Purcell excited about 2020 after Australian adventure
Conor Purcell. Picture: MGA
Conor Purcell is looking forward to 2020 and his next steps in the professional game despite missing the cut in the Emirates Australian Open.
The Portmarnock rookie (22) made the cut in his debut event last week but followed his opening 77 with a level par 71 to miss out at The Australian Golf Club last night.
He needed a second round 65 to make it, but after racing through his opening nine holes in four-under-par, he played his back nine in four-over to miss out by seven strokes.
It was a learning experience for the former Walker Cup player, who will sit down over Christmas to reflect on a successful 2019 and his next move.
"I'm very happy with my first week," said Purcell, who finished tied 29th in last weeks AVJennings NSW Open. "Shooting a low second round to make my first cut was a nice feeling. Getting used to under par golf was good too.
"This week was a much different test. The course was a bit more tricky and wind played a bigger part. Yesterday I didn't make any birdies which cost me big time and today was a very up and down day.
"I figured I needed five-under to make the cut and was four-under through nine. But I chased it a bit too much and let a few slip to shoot level. It turns out I would have needed seven-under to make it anyway.
"I've learnt lots over the two weeks. Plenty of good stuff to leave me with positivity going into 2020. Valuable lessons to be learned from my mistakes. So I'm looking forward to a good break now and recharging for next year."
As for the Emirates Australian Open, Australia's Matt Jones added a 65 to his opening 67 to lead by a shot from Paul Casey and Dimitrios Papadatos on 10-under par.
American Cameron Tringale shot 65 and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen a 66 to share fourth with New Zealand's Denzel Ieremia, Australia's Shae Wools-Cobb and Japanese amateur Takumi Kanaya on eight-under.
Adam Scott followed up his opening 75 with a 67 but missed the cut by a shot.
Scott and Oosthuizen are both on the International team for next week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
International captain Ernie Els also missed out after carding a second-round 77.
The Australian Open is the first qualifier for The Open at Royal St. George's with Jones, Papadatos and Tringale on course to claim the three exemptions for the top-ranked non-exempt players finishing in the top 10.
