Conor Purcell is a local boy hoping to take advantage of home comforts as he tees it up in the Irish Challenge at Portmarnock Links this week. Here, he speaks about Irish golf, competing on the Challenge Tour so far and getting back to playing regular golf.
You must be looking forward to playing at Portmarnock Links, a course you know well, here for the Irish Challenge. How will it differ playing on the links, opposed to what you’re used to on the Challenge Tour?
It’s nice, I think the biggest thing this week is having those home comforts even though you are staying in the hotel. You are used to everything around you and you know where everything is, you’re just familiar with the place.
I’ve played here for so many years. I used to play Irish under 16 matches against England here, so it’s nice to be back, feel settled and just get away from all the travel during the year.
How familiar are you with the course, having played at nearby Portmarnock Golf Club regularly?
I’ve played here a few times. During the winter series you play once a week on a Tuesday, so I am well familiar with the course and it looks in great shape.
I’m really looking forward to getting out there, I’m not sure what the weather forecast is like for the week ahead but it’s nice to get a bit of sun whilst we get a few practice rounds in and really figure the course out.
Tell me about your upbringing here in Ireland – was golf always your first sport?
When I was younger, I did play quite a lot of tennis and I was quite good at it but I then got a little injury and picked up golf, kept on playing and never really looked back and here I am now playing really good competitive golf.
Finishing second in the Irish Amateur Open Championship and West of Ireland Open, do you feel that due to your consistency on home soil it gives you a strong advantage?
What you find out here on Tour is that the depth is so strong, there are so many players that can win every week and it’s just a matter of stringing everything together in the week.
The last two weeks have gone quite well for me, I have been able to get some good competitive rounds under my belt. This last year has been very stop-start and it seems like we’re getting back to a bit of normality, but I’m really looking forward to getting another week under the belt.
You’ve only played a handful of competitive starts over the last 12 months, so how does it feel to be playing properly again?
I think last year it was easy to fall into the trap of losing sight of being a pro golfer. You didn’t really have much to play for and practice for. I think at the start of this year with the tournaments back up and running, the juices are flowing again and I’m really keen to get back out there. Just to be able to have two weeks of it you just want to keep the ball rolling now and focus on the next challenge here in Ireland.
What has your preparation looked like going into the Irish Challenge?
I just got back on the weekend and I got to spend a few days at home which was nice. It was nice to have some home cooking after being on the road for two weeks.
It’s just been a case of relaxing there for two days and getting back at it. I’ll have a look at the course today and tomorrow and then get going.
What is the aim for the rest of the season after the Irish Challenge?
I want to focus on each tournament as they come and take it from there. I have been happy with my start in Sweden and hope I can continue that into a course that I know well this week. I feel like my preparation this year has been very good and I’m looking forward to really getting into it.
