Royal County Down is without doubt one of the most stunning programs on this planet, a picturesque slice of heaven that sits on the foothills of the Mourne Mountains alongside the Irish Sea.
However additionally it is brutally robust, so robust that it might host the Open Championship 12 months after 12 months—though that might result in extra psychological breakdowns amongst tour professionals than we wish to see.
Nonetheless, the Championship Hyperlinks in Newcastle, Northern Eire, welcome one of the best gamers on the DP World Tour for this week’s Amgen Irish Open, which returns to Royal County Down for the primary time since 2015. That 12 months, Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark received in a playoff over Bernd Wiesberger and Eddie Pepperell, as all three gamers completed their 72 holes at 2-under-par.
Shane Lowry, who received the 2009 Irish Open at County Louth Golf Membership as an beginner, believes scores shall be larger than that this week.
“I forgot how arduous it was. It’s going to be an unbelievable check,” Lowry stated Wednesday.
“I feel it could possibly be one of many highest-winning scores ever in a European Tour occasion this week. Would I take degree par and sit right here and wait? Probably. That’s how robust it’s going to be.”
Certainly, 4 straight days of capturing an even-par 71 on Royal County Down’s Championship Hyperlinks would go away any professional golfer glad and smiling. Par is an efficient rating, even in benign circumstances. However you by no means know when rain can race down the mountains and interrupt a pleasant day. It occurs within the blink of a watch, and the wind can even shift at a second’s discover. That, in fact, solely makes Royal County Down even more durable.
“It seems to be such as you simply attempt to hit the entrance edge of each inexperienced and attempt to make par on each gap, and I feel if you happen to try this, you’ll be okay,” Lowry added.
“I feel this course shall be in regards to the misses and lacking in the proper place. I tee off in about 24 hours. So I’ve 24 hours to determine the place to overlook it on each gap and attempt to simply handle my approach across the course fairly nicely as a result of I feel this week, it’s not going to be about your good photographs. It is going to be about your dangerous photographs and ensuring they don’t seem to be too dangerous and don’t get you in an excessive amount of bother.”
Hassle within the type of gorse, deep tough, and punishing bunkers lurk throughout Royal County Down. The huge sand dunes that give this course its character are absolute no-gos, too. In addition they create dozens of blind photographs, which makes any participant, even a professional, very uncomfortable.
“Look, that is only a robust golf course,” Lowry added.
“It’s a tricky check, and it’ll take loads of good golf, loads of endurance, and holing loads of par putts. It would take loads of good things to do nicely this week.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
