No pressure for magical Moynihan
Gavin Moynihan putts on the 16th green during round one of the 2014 Irish Open at Fota Island. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie
Amateur ace Gavin Moynihan confessed he wasn’t in the least bit fazed as he matched Pádraig Harrington with a super 69 and outscored Rory McIlroy by FIVE shots.
The teen from The Island, 19, is playing in his second Irish Open and after shining in the Walker Cup and Junior Ryder Cup, he insists there’s absolutely no pressure.
He beamed: “I'm just happy to be here. I’m not fazed after doing well in the Walker Cup playing in front of big crowds. It’s nothing new to me.”
Ranked 10th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and a recent winner of the Scottish Amateur Open title, the Dubliner showed true grit after a sticky patch.
One under after nine, he drove out of bounds at his 10th hole and racked up a double bogey six.
But he bounced back by rattling off three birdies in four holes and parred his way home.
After rapping in a testing four footer to finish, he said: "After the double I was really pleased to come back with three birdies in the next five. I really played well.
“There’s no pressure because I'm lucky to be here to be honest. So I just have to enjoy the week and enjoy the crowds.
“Making the cut in the goal but so I’m really happy with a two under start.”
