Paul Dunne is hoping history can repeat itself with the rookie pro looking to follow in the same footsteps of Rory McIlroy and secure his European Tour card at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Eight years ago a then 18–year old McIlroy stood at the back of 18th green on the Old Course watching Scotland’s Paul Lawrie putt for birdie on the final day of the Dunhill-sponsored event.
“If Lawrie misses this putt that’s my Tour card,” said McIlroy at the time.
Lawrie missed the putt and McIlroy’s third place finish, and also in a second tournament as a pro, was enough to earn his European Tour card.
Dunne excitedly joined the play-for-pay ranks 21 days ago but it will be the events of six weeks ago here at St. Andrews that it is hoped will not cast a shadow over his new career path.
Greystone’s Paul Dunne is making his pro debut this week in the Alfred Dunhill Links. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
The 22-year old Greystones golfer shared the third round lead in golf’s oldest major having broken an 18-year old record for the lowest score for an amateur over the first 54-holes for an Open Championship.
Unfortunately, Dunne’s dream evaporated within two holes on day four and while he enjoyed a great ovation coming up the last, his final round 78 also saw him let slip any chance also of matching McIlroy’s effort of 2007 when he finished the ‘Low Amateur’ to Open Champion Padraig Harrington.
“I have great memories and some mixed memories with a lot of disappointment the last day but it’s important not to look back on the negative points,” said Dunne..
“There’s things in coming back here to St. Andrews I can look on and I can be proud of and try to implement them in weeks going forward, and in looking back on those things I wasn’t happy with I can try and change.
“But then looking ahead to this week it’s achievable looking at what Rory did here at this event eight years ago.
“I can play well enough to contend this week , I have no doubt about that, but I can’t say I will or I won’t. If I play well, I’ll try have a good chance and if not, I won’t”
“I am sure many other players have aspirations to do what Rory did here eight years ago. He’s definitely a role model for everyone in Irish golf.
“But for me, I’m just going to take this week as it come.”
Dunne’s quest for a first pay cheque commences today (THUR) at Kingsbarns while he will compete at St. Andrews on Friday and with his amateur partner 16-year old Scottish golfer Keith Bowman, a 10-shot winner of this year’s St. Andrews Junior Association Stroke-Play Championship.
Joining Dunne in also making his pro debut on the main tour is Gary Hurley and partnering rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll.
