Connoisseur Golf has heard speculation that four of Ireland's top professional golfers, namely Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke will tee it up early this summer to officially open the newly lengthened Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush. The fantasy foursome all have a love of the famous links, and all at some point in their amateur careers found success over the layout consistently ranked in upper echelons of every Top 100 Courses ever compiled. Although an extremely tight track under tournament conditions, many have felt that the course needed stretched beyond its 6900 yards. Perhaps the recent alterations to the length of the course may re-install some of the fear faced by top golfers in years gone by.
At the precocious age of 16, McIlroy destroyed the previous course record of 64 by 3 strokes. His 61 (coming home in 28) included nine birdies and an eagle. It was probably at this point when the public perception of McIlroy as a great young amateur turned more to hopes of a possible golfing genius.
McDowell swept through the field here in 2000 at the Irish Amateur Close Championship defeating fellow international Andrew McCormick by 7&6 in the final.
Harrington played a host of amateur events at Portrush in the early to mid 1990's, and made it to the final of The North Of Ireland Amateur in 1993. He often speaks of Portrush as his favourite course.
Darren Clarke is Mr. Portrush. He developed his legendary ball-striking on the links as a boy, and won the aforementioned 'North' title in 1990.
However the day pans out, one thing is for sure... the bar manager at the club better make sure he orders in enough Guinness!
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