Dunne plays down Ryder Cup potential despite Turkish delight

Paul Dunne. Picture: Getty Images

Paul Dunne doesn’t feel ready for the Ryder Cup just yet but he will get a chance to show the likely 2020 captain and Europe’s leading player his talents today after opening with a seven-under 64 to take a one-shot lead the Turkish Airlines Open.

The Greystones star (25) will tee it up with Pádraig Harrington and world No 2 Justin Rose at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort feeling good about his game after his first “stress-free” round in months.

He was invited to the Ryder Cup by European Tour boss Keith Pelley as one of Europe’s potential stars of the future.

But while he knows he's not a Ryder Cup standard player, he can take a giant step along that road this week if he continues to drive the ball as well as he did when facing tough tee shots yesterday.

After following six weeks of sublime play in the spring with weeks of summer struggles, he’s regained his ball-striking prowess after a recent trip to see his US-based coach Eric Eshelman and looks like a man on a mission.

"To be honest, I just haven't been hitting the ball very well," Dunne said shortly after curling a slick, 30 footer home for his seventh birdie on the day on his final hole, the 500-yard par-four 10th. 

"I just scrambled for par for three months really. It’s nice to see a bit of form, post a good score and get a bogey-free round on the card.”

While his 64 yesterday was his lowest round since he shot 64 on day one of the Houston Open in April, he still feels he has some way to go to be considered a Ryder Cup standard player.

“I need to win more tournaments, pad the resumé,” said Dunne, who was one of four potential Ryder Cup stars to accept Pelley's invitation. 

“In terms of my game, I probably need to drive the ball better, more consistently.  Turn a weakness into an asset.  I picked up 20 yards of length this year, which turns my driving into an asset when I'm swinging it well.  I just need to do it more consistently.”

He's a big admirer of Harrington's — "thorough" was his one-word description — and presuming the Dubliner gets the job at Whistling Straits, he sees him doing a great job. 

“If that team doesn’t win, I don’t think it will be his fault," Dunne. "I think he will put everything into it.

"He is still very competitive — there he is, at six under. He still wants to win himself and compete with everyone he might be picking for the team, assuming he gets it.”

Harrington has nothing left to prove as a player though he did crack a joke at his own expense in light of the constant Ryder Cup captaincy speculation.

Asked what another win might mean to him, he said: "There's nothing that really changes my legacy in the game... Maybe winning a Ryder Cup as a captain, that might help (laughter) …"

While he was initially disappointed to miss a short putt at the last and “only” shoot a six-under 65 after playing his first five holes in four under, Harrington was quietly pleased with his start.

“I had a good few chances coming home and could have made a few more but I am happy with the score,” said Harrington said, who is 89th in the Race to Dubai and desperate to make next week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge field on merit and the top 60 who qualify for the final event in Dubai. 

“I’m pushing to make the Race to Dubai at this stage so you want to start well and get into a tournament and build from there. Hopefully, I can push on from here..”

Shane Lowry birdied the last for a three-under 68 that did little justice to his ball-striking while defending champion Rose holed his approach at the par-four fourth hole for an eagle two on the way to a bogey-free 65 in an event he must win to go back to world number one.

On the Challenge Tour, Sean Crocker fired a course record-equalling 64 at Al Hamra Golf Club to join Adri Arnaus on top of the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final.

They lead by a shot on nine under with Michael Hoey tied 34th on level par after a 69 in an event where he may need a top-three finish to just from 21st into the top 15 in the final money list who will be awarded European Tour cards.

On the PGA Tour, Peter Uihlein shot a eight-under 63 to lead the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open by a stroke from Seth Reeves with Graeme McDowell tied 52nd after a one-under 70 and Seamus Power 124th after a four-over 75 before play was suspended due to darkness. Scores