Murray in mint condition for Glenmuir final

Malahide Golf Club’s John Murray is aiming to rekindle his Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship form this year.

Murray tees off in the Irish qualifier which is being held at Co. Dublin’s Roganstown Golf Club on May 16.

His target will be a place in the £78,000 Glenmuir showpiece final being held on June 11-14 at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

The Peugeot-supported final will also decide who makes the Great Britain and Ireland team which will compete in the PGA Cup against the United States - also to be staged at Slaley Hall in September.

Murray has a good record in the final having had a number of top 10 finishes to his name and has come close to making the PGA Cup team but failed to make the cut 12 months ago at De Vere Carden Park.

“I don’t know what happened last year, maybe I hadn’t played as much as I wanted,” he said.

“But the Glenmuir final has been good to me in the past and it would be nice to get my form back this year if I can qualify, especially with it being a PGA Cup year.

“I’ve been close to making the team in the past and not quite got there which has been frustrating.

“I’m not sure about this year, but who knows, if I do well and get the points then it’s possible and the system always rewards players who do well in the year of the PGA Cup which is how it should be.

“But I have to qualify first and it’s good that the event is at Roganstown, that’s just 20 minutes from me so I enjoy playing there.”

Murray admits that times have been tough for Irish golf with the economic situation proving difficult for the sport but believes clubs will come through the bad times.

“It may take a few more years but I can see things improving,” he said.

“It has been tougher than ever for clubs in Ireland but we’re all working hard and in a couple of years we will see the results of that.”

Other players taking part at Roganstown include Liam Bowler (Wexford), Paul Masterson (Coollattin), Ian St-John (Carrick-on-Suir), Michael Gallagher ( Killymoon) and  Emmet Staunton (Castleknock).