2015 Irish Open Thread

[nevets88]

It's being played on a gem of a course, Royal County Down that is much under televised if you ask me. A perfect match for 4K tvs.

http://www.irishopen.ie/

Here's a primer from Geoff Shackelford:

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2015/05/7-things-you-need-to-know-abou.html

A photo from Golf Digest:

Stephanie Wei did a Q&A; w/Robert Rock and shows him playing a hole (#3 driver, 6I) on Periscope (now on Android.)  You can only watch a Periscope video on iOS or Android.

https://t.co/VeJlheeIXC

[boogielicious]

The course looks stunning.

[cipher]

This will be very fun to watch.

[nevets88]

Fowler/McIlroy/Kaymer playing together. Garcia in same group as Harrington.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/rory-mcilroy-drawn-with-rickie-fowler-in-irish-open-1.2226779

07:40 Darren CLARKE Luke DONALD Danny WILLETT

07:50 Graeme MCDOWELL Lee WESTWOOD Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ

08:00 Martin KAYMER Rory MCILROY Rickie FOWLER

08:10 Michael HOEY Stephen GALLACHER Marc WARREN

08:20 Matteo MANASSERO Kevin PHELAN George COETZEE

08:30 Paul MCGINLEY Paul LAWRIE Robert KARLSSON

08:40 Tyrrell HATTON Peter UIHLEIN Chris WOOD

08:50 Chris DOAK Ricardo GONZALEZ John G KELLY

12:30 Damien MCGRANE Thorbjørn OLESEN Alexander LEVY

12:40 James MORRISON Anirban LAHIRI Thongchai JAIDEE

12:50 Padraig HARRINGTON Mikko ILONEN Sergio GARCIA

13:00 Ernie ELS Shane LOWRY Francesco MOLINARI

13:10 Victor DUBUISSON Tommy FLEETWOOD Byeong Hun AN

13:20 Pablo LARRAZÁBAL Andy SULLIVAN Bernd WIESBERGER

13:30 Marcel SIEM Kiradech APHIBARNRAT Ross FISHER

13:40 Peter HANSON Nicolas COLSAERTS David HOWELL

13:50 Peter LAWRIE Romain WATTEL Richie RAMSAY

14:00 Steve WEBSTER Alex NOREN Simon THORNTON

14:10 Mike LORENZO-VERA Robert DINWIDDIE Gavin MOYNIHAN (AM)

[David in FL]

I don't watch a lot of the European Tour, but I'm really looking forward to this one!

[VOX]

The course looks stunning.

It is my favorite course in the world. I have played Pine Valley, Augusta and many other top courses in the US, Ireland and Scotland but for me nothing compares to RCD.

[Gunther]

It is my favorite course in the world. I have played Pine Valley, Augusta and many other top courses in the US, Ireland and Scotland but for me nothing compares to RCD.

Agreed. There is no course in the US I'd want to play more than Royal County Down. In fact, of the 5 or 10 courses on my bucket list, all are in the UK. Looking fwd to watchin this weekend.

[Crim]

Holy sh*t, they made some really good groupings there.

[Crim]

Irish Open: Rory McIlroy will give prize money to charity

(unfortunately the 11 year old in this picture passed away last month, RIP Caleb Overton)

World number one Rory McIlroy has promised to donate his prize money from this week's Irish Open to his charity. McIlroy's foundation helps children's charities and its short break centre for families affected by cancer is close to the tournament venue.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/golf/32904900

ALSO.

Rory McIlroy to wear colorful Nike golf shoes designed by kids impacted by cancer.

McIlroy, as world No. 1, has his on-course threads planned for him months in advance. But the wonderfully colorful kicks he’ll wear at Royal County Down all four days (if he makes the cut, something he failed to do last week at Wentworth) are designs not from the pros in Beaverton, but from kids whose lives cancer has impacted.

http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2015/5/27/8662637/rory-mcilroy-irish-open-2015-nike-golf-shoes

[nevets88]

Mark Crossfield vlogs one hole of McIlroy's practice round. Kudos to the European Tour for its more liberal videoing policy.

[joekelly]

Great volg and look at RCD, the very un-sunny skies, the puffy jackets and woolen caps, mittens even.  You know the course will be tough to tame when even the caddies wear long trousers.

I opine the winning score will be -8 overall.  I wonder how many times Rory has played this course, not 100 miles from his hometown?

[Huddo]

Steady start by McIlroy but Fowler has birdied the first 2 holes! The course looks amazing.

[DutchGolf]

Beautiful course, not sure if McIlroy and Kaymer would agree at the moment, tough conditions. Fun to watch players landing their balls in front of the green and it stops way behind the green.

[RandallT]

Beautiful course, not sure if McIlroy and Kaymer would agree at the moment, tough conditions. Fun to watch players landing their balls in front of the green and it stops way behind the green.

Yah I just turned it on. First words on McIlroy were "at this point it's going to take every effort just to make the cut." Ouch. And he just started the back nine of his first round. +6 at the moment.

[DutchGolf]

Yah I just turned it on. First words on McIlroy were "at this point it's going to take every effort just to make the cut."

Ouch. And he just started the back nine of his first round. +6 at the moment.

Making the cut is going to be hard when you're at +7. The weather isn't getting better either. It shows us even the best have bad weeks, as McIlroy also had problems at the BMW PGA. Funny thing is that McIlroy and Kaymer both have 1 GIR more than Fowler, but Fowler is 8 and 7 shots ahead on them.

[ChrisP]

Absolutely stunned. Can't believe Rory is playing this bad. Just no words for it.

[RandallT]

[QUOTE name="RandallT" url="/t/82232/2015-irish-open-thread#post_1147355"] Yah I just turned it on. First words on McIlroy were "at this point it's going to take every effort just to make the cut." Ouch. And he just started the back nine of his first round. +6 at the moment.[/QUOTE] Making the cut is going to be hard when you're at +7. The weather isn't getting better either. It shows us even the best have bad weeks, as McIlroy also had problems at the BMW PGA. Funny thing is that McIlroy and Kaymer both have 1 GIR more than Fowler, but Fowler is 8 and 7 shots ahead on them.

Amazing stat. After 12 holes they showed fairway stats and McIlroy led his group of kaymer/fowler! 7 of 10 at that point. I watched 20mins and it was compelling golf. Love the venue and atmosphere. Wind chill 45F but looks worse. Just gorgeous scenery.

[Jakester23]

Absolutely stunned. Can't believe Rory is playing this bad. Just no words for it.

He's not Tiger pretty much sums it up