GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR SCHOOL:IT PRODUCED its usual share of triumphs and tragedies but Gary Murphy and adopted Irishman Simon Thornton were smiling at the end of 108 gruelling holes when they clinched their European Tour cards in the Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya yesterday.
While Royal Dublin rookie Niall Kearney came up three strokes short of the top 30 and ties after a 70, he still finished a creditable 49th on seven under par and will embark on his new career on the Challenge Tour with confidence.
Victory went to England’s Simon Khan, who closed with a two-over par 74 to finish a stroke ahead of Kearney’s Walker Cup team-mate Sam Hutsby with a 20-under par aggregate of 408. The drama was provided by 2004 PGA champion Scott Drummond, who chipped in from 25 yards for a birdie at the last to make it on the 10 under par limit.
Murphy made it with a shot to spare by carding an impressive final round 68 to secure an instant return to the European Tour and the 17th of 31 cards on 11 under par.
The 37-year-old Kilkenny man was two shots outside qualifying places starting the day but after a bogey at the 14th, his fifth, he birdied the 15th and 16th and despite flirting with disaster a couple of times, covered the tough front nine on the Stadium Course in an immaculate three under par 33.
“It’s a relief to get through because it’s a horrible week but I was pretty pleased to shoot three under down the stretch,” said Murphy, who played his last 34 holes in 10 under par. “Ten under for the last 34 holes was pretty good golf considering the situation.”
The key to Murphy’s success was his decision to take a leaf out of Pádraig Harrington’s book and change to a left-below-right putting method on the first day of the school.
“If I had putted like that for the season I would have been comfortably in Dubai. Pádraig went cack-handed when he went to Q-School for the first time – that’s why I did it – and he hasn’t done too badly.
“If I can break 29 putts a round I will be okay in future. I hit the same amount of greens as Lee Westwood this year I am in tour school and he has money coming out of his ears.”
Huddersfield-born Thornton completed a fairy-tale journey from humble Royal County Down assistant to the European Tour when posted one under 71 to finish on the 10 under par limit and clinch the 29th card. “It feels surreal. It has been a dream of mine for the past six years,” said Thornton, who was playing off a seven handicap just 12 years ago.
“When I went over to Newcastle to work in the shop at Royal County Down, I could barely hit it out of my shadow. I feel Irish, Ireland is home now and we’ve a baby on the way. It’s a great feeling.”
Kearney needed to play his last four holes in two under to make the 10 under target, but bogeyed his 16th hole by three-putting the par-five seventh and parred in.
If anything, the week was a stark reminder to the Dubliner of the standard required to make the grade on tour these days.
He shot just one over-par round in six days, made an eagle and 18 birdies but still came up three strokes short of what would have been a magnificent achievement.
“I am satisfied with my week and I am only 21 and I have plenty of time to get on tour,” said Kearney, whose signature is being chased by several management companies. “It could have happened but that is the way it goes. You just have to hole a few more putts. Making the tour is a very achievable target and I am looking forward to having somewhere to play next year. It is going to be a fairly hectic schedule and a big change in my life.”
