Rónán MacNamara in Straffan
One of Robert Moran’s earliest childhood memories is watching Pádraig Harrington win the 2007 Open Championship in Carnoustie. This week ahead of his Amgen Irish Open debut he was officially welcomed into the inner sanctum of Irish golf when he played a practice round with his hero.
Harrington and Moran shared the fairways – and an ice cream! – during one of the practice days at the K Club. Harrington, a three-time major winner, admitted that he often seeks out the up and coming Irish players to arrange a few holes and Moran was delighted to be invited into the inner circle.
“One of my first memories as a child was watching him in Carnoustie in 2007. That’s really cool I would have been seven or eight. To play with the man I was like ‘Jesus’ he’s just an absolute top man. He couldn’t have been more generous with his time giving me some advice,” said the Castle golfer who earned his spot this week via the Irish Challenge last month.
“I’m really excited for it. Had a few nice days of practice. I know the place quite well so it has been nice that I didn’t have to wear myself out too much. Haven’t played it with the rough like this so there was a bit of learning there.”
Moran is right, the rough is thick and juicy but he hopes to be able to call upon a few more shots in his arsenal after being amazed by the short game wizardry of Harrington who kindly dropped some key nuggets of advice around the greens.
“Some of the shots he hits around the greens are as impressive as I have seen. We just chatted life in golf, one or two shots around the greens in the rough. I wouldn’t be used to it whereas he plays out of it almost all the time. He was very much I do this so you might try that. He’s a magician and a wizard around the greens. He wouldn’t force anything on you though, but more detailed than his instagram tips!
“He sat down and had a coffee and ice cream with me afterwards, he loves his ice cream and I’m no better. He’s just a legend of Irish golf and so generous and friendly.
Moran is first out at 07:30 with two-time DP World Tour winner Dan Bradbury and eight-time DP World Tour winner and former Ryder Cup player Bernd Wiesberger.
It’ll be an early night for the 26-year-old but he is happy to be staying in his own bed and a near 5am alarm is no problem.
“I’m happy I’ve played quite early the last few days here so my body clock is accustomed to it,” said Moran who will make his fifteenth start in seventeen weeks across three tours on Thursday.
“It’s good to play with people I have heard of. I would know Dan Bradbury from amateur golf and stuff like that. He has really kicked on as a pro, winning twice out here. Having family and friends watching people they would have heard of is nice for them, doesn’t really make a difference to me but Wiesberger I will learn a few bits and pieces off him.”
This is the former Irish Close champion’s first DP World Tour start since receiving an amateur invitation to the 2021 ISPS HANDA World Invitational at Galgorm Castle four years ago but he does not view this week as a free hit, rather it is an opportunity that could open up some exciting doors going forward.
“Definitely not. That’s pretty much saying I am expecting nothing. You don’t want to get your expectations high and then you get a bit careless or if it’s a free hit and you start playing well then all of a sudden it isn’t. That’s not a great mentality. It’s a great opportunity, not a free hit.”
This week is a full circle moment for the Dubliner who managed to blag his way onto the practice ground as a teenager at the 2016 Irish Open at the K Club. Although he is here to do a job and give a good account of himself in an elite field that includes four of the world’s top-50, he acknowledges that it is difficult to not get starry eyed alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton.
“It is cool. I’ve done a decent job of appreciating and seeing good people around but also not having your jaw drop. At the end of the day you are here to compete. But I also couldn’t just be in my own bubble without drinking it in a bit but Wednesday is the last day. You have to appreciate and look around and know it’s nice to be here.
“2016, I would have been quite young had only started playing golf. I remember watching Rory hit 20-25 balls and he won it that week which was so cool. I wouldn’t have gone to too many golf tournaments as a kid. The practice days are a lot better, you can see a lot more and then watch it on TV at home.
“It is cool to have been here as a kid and great to be here as a player this time.”
