Patrick ‘Patch’ McCrudden from Portrush is among Major winners and stars of the European Tour this week at the 2012 Irish Open. But nobody knows the host course as good as him! Here are his thoughts on the eve of his Tour debut.
| I would say I know it as good as anyone else in the world. It’s my home course and I play it every day! | How well do you know Portrush? |
| I've shot 67 on the medal tees and 68 off the tips-which is the lowest championship score off those tees so far. | What’s your lowest score there in competition? |
| I would say it's set up pretty close to the way it normally is, there are one or spots that the rough has probably been allowed to grow in to tighten up a few fairways but not by much. They’ve also got the back tees in play which will be interesting as they have only used them sparingly. The main thing I notice over the last few days is the greens look really well prepared but obviously not being allowed on them I can't tell who they roll! Also there's going to be no OB to the left of the 1st or 16th but if you go in there your ball is screwed anyway! | Will the course be the same or set up differently for the European Tour heavyweights? |
| The easiest is probably the second hole- a reasonably straight forward par 5 which you shouldn't really struggle to get on in three shots as its a pretty easy lay up. If you can't reach, you will only have 100 yards to a green which is fairly generous. | What is the easiest hole on the course and why? |
| The hardest hole is probably the 4th as it's a very tight drive with OB right and rough and a fairway bunker on the left side. You have to hit the fairway to have any real chance of hitting the green as it's a narrow entrance and not the biggest surface to hit either. | And the toughest? |
| I think it's totally weather dependent - if there's no wind I think about 15/16 under par is easily on for the top guys, but at the same time if it does blow and a bit of rain falls then maybe 6-8 under could do damage. | What will the winning score be? |
| Apart from myself (laughing) I think G Mac has a great chance, he knows the course inside out and I have seen him put some low numbers together around it before. | Who do you fancy to win? |
| I would definitely say its a strategic course, there's not really much advantage from hitting it long as the course is firm and being on the fairway is the only way you'll score well around there. You’ve got to plot your way around it as you just can't overpower it. | Is it a bomber or a thinkers course? |
| My ambitions for the week are to try and make the cut and play the weekend. That's the goal I've set myself; it’s not the be all and end all but I know the course probably better than anyone in the field so if I just play my own game and get a few breaks then I should be ok. | What is your ambition for the week? |
| Dream pairing on Sunday would probably to go head to head with Rory down the stretch! | What’s your dream Sunday pairing? |
| Best pub in Portrush is probably the harbour bar - great pint of Guinness in there. Go for the chilli beef or chicken in wine bar also – amazing! | And the most important question; what’s the best pub in Portrush |
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