Westwood calls for DDF Irish Open invite for Sugrue: "Little bit shocked at that"
James Sugrue tees off on the 17th tee during the first round at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. (Robert Beck/USGA)
Lee Westwood opened with a superb 67 to lie just two shots off the lead in the US Open and then called for James Sugrue to receive a late invitation to next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Castle.
The English veteran was impressed by the Amateur champion from Mallow, even if he had a tough day at the office and opened with an eight-over 78.
"Obviously, he's a good player to win the British Amateur,” Westwood said. "We were chatting all the way around. He's got nice game.
“He just makes mistakes that an amateur would make at a US Open. Somebody playing in their first US Open and the kind of mistakes we all make.
"Threw a few away on the greens three-putting and missed a few in the wrong spots. These kind of tournaments will get you, and they come as a shock to you when you've not played them before.
"He's obviously got a very bright future. Really surprised that nobody's given him an invite for the Irish Open next week. He's the British amateur champion from Ireland, and he's not got an invite to the Irish Open. Little bit shocked at that. Maybe should be a late one in there.”
There is just one amateur in next week’s field at Galgorm Castle, KIlkenny’s Mark Power. However, there are still three invitations to be filled after Paul Dunne got into the tournament on his category.
Meanwhile, it was a long day for the Irish in the European Tour’s Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos.
Gavin Moynihan shot a two-over 74 to share 76th place as Niall Kearney carded a 75 and Paul Dunne a 76 to leave them with work to do to make the cut.
Home player Vitor Lopes (24) lit up the opening day, making an eagle and six birdies in the last group of the day as he carded a seven-under-par 65 to lead by two strokes from Spain’s Carlos Pigem and France’s Damien Perrier.
