Tullamore Golf Club 2021
The Irish Amateur Close – Playing competitive golf is a huge part of my life! Apart from my family – it keeps me going! Leading into the Irish Close I had been playing some nice golf but as I would often say to people, “no fireworks yet”. The funny thing about golf, you never know when the fireworks might go off. I hadn’t practiced or prepared too much for the tournament as I had a hectic week at work, so I drove up the day before the event and walked the course with one of my young club mates Mel Deasy. I struggle playing practice rounds on courses I have played so I tend to avoid them. The golf course walk takes about an hour, I find that way to manage my time at events.
I did some nice work in the gym and in my room during the week. My coach Noel Fox and I have been working on some great stuff lately which is better worked on through moves and exercises which is right up my street! I played the first round nicely, again no fireworks, but I shot 70 even par which had me right in there on a windy first day. Rd 2 started off not quite to plan when I missed a 5-foot putt for a birdie on the first and made a triple bogey on the 2nd (par 3) I can honestly say, I was ready to leave the golf course at that point. I didn’t – I have become excellent in my old age (😊) at accepting on the golf course. 2 holes later, I made a flawless eagle and felt I had made amends with the golf course. A battling 68 had me right in the tournament and my swing was feeling better with every hole.
The final day was going to be a 36-hole day which I know suits me – I rarely get fatigued on the golf course, so a good activation warm-up is key for me, far more important than hitting balls but the two together works a treat. Lots of hydration and fuelling and I am ready to work!
I shot a very solid round of 68 in the morning round and crept even closer to the lead held by my Irish Teammate Robert Moran. At -4 under I knew I was in a great position. All I needed was a fast start which I got in round 4. I played the front 9 in 5 under par and was a sit behind Rob with 9 to play which was now clearly a 2-horse race at this stage. This is what I love the most about being a competitive golfer – The heat of the battle! I made another birdie on 11 but golf rarely paved a smooth path to success. I lapsed my concentration a little bit on 13 and 14 dropping two shots at the worst possible time. 15 is a par 5 that I should have birdied after my drive and didn’t, but I played the last 3 holes in -2 to make a playoff holing a nice 30-footer for a birdie at the last.
I eventually won in a 3-hole playoff which was a great experience for me! The Irish Amateur Close Champion 2021
Article
The Irish Times ( Peter O’Keeffe continues dream run with Irish Close win )
The Irish Examiner ( Peter O’Keeffe continues dream run with Irish Close win )
The Irish Independent ( O’Keeffe claims Irish Close after playoff win )
Echolive.ie ( Irish Amateur Close Champion Peter O’Keeffe returns home to go to work as usual on Monday )
Golfdigest.ie (Peter O’Keefe claims 2021 AIG Irish Men’s Close after enthralling playoff )
Irishgolfer.ie ( O’Keeffe captures Close title after playoff in Tullamore )
Irishgolfdesk.com ( O’Keeffe joins exclusive club with AIG Irish Close win at Tullamore )
The Irish Amateur Close
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