2014 Irish Open

[joekelly]

Irish Open on the European Tour this weekend.  Venue Fota island, near Cork. Probably bring your umbrella.  All of Europe, many from Asia, but few USA guys in the field.   Everyone will be watching John Daly, a great lifter of Guinness.

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014048/teetimes/index.html

[RJH999]

Good field, top 3 players in the top 10 not otherwise exempt get into the Open. Maybe Jose Maria or John Daly can earn a spot lol :)

[joekelly]

On this site, best to qualify that as 'the British Open'.

[Crim]

Ever since I found out my great grandpa traveled from his home of County Cork to a new life in Minnesota, I've been obsessed with all things Ireland. The Irish Open heads to the gorgeous Fota Island Resort in Cork this weekend.

There's a great Irish field that includes Rory, G-Mac, Paddy, and Lowry...along with some other fun notables including Victor, Gallacher, John Daly, Paul Casey, and Darren Clarke.

This will also be Britain's young star in the making, Matthew Fitzpatrick's, first professional debut.

Matthew was the low amateur at the US Open.

Fota Island is absolutely gorgeous (though it is a parkland course)

Should be a great tournament.

slightly off-topic: If you're interested in Ireland's courses at all, read the book "A course called Ireland." Hilariously awesome.

[RJH999]

John Daly has been stolen by the Travelers Championship. He won the British Open, he is already eligible.

[SteveBamford]

The new Open Championship qualifying structure is interesting.  The PGA Tour leg of the 'Qualification Series' starts next week at Congressional http://www.theopen.com/en/Qualification.aspx

[RJH999]

I think I like the new qualifying a bit more. A few of them have already been played, but not many relevant names except maybe Cheng Tsung Pan & John Senden

[Crim]

No one liked my Irish Open thread?

Well as long as people are talking about it.

It's been fun watching Paddy outplay Rory this morning.

[Crim]

Golf channel should be showing quite a bit of G-Mac's back nine starting here in 5 minutes.

Edit: what happened to John Daly? I could have sworn I saw him in the line up for the Irish Open...now I see he has a tee time at the Travelers.

[Gunther]

Golf channel should be showing quite a bit of G-Mac's back nine starting here in 5 minutes.

Good news. I'm taping this tournament and the women's US Open this week. Not bothering with the Traveler's if Bubba is the headliner. And I'm from CT

[RJH999]

Golf channel should be showing quite a bit of G-Mac's back nine starting here in 5 minutes.  Edit: what happened to John Daly? I could have sworn I saw him in the line up for the Irish Open...now I see he has a tee time at the Travelers.

The PGA Tour stole him! John Daly in Ireland...coulda been fun

[Crim]

G-Mac goes birdie-birdie and then hits what I think was a rather embarrassing chunk off the tee. He double facepalmed himself.

[RJH999]

Everyones Favorite Finnish Golfer with the lead, several notable names trying to secure a British Open spot. Robert Karlsson, BadMolinari, SecondBestPonytail Marcel Siem, JMO, and Everyones Favorite Indian Golfer Jeev Milkha Singh(Unless you prefer Shiv Kapur of course)

[Crim]

FIGURES! I decide not to wake up and watch this morning and my man G-Mac shoots a 66 and is now tied for the lead at -8.

Oh well, McIlroy and Paddy are on later.

[Crim]

[Crim]

Padraig and Rory are starting on the back 9 right now on the golf channel. Paddy played 3 under on the front 9, five under overall. Rory needs something special if he wants to make the cut. Currently +4 in the tournament.

[Crim]

Rory needs something special if he wants to make the cut. Currently +4 in the tournament.

and 5 minutes later...Rory makes eagle on 10!

[joekelly]

After 2 rounds Illonen at minus 10 on top.  Minus 8 includes Gmac, Rock and Wattel.  Others follow. Rory misses cut, heads north to mum.  2 USA guys make cut but won't earn much.