Mullarney flies the nest: "The GUI are nearly too good to us but you have to grow up at some stage"
Ronan Mullarney (Galway) driving at the 15th tee in the opening round of the AIG 2019 Irish Amateur Close Championship at Ballybunion Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
Galway Golf Club's Ronan Mullarney has decided to fly the comfort of the amateur "nest" and turn professional ahead of this week's Alps Tour Qualifying School in Spain.
The reigning AIG Irish Amateur Close champion (24) believes the GUI's High Performance programme is "nearly too good" and rather than spend another year enjoying the advantages of top-class international competition at zero cost, he’s opted to take the inevitable plunge into the paid ranks sooner rather than later.
"I turned pro yesterday, it was always the plan," said the Maynooth University graduate, who must finish inside the top 35 and ties after 54 holes La Cala Resort on Saturday to earn his playing rights on the third tier circuit.
"There were loads of reasons to remain amateur with the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Galway next year and the chance to play in the US Amateur or try to make the Eisenhower Trophy or St Andrews Trophy teams.
"But I felt that if I was eventually going to turn pro anyway, I'd definitely learn more on the Alps Tour and the Europro Tour than I would as an amateur."
Mullarney will be joining fellow 2013 Boys Home Internationals winning teammates Gavin Moynihan, David Carey, Robin Dawson and Paul McBride in the professional ranks with another member of that side, current Amateur champion James Sugrue, likely to follow suit after next year’s Masters and US Open appearances.
"I always felt that David Carey had the right idea when he turned pro very young," Mullarney said of Carey, who shot an 11-under 57 en route to his maiden win on the Alps Tour this year but like the Galwayman, failed at the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.
"If you want to be a pro, go be a pro. I think it's the quickest way to learn. My ambition was always to turn professional and I felt I'd only be prolonging what I wanted to do anyway.”
Having followed in the footsteps of major winners Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry by winning both the “Close" and the Mullingar Scratch Trophy, Mullarney believes he must turn professional now if he’s to continue to improve.
"The thing with the GUI is that they are nearly too good to us,” he said. "It makes it a tougher decision because they are almost too good to you with all the international travel and competition.
"They really look after you but it was always my intention to turn pro, so it's time to fly the nest. You have to grow up at some stage."
Action at the 54-hole Final Stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School begins tomorrow with Mullarney joined in Malaga by former Walker Cup player Gary Hurley, Peter and Michael Dallat, Damian Murphy and Simon Bryan.
Mullarney, who graduated from Maynooth University with a Masters degree, has not signed with management company just yet.
Like Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell, he will be eligible for a Team Ireland grant and should receive some financial assistance as well as some crucial Challenge Tour starts.
“The Alps Tour begins in Egypt in mid-February and there are 15 events,” said Mullarney, who knows that the top 65 and ties after 36 holes on the Asia and America Courses will make the cut for Saturday's final round on the Asia Course after which the top 35 and ties will earn Category 6 membership of the Alps Tour for 2020.
“I will mainly focus on the Alps and play a few on the Europro. If I get the Team Ireland grant, hopefully there will be a few Challenge Tour invitations too, which will be worth their weight in gold.”
He was disappointed not to get through the Second Stage of the Qualifying School at Alenda Golf in Spain where high winds delayed proceedings and he finished 13 strokes outside the qualifiers on 13-over.
“It irritated me a bit,” he said. “I was playing quite decent but I didn’t play great and things didn’t go my way. it was hard to compare myself to the others players it was such a strange week with the weather we had. I learned a lot off the course more so than off the course. I can't say it really deterred me.”
He hopes to do some warm-weather winter work in the Middle East or the US and has no plans to shut things down over the Christmas break, so keen is he to improve and make sure he’s ready for the next stage of his career.
“I am planning on doing a warm-weather training trip in January perhaps to the US or Dubai so I will be guaranteed the weather and the facilities and I will have events to play in Egypt in February,” he said.
“I am a bit obsessed my the game and trying to get better. People say they love the game but I am obsessed with improving. That's the only way I can describe it. Birdies look after everything.”
With his brilliant short game and putting and his meticulous course management, it’s no surprise that Mullarney finds himself on that exclusive list of players to win the Close and Mullingar.
Lowry, McIlroy, Harrington and Clarke all won majors, Philip Walton and Paul McGinley excelled on tour and played Ryder Cup, Peter Lawrie was Rookie of the Year and Gary Murphy and John McHenry also enjoyed European Tour success
Add to those names such talents as Garth McGimpsey Paul O'Hanlon, Eddie Power, Mark Gannon, Martin O'Brien, Tom Craddock and Joe Carr and it’s clear that while the Galwayman has some big shoes to fill, he’s got the hunger and work ethic to get the most out of his talent.
