Welshman Jamie Donaldson turned gate crasher in ending a 10-year Tour maiden victory drought and capture the Irish Open at Royal Portrush.
Donaldson, 36 calmly rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt in front of more than 30,000 Irish spectators at the last to win by four strokes in a round of 66 for an 18-under par victory tally.
Jamie Donaldson ends 10-year wait to win first Tour title, the Irish Open. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
It’s the Pontypridd born Donaldson’s first win in 255 Tour events since the former Welsh Amateur champ turned pro in 2000.
“It hasn’t sunk it yet but to be standing here with the trophy is all a bit surreal,” he said.
“But then I’m afraid I’ve also spoiled a great Irish party, so I am sorry for that.
“It has taken a while for this first win, and I guess it takes some people longer than others, and it’s taken me a lot longer than I thought to win.
“The first three years went to quickly and then I was out for a year with injury, so I didn’t find my feet to after that, and then I lost my way a bit.
“But over the last two to three years I feel as though I have been building to this win and it’s just so nice to be finally holding this trophy.”
Donaldson began the week shooting a 62 at Sunningdale to qualify for The Open and then had his first-ever Tour hole-in-one on day one of the Irish event.
He earned a first prize cheque of £264,477 to take his career earnings £3.47m along with a two-year Tour exemption, and a first-ever WGC start, in next month’s $US 8.5m WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.
Three players, Londoner Anthony Wall (69), Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello (66) and Paraguay’s Fabizio Zanotti (66) shared second place on 14-under par.
Wall, who trailed one shot behind Donaldson heading to the last day, bounced back from a triple hole bogey at the second to play the next 15 holes in six under par.
However a last hole bogey cost the 37-year old Wall second on his own.
Irish hopes of a Royal Portrush champion rested on Padraig Harrington’s shoulders.
However the triple Major Champion stumbled at the first in taking a bogey on route to an eventual 70 for a share of seventh place with the Scottish duo of Craig Lee (68) and David Drysdale (66) on 12-under par.
“The game’s good but I’ve got to hole more putts, and that was the key today,” said Harrington.
“I’ve got this week off but then the Scottish Open so between this week and Castle Stuart, it should provide good preparation for Royal Lytham.”
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy sits out the next two weeks with his next event the July 19th commencing Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
McIlroy posted a bogey free final day 67 to share 10th place on 11-under par.
“I just struggled with the pace of the greens all week, but it’s nothing to worry about,” he said.
And with more than 130,000 spectators attending the event over the week, fellow U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell says the R & A have really no reason now in returning The Open to Royal Portrush.
“We’ve put our chips in the middle of the table this week and we’ve proven our case this week,” said McDowell.
“We’ve also talked long and hard getting the Open Championship back here and we’ve delivered this week.”
