Gary Murphy was the best placed Paddy after day one yesterday. He was 3 under par, only 4 shots back. He was also the first Irish man teeing off after I arrived at 2pm local time, so I waited on tee (alone) to do my patriotic duty! When he walked on tee, he spotted my “Irish themed baseball” cap (alright, alright, my Galway cap!) and he said hello! I wished him luck and his caddie also said hello. I thought that was very friendly of them so I decided not to wait to see the other 2 Irish men and follow Gary (we’re now buddies!).
There was a very small crowd there, with no one at all following most groups. As it turned out, I was the only one following Gaz and his 2 playing partners (Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Amandeep Johl of India) until some school kids were roped into it on the 8th tee! I did my best, encouraging the lads with strategic applause! Amandeep is a very nice chap, but, unfortunately for him, he started like I would have. He crashed into the trees about 120 yards off the first tee. Then he crashed into the trees on the other side of the fairway, having played sideways. I found his ball for him and Amaz and I were mates after that!! He even apologised to me at one stage for the quality of the golf!
Amaz steadied the shop after that, but unfortunately, Gaz took up the “Aidan style golf” baton! If there was water within 250 yards of him, he found it for a while (see blow by blow account below!). He finished the back 9 well enough though (having started on the 10th). The picture shows Gaz just before hitting a poor chip at the first.
They really appreciated their fan, I have to say. Gaz’s caddie gave me 2 ice-cold bottles of water after about 3 holes, which I thought was really sound of him. It was manna from heaven in the oppressive heat, especially as my water supply was dwindling at the time. He’s a Dub and we talked a few times after that.
I had to give up after nine holes, because it was getting late and I had gotten a little sunburnt. I had a quick go at the golfing simulator in the tented village. Unfortunately for me, it’s very accurate at capturing your real swing!
All in all, it was a much better day that I thought it would be. Even the relatively unknown guys sure can play and I never expected such interaction with pros at a tournament.
You won’t get this anywhere else – a world exclusive, folks, on Aidaninasia, a blow by blow account of Gaz’s first 9 holes. I reckon one or maybe two people might be interested! Everyone else can stop reading now!
10th par 4 – Great drive, average 2nd to edge of green, poor chip and 2 putts for bogey.
11th par 5– Right rough off the tee, great 3-wood to within 10 feet of green, poor chip goes through green, 2 putts from back fringe for par.
12th par 3 – Poor tee shot, at least 25 yards short, finds water. Great short iron over the lake to 6 feet and holes it for bogey.
13th par 4 – Pushes drive into water off the tee. Has to drop in the bunker, splashes out to the fairway and dunks a short iron into the drink again. Curses loudly, drops in rough and chips to 15 feet . Holes a tricky downhill putt for double bogey.
14th par 4 - Great drive and approach to 14 feet. Makes putt for birdie.
15th par 5 – 20 yards into the left rough off the tee, laid up nicely, great short iron/wedge to 8 feet. Just misses treacherous putt to settle for a par.
16th par 4 – Great 3 wood off the tee. Nice approach leaves a 15 foot uphill putt which he just misses, so settles for par again.
17th Par 3 – Nice mid to long iron over water. Just missed a tough 25 foot putt to end up with another par.
18th par 4 – Great drive and wedge to 5 feet. Misses short putt to register 4th par in a row.
He turns in 3 over for the day and level par overall. I turn and go home!!!
1 comment:
Poor old Gaz did even worse on his 2nd nine, coming in at 4 over for those holes for a grand total of 7 over for the day.
Ans there was I thinking I was bringing him bad luck!
My other mate Amaz ended up going around in 73, which is pretty miraculous, given the way he started out!
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