O'Mahony hopes to make most of home comforts

Dublin-based professional Mark O'Mahony believes there is added interest in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship among Irish players this year.

O’Mahony is set to tee off in the Irish qualifying event which takes place at Luttrellstown Castle Golf club on May 22.

But the added incentive for those taking part is that the £78,000 showpiece final is being held the same venue between June 13-16.

O’Mahony, representing Carton House National Fitting Centre in Co Kildare,  finished just outside the top 20 in last year’s event at The Oxfordshire course - which was won by Irishman David Higgins of  Waterville Golf Links.

And now O’Mahony wants to use this year’s setting to make an improvement and possibly put himself in sight of a place in the GB & Ireland PGA Cup squad that will face the USA at Foxhills in Surrey in September.

O’Mahony also hopes a little local knowledge might help him too - as Luttrellstown Castle is right on his doorstep.

“I live close by, so I know the course very well,” he said.

“Certainly the fact that both the qualifying round and the final being played at Luttrellstown Castle suits me fine.

“With Peter Lawrie taking over as director of golf there he bring all his European Tour experience.  It’s putting the course back on the map. It’s be great to see it set up to its premium level, it’s a great tree-lined course.

“But I think it’s generated a lot of interest among players in Ireland, the fact that the PGA’s flagship event is being over here this year.

“In previous years, the cost of flying over to the UK for the final has been something players have considered, but this time they won’t need to to think about that.

“So for that reason, I think the qualifying event has more than 50 entrants which is going to make it very competitive. The level is good, it’ll take a good score to qualify.

“It’s a major boost for professionals in the Irish region. They’ve been preparing hard for it.”

O’Mahony’s display in last year’s final has also given him a boost going into 2017.

“I was surprised at where I finished last year, it was my first time in the event,” he added.

“It made me change my off-season preparations in the winter to what I have done in previous years and I aim to improve this time if I can. Having the experience of last year behind me was fantastic.

“You can’t help but think about the PGA Cup and the opportunity to make the team. But I have to qualify for the final first.”

Other players from Ireland set to take part in the event at Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club include: Robert Giles (Greenore Golf Club); Liam Bowler (Wexford Golf Club);   Joe Dillon  (Headfort Golf Club); David Mortimer (Galway Golf Club); Paul Stevenson (Portadown Golf Club); Eoin O’Connor (Kilkenny Golf Club) and Peter Hanna (Lurgan Golf Club).