Dueling McIlroy, Paul Dunne Wins Maiden Victory at British Masters

Irish professional golfer Paul Dunne—a 2015 graduate of University of Alabama at Birmingham—first rose to prominence in 2015 at the 144^th Open Championship at The Old Course, after shooting a 3^rd round 66 to tie for the tournament lead.

Entering the final round, he was engaged in a three-way tie with Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day at -12 to par, with reigning Masters and US Open Champion Jordan Spieth chasing from a stroke back.  Then an amateur, the 22-year old Dunne was attempting to become the first non-professional player to win The Open Championship since Bobby Jones accomplished the feat in 1930 at Royal Liverpool.

Before the final round, Dunne was asked by Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis where he envisioned himself fitting among golf’s biggest players.  With humility, Dunne’s replied: “Right now, nowhere.  This is my first good result in a professional event… Hopefully in a few years, my name will be up there just like theirs; but at the end of the day, we’re all golfers.  The golf ball doesn’t know who you are, just what you tell it to do.”

Paul Dunne of Ireland on the 13th tee during the first round of the…

Paul Dunne of Ireland on the 13th tee during the first round of the British Masters at Woburn Golf Club on October 8, 2015 in Woburn, England. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The following day, after a disappointing final round of 77, Dunne would place T30 at the 2015 Open Championship.  Nonetheless, a new figure had arisen in the world of golf.

Through this past weekend in The British Masters at the Close House Golf Club in Newcastle, England, Dunne had yet to claim his maiden European Tour victory.  Maturity and experience, however, had shaped him these past two years.  In addition to the 2015 Open Championship, Dunne had nearly snatched a victory at the Trophee Hassan in Morocco, but lost in a playoff to Eduoardo Molinari.  This time, at the British Masters, with four-time major champion Rory McIlroy chasing, the twenty-five-year-old Paul Dunne wouldn’t allow the victory to slip from his fingers.

Paul Dunne of Ireland celebrates with the trophy during day four of…

Paul Dunne of Ireland celebrates with the trophy during day four of the British Masters at Close House Golf Club on October 1, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

McIlroy, currently ranked 6^th in the world and thus-far winless in 2017, shot 64-63 in the weekend rounds, expending a respectable effort to breakthrough for his first 2017 victory.  Still on the course, however, was Dunne who, after sinking a nerveless birdie putt from ten feet on the 17^th hole, was comfortably riding a two-shot cushion into the last.

On 18, however, Dunne missed the fairway, placing himself precariously between two of Close House’s numerous sand bunkers.  Dunne’s subsequent iron shot landed short of the green, but sat comfortably on the fringe.  Only an up-and-down remained for the victory.

Assessing the delicate chip, Dunne took a deep breath, exorcised his demons, and summoned the expertise and maturity which the past two years have instilled in him.  Leading by two shots, with Rory McIlroy watching from the clubhouse, Dunne hit the shot of his life:

What a shot! What a shot! GO IN!

What a way to win your first #EuroTour event for @dunners11 at the #BritishMasters pic.twitter.com/4WpHpT9ghF

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 1, 2017

Two years ago, Paul Dunne may have felt that he belonged “nowhere” among golf’s giants and paragons.  Today, as the reigning British Masters champion, he has certainly earned a place among those ranks.

All of the highlights from Paul Dunne’ sparkling final round of 61:

https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/914882705589886976

Cover Photo via YouTube