Murphy lines up a fighting finish
Gary Murphy - seen here at last year's Irish Open - began the Madrid Masters in excellent fashion yesterday
Friday October 09 2009
Gary Murphy boosted his hopes of wrapping up his Tour card for next season with his lowest score in 18 months -- after carding a five-under-par 67 on day one of the Madrid Masters.
Murphy and fellow Irishman Damien McGrane ended the round five strokes adrift of Spanish unknown Manuel Quiros, who shot a new Centro Nacional course record of 10-under-par 62. Quiros -- who is not related to triple Tour winning Alvaro Quiros -- was the very last player to finish on day one of the €1.5m event.
Fellow Spaniard and world No 8 Sergio Garcia is in second place after he eagled the last in a round of 64.
Garcia, who is without a top-three finish all year and failed to make the Tour Championship in America, has returned to action with new clubs.
Next season a different rule governing club-face grooves is being introduced -- the aim is to make it more important to hit the fairways.
"These are conforming and you definitely see a difference coming out of the rough. It's good to get a feel of it and see how it reacts so you're ready for next year," said Garcia.
Murphy's superb start could not have come at a more opportune time, as he arrived in the Spanish capital lying well down in 145th place on the Race to Dubai money-list, with earnings of €162,224.
Along with Ulster rookie Jonathan Caldwell, Murphy is the only player among a dozen Irish players with 2009 Tour membership not to have wrapped up his card for next year's season.
Murphy trails some €70,000 adrift of England's Paul Waring lying in 115th place and would have to finish at least fourth in Madrid to go ahead of Waring.
However, a check of Murphy's results this season shows he's contested 29 events but made the cut in just 13, his best finish being 16th in the recent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
"It's been a long year with a lot of tournaments with a lot of travelling. I've probably been tired and playing some tournaments tired, and I've been getting down on myself for no reason," said Murphy afterwards.
"I've been trying intensely to graft my way out of it but that's not my way and I'm better if I am a little more relaxed, and play the course as it is.
"It was a big wake-up call for me at Gleneagles as I played fantastic that week without playing my best golf.
"But I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about what's going to happen at the end of the season."
Murphy indicated he has three further events, and possibly four -- if he gets into the Singapore Open starting on October 29 -- to secure his 2010 Tour card.
"If this game was easy everyone would be playing great so I'm not going to hit the panic button just yet," he said.
Concern
"Besides if I continue playing like I did today, I should be alright."
In contrast to Murphy, McGrane has no such concern as he has another year remaining on his exemption from winning last year's Volvo China Open, while he's riding high in 45th position on the money list.
McGrane recorded six birdies, including chipping to just two feet, at the first hole of the day.
Three Irish players -- Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey -- are next best after scores of three-under-par 69.
Clarke played his opening nine holes in five-under but was disappointed in coming home in two-over, and despite his on-going frustration, the 12-times European Tour winner continues to retain his sense of humour.
"I played the first nine like Ben Hogan but then played the next nine like Hulk Hogan," said Clarke.
Hoey was heading straight for a doctor after arriving in Madrid suffering from a cold and a sore throat -- the legacy of competing last week in windswept Scotland.
Fellow Ulsterman Gareth Maybin carded a 70, while Shane Lowry signed off for a 71.
- Bernie McGuire in Madrid
Irish Independent
