and get all the surgeries again. It gave me a massive perspective on golf and how lucky I am to do what I do.”
Now buoyed by the fact he feels fully healthy for the first time in over five years, Murphy has been picking the brains of everybody ahead of his rookie professional campaign.
He is best friends with Liam Nolan, is close with Mullarney and often practices with budding professional Aine Donegan at Glenlo Abbey so he will never be short of advice.
Although he will be competing as a professional a year earlier than he had planned for, Murphy isn’t going to use that as an excuse. He is keen to hit the ground running and has labelled the Alps Tour as a tour he doesn’t want to be on for very long.
His goal for 2026? Get himself into the top-5 on the Alps Tour Order of Merit to secure his Hotel Planner Tour status and be in a position to give DP World Tour Q-School a rattle.
“I would love to get on to the HotelPlanner Tour that is the goal next year. I’m confident that I could get through it. But first year out there I know it will be tough and I will learn a lot. I’m so grateful to have an Alps Tour card and I have a great support team around me. Portumna and my coach Gary Madden have been unbelievable. I’m best friends with Liam Nolan and I practice a lot with Aine Donegan so I’m always asking questions.”
As any young professional will tell you, sponsorship and support is vitally important to helping you along your journey.
Murphy feels indebted to Portumna Golf Club who organised a fundraiser in his honour last October and the funds raised will be crucial in helping him navigate his way up the golfing ladder.
“Portumna has always been so supportive. I didn’t ask for a fundraiser but they told me it was happening on Halloween weekend. The weather wasn’t great but everyone turned out which was fantastic, I’m spoiled rotten there.”
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