Murphy over first hurdle
Saturday November 14 2009
Kilkenny's Gary Murphy has cleared the first hurdle on his way to retaining his European Tour Card for 2010 by making the cut in the Australian Masters at Melbourne's Kingston Heath, WRITES MICHAEL DAVIS.
Murphy (37) is 12 spots outside the top 115 on the Race To Dubai European money list and needs a top-15 finish here -- about €30,000 -- to ensure full playing rights next season.
He added a one-over 73 to his first-round 71 to be even par after 36 holes and well inside the cut which was made at three-over par.
"It was a real struggle out there today.The wind got up and made club selection difficult and the greens dried out quickly. It was like putting on glass out there," he said.
Tiger Woods leads the event by three shots at 10 under after adding a bogey-free 68 to his first-round 66.
"This is a genuine tournament because of the Tiger factor. I've never seen crowds like it," Murphy said. Murphy started the day poorly with bogeys on the third and fourth holes before a birdie at eight quickly followed by two more dropped shots at nine and 11. "I was three over for the day and struggling a bit,'' he said.
His round turned at the 12th with an up-and-down out of a bunker to make par. He parred 13 before another up-and-down out of a bunker for birdie at 14. He then hit his approach at 15 to six feet and holed for birdie.
The Australian Masters is co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European PGA tours and is one of two season-ending European Tour events being played this week. The other is in Hong Kong, which carries a much bigger purse than the Australian event.
But that has not stopped 22 European players making the long trek to Australia to experience some sunny weather and play one of Melbourne's sandbelt jewels.
JBWere Australian Masters,
Sky Sports 2, 9.0am
Irish Independent
