New British Masters champion Paul Dunne admits he has been far too hard on himself in the goal to become a winner on the European Tour.
In one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Tour event for some time, Dunne stunned a predominantly ‘Geordie’ gathering in denying overwhelming last day crowd favourite, Rory McIlroy,
Dunne was not gifted the trophy nor did he fall into victory.
No, the 24-year old softly-spoken Greystones golfer left a momumental impression not only on McIlroy and the also the European Tour but on the watching crowd and a huge worldwide TV audience.
Paul Dunne congratulated by Lee Westwood in winning 2017 British Masters. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
With McIlroy in the clubhouse having signed for closing 63 for a 17-under under tally he watched Dunne tackle the closing four holes and enjoying just as slender one-shot lead after McIlroy had bounced back from an 11th hole birdie with five birdies in a six-hole stretch from the 12th.
Dunne opened up a two shot lead with a short birdie putt on 17th and headed to the final tee, the par three 18thknowing he could take bogey and still win by one.
And when he left his tee shot short and between two greenside bunkers those looking on, including McIlroy, no doubt thought that Dunne may just get away with a one-shot victory in taking bogey at the 72nd.
But Dunne then surprised everyone but himself in holing his wedge shot for a birdie ‘2’ and win convincingly by three shots for a round of a nine-under par 61 that unfortunately won’t count in the record books given the ‘preferred rule’ in effect.
Paul Dunne and very proud caddy Darren Reynolds. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
Dunne became the sixth Irish-born winner in the history of the British Masters and the first Emerald Isle golfer to win a European Tour event in just over 12 months after Padraig Harrington won the Portugal Masters.
Though as the reality of his victory and also collecting a Euro 562,500 prize cheque began to sink in, Dunne spoke of fighting off those inner demons, the like that surfaced earlier this year in losing a play-off for the Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco.
“I’ve had a tough time being too hard on myself sometimes but then I figured out that that gives you strength, as well,”he said.
“I do think I work hard, but I think everybody works hard. There’s only a vast majority of players who don’t put the work into every element of their game, whether it be fitness, golf, diet, travelling plan, scheduling, all that kind of thing.
‘s reaction in holing chip shot for birdie at the last to win 2017 British Masters (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
“Everyone at this stage seems to have good teams behind them and puts the work in, and it’s something that I definitely don’t — when push comes to shove on Sunday, you just have to get the job done.
“That’s what I’ve been telling myself over the last few months is you need to put everything else aside and try to get the job done on Sunday, and that’s when all the hard work pays off.
“But you can’t think about it that way, because if you expect the hard work to pay off, then you won’t have that drive. So, I have kept moving and kept pushing forward.
Of course, Dunne burst onto the world stage at the 2015 Open Championship shooting a third round 66 and grab a share of the lead in what was his first Major and very first European Tour showing.
Sadly, it all began to quickly go wrong that Monday, given so much time had been lost due to heavy rain, on route to slumping under the weight of a 78 and finish T30th.
Dunne then turned pro and made three ‘of three cuts in the later half of 2015 before heading off to Q-School and superby secure a full Tour card for 2016 and then did just enough to retain ful membership for this 2017 season.
His British Masters win has seen Dunne earn a two-year Tour exemption to the end of the 2019 season while he is projected to make a huge jump in the World Rankings from 192nd to the high 80s.
That will be higher than Harrington, Graeme McDowell and close on the tail of Lowry.
So what does a soon-to-be 25-year do with a cool Euro 562,000 prize cheque?
“I probably will buy a boat,” he said laughing. I don’t know yet. I’ll have to look. The money is great. It means I don’t have to worry about getting a job where I have to sit behind a desk. But after all this, you know, I really love playing golf, and I’ve been grateful.
“When I turned pro, I never had to worry about money. I had great sponsors from the outset. That really helped me in that in that front, and took the worry out of my head completely.
“So, I might buy something nice, but I don’t know what it is. I probably would rather buy something nice for my family or something.
