Ahead of Ballyliffin Golf Club hosting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation for the first time, europeantour.com caught up with home favourite Paul Dunne who tells us what to look out for at the Donegal venue this week.
Situated on Ireland’s most-northerly point, Ballyliffin Golf Club boasts two outstanding links courses with a dramatic coastline and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean – as well as Glashedy Island.
The European Tour’s finest will compete on the Glashedy Links this week, which was designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock in 1993. The renowned course is fashioned around incredible dunes and has a reputation as a testing links golf course.
Here European Tour winner Dunne talks us through the key holes, the condition of the course, and what he believes is needed to triumph in the fourth Rolex Series event of the season.
Overview
“It’s fairly narrow off the tee. The rough is patchy in spots but is also quite spongey so it is very hard to get a good lie in the rough. Obviously with the lack of rain it is playing firm and fast and the greens are rolling really pure.
“It’s very weather dependant here. If it gets windy it’s going to be tough as it’s hard to hit shots close in the wind, but it’s going to be very scoreable if you are on the fairways as the greens are so good. It’s going to be easier than most weeks to score here and hole 30-footers because of the conditions of the greens, so hopefully I can keep it on the fairway and take advantage of that.”
Key holes
“The par threes are really nice here. The fifth is a great downhill par three where if you miss it left you’ll have a very tough time getting up and down while the seventh is a strong downhill par three with water on the right. That’s only a short hole, but last time I played it I hit a seven iron from 120 yards because it was windy, so it can be tricky as well.
“The 13this a beautiful par five which goes straight back up the hill. There are a lot of good holes but it is very linksy the whole way round with nice dunes surrounding the fairways.”
Where it will be won
“I think it will be the greens which are the key this week. As they are quite firm, even if you’re playing well you can still come unstuck if there’s a bit of wind as you are bound to miss a few and go down the little swales in the greens.
“Usually here you’ll have a few five or six foot putts to make par when you don’t feel like you have done much wrong and they are momentum-savers on a week like this week.
“I think every week it is won or lost on the greens but that will be the case more so than ever this week.”
Love this video!! Looking forward to seeing everyone next week at @ballyliffin for the @DDFIrishOpen. Let's hope the sun keeps shining! If you haven’t got your tickets yet visit https://t.co/Ki8iybWiOb #BeAtBallyliffin pic.twitter.com/SnZL5L99Jf
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 29, 2018
How does Ballyliffin compare?
“Growing up in Ireland we played a lot of links golf on the amateur circuit – so this course is very similar to what I am used to. We have got Spanish weather this week, but it will a case of doing the same as you would on any links course – not miss in the wrong spots, keep it out of the bunkers and when you get yourself in trouble try and get in a position where you have a chance of saving par.
“Especially with it being firm the par fives will play shorter so there will be plenty of chances out there.”
How are you feeling coming into the week?
“I felt like I played well in France after three weeks off. You never fully know how you are going to play when you get back into competitive golf, and with last week being a very difficult course I was very happy to finish in 21stplace – just six shots behind.
“My game is not too far away, my short game feels sharp, and hopefully I can keep improving. I got a little better each day last week so hopefully I can continue that trend here.”
