It’s a case of back to the future for Stuart Grehan, who – having made a successful return to the amateur ranks after a stint as a professional – spearheads Ireland’s team in the Eisenhower Trophy, which takes place this week at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
Grehan is part of a three-man team that also features another Walker Cup player in the experienced Caolan Rafferty, and Cork teenager John Doyle.
The 72-holes stroke play championship starts on Wednesday with the two lowest scores of three contributing to the team total, with Grehan returning to the event for the first time since 2016 when he played alongside Paul McBride and Jack Hume to win bronze.
Grehan, who now works in the finance sector, mainly played the Challenge Tour and the development Europro Tour during his time as a professional, making the decision last October to sign the papers to return to give him back his amateur status. That reaped quick dividends in winning the Irish Amateur title this year and earning a place on the Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team in Cypress Point.
Stuart Grehan to lead Ireland’s Eisenhower Trophy charge after pro detour
Savour this Golden Age of Irish golf as the future does not look as rosy
Ryder Cup star Bob MacIntyre wins Alfred Dunhill Links title on home soil
Rory McIlroy cements legacy as one of the greatest Ryder Cup players as he targets Adare Manor
Of his decision to move back to life as an amateur, Grehan remarked: “I’ve asked myself many times where I fell short as a pro. Did I think I was good enough? Absolutely, and I still think I am. But when I look at it all on a deeper level, it came down to me not being in love with the lifestyle.”
Lowry comes back down to earth
After his Ryder Cup heroics, and subsequent celebrations, Shane Lowry gets back into the swing of things this week in the Spanish Open at Club de Campo in Madrid in what is likely to be his penultimate event of the season, unless he manages a late, late show to make it into the DP World Tour playoffs.
Currently 154th in the Race to Dubai standings after prioritising the PGA Tour and the Ryder Cup this season, Lowry needs to break into the top-70 to make the Abu Dhabi Championship and the top-50 to make the Tour Championship in Dubai.
After the Spanish Open, Lowry will go to next week’s DP World India Championship in Delhi, where Rory McIlroy is also in the field.
There are three Irish players in Madrid, with Lowry joined by Conor Purcell and Tom McKibbin.
Leona Maguire, meanwhile, is competing in the limited-field Buick LPGA tournament in Shanghai, while Anna Foster, Sara Byrne, Annabel Wilson and Canice Screene are in the field for the Hero Women’s Indian Open on the Ladies European Tour.
By the Numbers: 5
There are only five tournaments remaining on this year’s DP World Tour schedule: this week’s Spanish Open, next week’s DP World India Championship, the Genesis Championship in South Korea (October 23rd-26th), the Abu Dhabi Championship (November 6th-9th), and the Tour Championship (November 13th-16th).
Word of Mouth
“I finally won out here. I’ve been doing a lot of Mondays. It’s been a lot of pressure doing these Mondays because let’s face it, these guys are still legends so they still can play. I’ve grinded for a long time and finally I can safely say that grinding and that hard work paid off.” – Tommy ‘Two Gloves’ Gainey, who on Monday qualified to get into the tournament after his breakthrough win in the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament on the Champions Tour.
On this day: October 7th, 1990
Mark O’Meara was hardly on anyone’s radar headed into the final round of the Texas Open at Oak Hills in San Antonio but, aided by a front nine of 30 strokes, played catch-up and successfully leapfrogged his way to a sixth career win on the PGA Tour.
Nick Price lead heading into the final round where O’Meara, then aged 33, would sign for a final round 63 for a total of 19-under-par 261. That gave him a one-shot winning margin over runner-up Gary Hallberg, who three-putted the final green.
O’Meara got off to a flying start and his front nine moved him into contention. Despite a closing bogey he managed to hold on to the lead and claim the winner’s cheque of $144,000 for his second win of the season. His first win came at the Pebble Beach pro-am – a tournament he won five times in his career – earlier in the year.
Social Swing
“72 for a four under par total, T71st. I’m not letting it happen at the moment. Everything seems in good order, I’m just not scoring very well. There’s always next week @dunhilllinks @DPWorldTour” – Pádraig Harrington, who switches back to the Champions Tour for this week’s SAS Championship.
“Idk if I’ve ever seen a tropical storm map next to the weather forecast...” – Michael Kim expecting some stormy weather in Japan for this week’s PGA Tour stop, the Baycurrent Championship.
“I’m not sure the words “retirement” & Stacy really work together. I’m grateful for how she cared for the Tour, made sponsors feel like family, and pushed to leave @LPGA better for young girls dreaming of “making it”. Proud of you @StacyLewis & honored to have learned from you.” – former LPGA Tour chief and current USGA CEO Mike Whan on Stacy Lewis’s decision to retire.
In the Bag: Bob MacIntyre (Dunhill Links Championship)
Driver: Titleist, TSR2 C3 (9 degrees)
3-Wood: TaylorMade Aero Burner (15 degrees)
Hybrid: TaylorMade, Stealth 2 (19 degrees)
Irons: Titleist 620 CB (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (46 degrees), Titleist Vokey SM9 (50, 56 degrees), Titleist Vokey SM9-WW Proto (60 degrees)
Putter: TaylorMade, Spider Tour X X1
Ball: Titleist, Pro V1 (23)
Know the Rules
Q: If a no-play zone has been defined as ground under repair, a player must take relief from anything growing from the ground in the no play zone and anything that is overhanging beyond its edges. Is this true or false?
A: True. This is covered in the Rules of Golf under Clarification: No Play Zone/1 – If a no-play zone has been defined as ground under repair, anything overhanging the edge is part of the no play zone.
