Sugrue drives to the front to justify late invite

James Sugrue of Ireland tees off on the 1st hole during Day One of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort on September 24, 2020 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

James Sugrue justified his late invitation when he drove the ball brilliantly and opened with a three-under 67 to lead the Irish challenge in Ballymena.

The 2019 Amateur champion (23) was not added to the field until he played with Lee Westwood at the US Open and the Ryder Cup legend told the world’s media he was “shocked” the pride of Mallow had not been invited to play in his national open.

“I won’t tell you what he actually said but he couldn’t believe it,” said Sugrue, who plans to turn professional after November’s Masters Tournament. “So he went in and did me a huge favour in the media tent and I’m here today.”

The strapping Cork man struggled with nerves and the high ball flight required at Winged Foot but his bullet driver worked a treat yesterday as he made five birdies and just two bogeys to lie just two shots off the lead in joint fifth. 

“I played lovely,” said Sugrue who made up for bogeys at the ninth and 12th with birdies at the sixth, 10th, 11th., 15th and 18th. 

“I hit it nice but didn’t hole a whole pile then just started holing a few putts. I hit a  lovely six-iron into about three or four feet at the sixth and then it kicked off from there.”

Eleven years after Shane Lowry won at Baltray as an amateur, Sugrue did not rule out a repeat.

“There’s a lot of golf to be played yet but obviously I’m very happy with how I played today,” he said.

Asked if he had a point to prove, he added: “I think so. I felt with this course, if you hit it well off the tee you’re giving yourself good chances, unlike last week where you were hitting it well off the tee and still going in with four and five-irons. So there’s a lot of chances here.

“Obviously you’ve got to hit it close and I hit it close on a couple of holes and putted pretty well as well so all in all I hit a nice, solid round of golf today.”

Carlow Golf Club professional Damien McGrane rolled back the years in his first European Tour start for more than three years, chiselling out a level par 70.

“It actually brought me back to what I used to be good at doing when I was out here full time, grinding out a score on a tough day,” McGrane said.

“I hit some nice shots out there today which surprised me a little and when my back was to the wall after a few loose ones I salvaged good scores which kept me going.”