PGAs Of Europe Teaching Training Conference
  • News from the PGA
  • Features
  • PGA Corporate Golf
  • Tournament Calendar
    • April
      PGA Europro Tour QS09 & 10
      The Masters10 - 13
      PGA Europro Tour Final Stage QS16 - 18
      Welsh Open Young PGA Championship24 & 25
      May
      BMW PGA Championship22 - 25
      Senior PGA Professional Championship28 - 30
      June
      US Open Championship12 - 15
      July
      The Open Championship17 - 20
      PGA Professional Championship29 - 01 Aug
      August
      Welsh Open PGA Championship05 - 07
      USPGA Championship07 - 10
      PGA Assistants' Championship13 - 15
      PGA Seniors Championship21 - 24
      PGA Super 60's Tournament27 & 28
      September
      Welsh National PGA Championship02 - 05
      PGA International Seniors12 - 14
      Ryder Cup19 - 21
      October
      PGA Fourball Championship01 - 03
      PGA Play-Offs21 - 22
  • Latest Jobs in Golf
25 September, 2008

McGrath And Mortimer Hoping To Make Up For Last Year

Published in:

Birr's Kevin McGrath and David Mortimer, of GUI Academy, will be gunning for victory at the SkyCaddie PGA Fourball Championship, supported by Sunderland, to make up for last year's disappointment.

The pair were tied for sixth on the final day but an injury to Mortimer forced them to withdraw, bringing a premature end to an impressive performance at Fulford Golf Club near York.

This year, McGrath is looking forward to playing in the competition again, which starts on October 1 at the same course, having tied for fifth in the qualifier at Headfort in July.

"Last year we had to pull out when we were tied for sixth because David had a bad back so hopefully we'll do well again but finish it off this time," said McGrath. "I'm really looking forward to it and we are definitely optimistic.

"David is playing really well and my own game is quite good, so that helps for fourball.

"I absolutely love the course and it's very well suited to my game. I love the way it is set up and how it looks. We are hoping to do well.

"We are going up there on the Monday night to have a practise and just make a nice break of it. We'll visit York and enjoy a few days away playing golf on a great course and hopefully doing well."

Another Irish pair also hoping to do well in Yorkshire is Hermitage's Simon Byrne and partner Gerard Burke, of Curragh.

This is the first fourball competition the duo have contested, but they finished tied for first in the qualifier and are keen to unleash their potential in the finals.

"We dovetail nicely which is a good combination in fourballs," said Byrne.

"Gerry always seems to play well on the holes I don't and vice versa. Neither of us have played in a fourball event before so it would be great to start off with a win but on the other hand we aren't expecting too much.

"We're hoping to have a practice round beforehand to see what the course is like. But we're really going there to have fun. We'll take each hole as it comes. But by no means are we going there to make up the numbers. We'll be giving it a real go and if it doesn't happen then so be it."

Byrne added: "Gerry and I have been friends for a good few years. We took our qualifying exams together in 1986 but this is the first time we've played fourball golf together.

"We did well in qualifying and that will give us confidence for the finals."