Sam Murphy might be Galway through and through but he plays a lot of golf at Trump International Doonbeg and admits it would be a dream to play in the Amgen Irish Open there in September if he can keep producing good results.
Murphy burst onto the scene last weekend on the Alps Tour with his first professional win on his debut in Egypt and at the time of writing he leads the way at the New Giza Open as he looks for a second title in three weeks.
The Alps Tour will take a break on Sunday until the 9th of April but Murphy hopes that he can continue his form into the summer and secure an invite to the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle knowing that the leading Irishman after 72 holes will gain entry into the Amgen Irish Open.
“I’d love to play the Irish Challenge in Killeen Castle. At the end of the day golf does all your talking, scores, numbers, results that’s how you’re going to get that invite. Luckily enough I’ve started the year really strong and put my name out there. I need to keep the results up and keep pushing forward,” said the 23-year-old.
“There’s a chance then because the leading Irish player gets into the Irish Open in Doonbeg and that would be insane. I play a lot of golf there and they treat me lovely down there so that would be great. To tee it up in Killeen would be savage in front of family and friends and some Irish support. I haven’t competed in Ireland in quite a while so it would be a special moment.”
The Portumna man arrived on the Alps Tour with the short term goal of making a few cuts and ticking off the odd top-10 in the early weeks but his debut win potentially coupled with another this weekend would make him a very strong contender to secure one of five available HotelPlanner Tour cards for 2027.
“That is your goal to be top-5 at the end of the year, hopefully grab a win or two and I’m going to play all of the events this year and top-5 is the goal to get up to the HotelPlanner Tour and enter DP World Tour Q-School in August all going well. I know if you get three wins you get to the HotelPlanner Tour but you have to win two to get three.”
As for his maiden professional victory last week, Murphy carded a final round of 71 for an eleven-under total and a two shot win over Robert Moran in an Irish 1-2.
“It was a massive start to my professional career, one that you wouldn’t really think would ever happen, winning your first event. You’re having these short term goals of seeing what it’s like out there maybe make the cut and get a top-10 but to be able to get away with the win was amazing.
“That final round was the calmest I’ve been. In the first round it’s my first event as a pro and you have the jitters going and then the second round I was in a flow state and get a bit nervy because you know you’re doing well I was pumped with adrenaline.
“The final round felt like a practice round with Rob we were just walking down the fairways and chatting. It felt very casual out there which was great for me, playing a first pro event with one of your good friends.”
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