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O’Rourke relishing K Club homecoming
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O’Rourke relishing K Club homecoming

Conor O’Rourke is excited to compete at his home course when the Irish Challenge gets under way at the K Club later this week.

Conor O'Rourke

Tournament number 17 on the Road to Mallorca sees the K Club’s long-term commitment to Irish professional golf kick in, with the Irish Challenge and the Horizon Irish Open taking place in alternate years at the County Kildare venue until 2027.

O’Rourke is one of the venue’s touring professionals – alongside PGA TOUR member Seamus Power and LPGA star Leona Maguire – and he is looking forward to taking on the challenge of his home course this week.

“The pressure isn’t really any higher,” he said. “It’s going to be a great week, I’m sure everybody will agree with me. It’ll be absolutely super so I’m just going to have some fun with it. I’ll see if I can play the golf I know I can and roll with it to see how it all goes.

“It’s been incredible the past couple of years since the new owners have taken over. They’ve really brought the place on incredibly and their commitment to the next six years is phenomenal and something I’m sure the members are delighted with it. Everyone will really enjoy the test.

“The thing about Irish golf is people are really rooting behind all of us. We don’t get to play tournaments at home very often, never mind sleep in my own bed, so a 20-minute drive to home for some homemade dinners is nice. The members will be excited to get out and watch everybody playing, even more so the Irish guys.”

The 30-year-old knows the Palmer South course better than anyone and is meticulously planning his preparation, considering the fact he does not need to put in as much depth as a normal event.

“I know the place well so I don’t need to do as much as in normal circumstances when you’re at a course you’ve not really seen,” he said. “There’s a little bit more rough up than normal, see how quick the greens are and anticipate the wind, we always get it here. In terms of homework, there’s not as much as normal.”

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