Maynooth University’s Ryan Griffin plans to pay the $25 entry fee and bid for a $200,000 payday and a lucrative spot in the LIV Golf League at December’s $1.5 million LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi. 

The Rosapenna star (23), who finished 12 shots behind teammate Liam Abom in the Irish Intervarsity Championship at Laytown & Bettystown yesterday, is exempt into the first round as a Palmer Cup player for LIV’s equivalent of Q-School (see details).

“Yeah currently planning on it anyway,” the Donegal amateur said of the December 8-10 event where the top three after four rounds get LIV Golf cards. 

“The $200k first prize would be nice!”

Members of this year’s Walker Cup teams are also exempt into round one where only the top 20 advance to join the exempt players in round two.

Ireland had four players in the Great Britain and Ireland team at St Andrews but Liam Nolan, Alex Maguire, Matt McClean and Mark Power have other priorities.

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to,” said Galway amateur Nolan. “It’s right in the middle of my exams.”

“I would certainly have played if the timing suited,” added optician Matt McClean. “Unfortunately it doesn’t work for me as I am back to work so I won’t be playing enough golf to warrant a trip over.”

Amateur Maguire and rookie professional Power play the Second Stage of the DP World Tour Q-School in Spain next week.

“At the moment I don’t have any opinion on it,” Maguire said. “I’m just focusing on next week’s Q-School. But it’s doubtful I will have time to go with my exams around that time.”

Power said: “I haven’t given it a whole lot of thought. My main goal right now is to get my DP World Tour card at Q-School over the next few weeks!”

DP World Tour Qualifying School, Nov 02 - 05

Second Stage - Golf Las Pinaillas

Golf Las Pinaillas, Albacete, Spain

• Dermot McElroy

• Conor O’Rourke

• Paul Dunne

Second Stage - Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club

Desert Springs Golf Club, Almería, Spain

• Marc Boucher

Second Stage - Isla Canela Links

Isla Canela Links, Huelva, Spain

• Paul McBride

• Ronan Mullarney

• Niall Kearney

Second Stage - Fontanals Golf Club

Fontanals Golf Club, Girona, Spain

• Ruaidhri McGee

• Mark Power

• John Murphy

• Robert Moran

• Alex Maguire