Royal County Down is likely one of the most lovely programs on the planet, a picturesque slice of heaven that sits on the foothills of the Mourne Mountains alongside the Irish Sea.
However it’s also brutally robust, so robust that it might host the Open Championship yr after yr—though that might result in extra psychological breakdowns amongst tour execs than we wish to see.
Nonetheless, the Championship Hyperlinks in Newcastle, Northern Eire, welcome the very 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 yr, 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 can be larger than that this week.
“I forgot how exhausting it was. It’s going to be an unbelievable check,” Lowry stated Wednesday.
“I believe 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 taking pictures an even-par 71 on Royal County Down’s Championship Hyperlinks would depart any professional golfer happy and smiling. Par is an effective rating, even in benign situations. 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 may shift at a second’s discover. That, after all, solely makes Royal County Down even tougher.
“It appears to be like such as you simply attempt to hit the entrance edge of each inexperienced and attempt to make par on each gap, and I believe for those who do this, you’ll be okay,” Lowry added.
“I believe this course can 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 method across the course fairly effectively as a result of I believe this week, it’s not going to be about your good photographs. It is going to be about your unhealthy photographs and ensuring they don’t seem to be too unhealthy and don’t get you in an excessive amount of hassle.”
Hassle within the type of gorse, deep tough, and punishing bunkers lurk throughout Royal County Down. The large 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 quite a lot of good golf, quite a lot of endurance, and holing quite a lot of par putts. It is going to take quite a lot of good things to do effectively this week.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.