Entirely in keeping with his status as championship favourite, Rory McIlroy has been preparing for Royal St George’s the Nicklaus way. But the 22-year-old won’t want to replicate the Bear’s performances at his least favourite Open venue, where the great man carded a career-worst 83 and later missed two cuts.
On a comfortably cool November night in 2007, I happened to be present when Hubert Green was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. “There,” I suggested mischievously, “isn’t it nice to be finally rewarded for winning the Irish Open 30 years ago.” This, to a player who also happened to have won the 1977 U.S. Open and the 1985 PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy with the U.S. Open Trophy pictured with Turfgrass Consultancy’s John Clarkin and with onsite Academy Manager Barry Kavanagh & his Assistant Manager Niall Kerr.
Huge congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his incredible U.S. Open win yesterday at Congressional. It was a fantastic achievement and the manor in which he won by playing amazing golf from start to finish during the tournament was spectacular.
Well done Rory from all in Turfgrass Consultancy!
Whilst Rory is battling away at the U.S. Open in Congressional, back home at his academy our boys have reduced the height of cut to 3mm on the Bentgrass greens. They are now stimping at 9 feet and the Poa Annua greens at 9 1/2 feet.
Despite increasingly desperate advertisements for green fees at knock-down prices, the news from the Irish golf industry is not all grim. In fact, decidedly upbeat stories right now include a small, specialist company which has doubled its workforce in the last 18 months, largely in response to international demands for its expertise.
The success of every professional golf tournament is dependant on volunteer participation.
This week at Rory McIlroy’s academy, we have dropped the height of cut to 4mm on both the Creeping Bent and Poa annua greens with great success.
Annika Sorenstam, the greatest woman golfer of all time and 2011 Solheim Cup Captain Alison Nicholas (MBE) arrived at Killeen Castle as part of their ongoing preparations and planning of the biannual Europe versus USA battle which takes place in less than 12 months time.
