The OFX Irish Legends at Seapoint Golf Hyperlinks will grow to be the primary event in Legends Tour historical past to function 5 Main champions within the discipline – with a complete of six Main titles between them.
1991 Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie, 2003 US PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel, 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell and the 2007 US Open & 2009 Masters Champion Angel Cabrera will all be lining up in County Louth.
Cabrera can’t wait for an additional nice take a look at in opposition to fellow Main winners, having already performed within the Barbados Legends and this week traces up within the Paul Lawrie Match Play, he’s already serious about Seapoint Golf Hyperlinks.
He mentioned: “It’s an excellent discipline with these different Main champions, it’s going to be a fantastic occasion. I like to come back and play in Europe, I performed for 13 years in Europe with all these guys and I like to play in Eire. My recreation is sweet proper now and it’s getting higher. I’ve been working arduous to make it possible for I may be aggressive. I don’t have expectations for every occasion, I simply wish to play and revel in my golf.”
For the others within the discipline, it’s a likelihood to check themselves in opposition to those that have reached the pinnacles of golf. The build-up and pleasure hasn’t been not misplaced on Gary Murphy who’s thrilled to be taking part in in entrance of a house crowd and hopes the locals flip up in good numbers and make a fantastic ambiance all through the occasion:
“I reside across the nook actually, final 12 months it was like a house recreation for me once I thought everybody performed Seapoint Golf Hyperlinks exceptionally effectively. Sadly, Peter Baker was simply too good for everyone, however I performed the course a few weeks in the past and it’s in actually good situation. It’s going to be a fantastic take a look at and I’m actually excited to return.
“I feel persons are actually excited, there’s clearly a few massive names and the followers liked it final 12 months, so I feel it’s going to be a fantastic week. Final 12 months we performed it a tiny bit ahead. Possibly I’d wish to see it a bit additional again this 12 months, make it a more durable take a look at.
“There’s an enormous break up on the 2 9’s – the entrance 9 is extra of a positional 9 and you must tackle the again 9 a bit bit more- so there’s nice selection to it with a wonderful end and in case you can putt like Peter Baker for the week then you might be in with an opportunity.”
Peter Lawrie shall be one other Irishman flying the house flag for the OFX Irish Legends. He’s returned to golf after recovered from a cornea alternative in his left eye. He performed his debut occasion on the Legends Tour on the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy final week the place he completed in a tie for twenty eighth place.
“I’m delighted to be again competing, I missed that a lot. I left the DP World Tour again in 2016 and do you know golf gave me up – I didn’t give it up! I actually needed to be there as a result of I loved each second of it. To return again and to have the ability to compete can be improbable.
“I’ve struggled with my eye for a while. I’ve solely acquired about 75% imaginative and prescient in my left eye. The docs did a fantastic job to get me to the place I’m now, however I nonetheless discover it robust to see the ball, in order that’s going to be one thing I’m attempting to get used to. We’ll give it a go and see what occurs.
“I feel it’s going to be nice at Seapoint Golf Hyperlinks as a result of it’s a great golf course – it’s a troublesome golf course, however I feel it’s truthful and shall be nice to play in entrance of dwelling galleries. I haven’t performed in entrance of dwelling crowd in 9 years, in order that’ll be a bit bit totally different. However like something, if you get the chance to play once more, I’m simply so grateful to have that chance.
“It’s distinctive for the occasion to have such a robust discipline. It simply goes to point out you the lads wish to play golf; they wish to have good golf. Plus, it offers everybody, particularly the crowds, a fantastic alternative to observe these previous Main champions up shut and private.”
The OFX Irish Legends takes place at Seapoint Golf Hyperlinks in County Louth from June 20-22, with the Luxe Scot Celeb Professional-Am on June 19.
