Irish teen, 18, joins Rory McIlroy in the record books after winning tournament he started as 150/1 outsider
IRISH teenager Dylan Holmes has followed in Rory McIlroy's footsteps by winning a prestigious amateur tournament.
Holmes, 18, became the youngest winner of the West Ireland Amateur Open Championship since McIlroy when he overcame the odds - and the weather - to win the trophy this week.
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Dylan Holmes won the West of Ireland Men's Amateur Open
Credit: Inpho
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The 18-year-old was making his debut in any Men's Championship
Credit: Inpho
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Holmes is the youngest winner of the tournament since Rory McIlroy in 2005 and 2006
Credit: PicSell8
The youngster started the week as a 150/1 outsider to lift the trophy on his tournament debut, but wrote his name in the record books with a 2&1 victory over Colm Campbell at County Sligo.
Holmes is the youngest winner of the tournament since
Holmes joins a list of big names to win the West of Ireland including Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington
It wasn't just Holmes' West of Ireland debut, but also his maiden outing at any Men's Championship.
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Fighting against his opponents and the biblical weather conditions, the student came out on top despite admitting it was "one of the hardest stretches of golf I've ever played".
Holmes revealed that his victory even came as a surprise to him, explaining that he didn't expect to be in and amongst it.
He said: "It's incredible, I didn't really have any expectations coming into this week.
'I played a great first 13 holes, some of the best golf I have ever played, and then I don't know what happened to the weather but it was worse than the first round which was hard.
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Holmes had to battle the conditions on the course
Credit: Inpho
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'You weren't making any pars out there the last few holes. You are not able to get to any of the greens, it was ridiculous.
'I guess I'm in with a few good names now so it's nice. McIlroy is incomparable.'
Footage of emotional Rory McIlroy become's internet's biggest meme
Despite what was at stake for the teen, Holmes still thought watching idol
He told
'Watching Rory [was more stressful] – at least you have some sort of control over the situation when you're doing it yourself.'
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Holmes was more nervous watching McIlroy win at the Masters than he was winning himself
Credit: EPA
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RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Rory heads for Oakmont at a delicate time in his career
In the aftermath of his joyous, emotionally charged Masters victory and completion of the career grand slam just nine weeks ago, there emerged a too-hastily cobbled together narrative that Rory McIlroy might be freed up to win multiple future majors to embolden his legend in the game. What was not dwelt upon nearly as much in the days and weeks which followed one of the great achievements in modern men's golf was the competing and opposite possible story arc that having scaled the top of a personal mountain, what was there left to achieve? It's that second theme which has immediately emerged as a focus of some attention after a passage of uninspired play from McIlroy since the end of April. In essence, it's a delicate and potentially pivotal time in his career as he comes down from the high he's enjoyed over the last two months and seeks to regain motivation with a new set of goals. While there are stories in the history of the game of players like David Duval and Johnny Miller seeing the view from the top of their personal achievement mountain and not knowing where to go next, equally there's the accomplishments of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player - who all clearly sought next unconquered peak after a landmark victory. "Going and grinding on the range for three or four hours every day is maybe a little tougher than it used to be," McIlroy said prior to his Canadian Open missed cut last week where he finished tied 149th of 156 competitors. He expanded on that theme in his US Open preview press conference on Tuesday of this week. "I think it (the task) is trying to have a little bit of amnesia and forget about what happened six weeks ago. Then just trying to find the motivation to go back out there and work as hard as I've been working. At some point, you have to realise that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season - here, Royal Portrush, Ryder Cup." The immediate stern question for McIlroy posed by the challenge of taking on the statistically most difficult US Open venue of all might be coming at an inconvenient time, with well-publicised problems adjusting to a new driver in his bag. On the range and in practice rounds this week at Oakmont, he has looked quite sharp but he himself knows that having a US Open scorecard in hand in round one will change everything. "I like what I saw in practice this week but practice rounds and driving ranges are a bit different to tournament golf, but I'm slowly building confidence," McIlroy said. All of which seems a bit tenuous in terms of preparation compared to the place that the championship favourite Scottie Scheffler occupies this week. Since he finished fourth behind McIlroy around Augusta National in mid-April, he has won three times, including the USPGA Championship at Quail Hollow. He took that title by five strokes and his three wins since the Masters have been by a cumulative total of 17 shots. There's also the tantalising prospect of Scheffler, should he win here, heading to Royal Portrush for the Open next month with the possibility of joining the career grand slam club. That's a long way from being a far-fetched scenario given his recent form. Oakmont also clearly fits his eye because it is a tee-to-green challenge among the hardest in the world of golf, let alone just US Opens. Statistically, Scheffler is by far the best overall ball-striker in terms of strokes gained against the field in each round this year. On average, he's a full shot ahead of the next best player Sepp Straka. McIlroy is, incidentally, third in that category. The 28-year-old Texan is also above average in driving distance, second in overall proficiency in scrambling (on and around the green) and is also now in the top 15% of the putting stats which used to be his one weak point. In other words, he's got all the appearance of being the complete US Open kind of player right now and few, if any, would deny that he is the most mentally strong golfer seen in the men's game since Tiger Woods. In terms of what Oakmont asks of a player hoping to be in contention, Shane Lowry also ticks a lot of boxes. Not only was he a runner-up at Oakmont nine years ago, when he had a four-shot lead entering the final round, he also is among the best tee-to-green players on the PGA Tour in 2025 and is second only to Scheffler in the 'Greens Approach' play category. He drives it straight and long enough to contend and his consistency this season with two runner-up finishes on tour in 2025, points to a potentially strong campaign on a course that fits his eye. "I like the look of the place but I'm always on the edge of my anxious self where I want it so much," he said on Tuesday after a nine-hole early morning practice with McIlroy. "My confidence levels can't be too high and I've got to bring myself down to earth and throw my expectations away on that first tee and give it a run. "2016 (when he was joint runner-up) will always be a 'what if'. I'd an unbelievable chance to win and I'd love to have a US Open (trophy) along side my Claret Jug and you never know, this might be the week I could do it." There are of course a myriad of other contenders and the form of defending US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau - who has been outside the top six in just one of the last seven majors - cannot be ignored. John Rahm showed strongly at the USPGA Championship last month before a dramatic fade-away slump over the last three holes. However, his stoic press conference response to that setback was of a player apparently determined to restore a reputation which scaled a peak with his 2021 US Open victory at Torrey Pines and subsequent ascension to world No 1. No one though has Scheffler's level of credentials this week. As a callow 19-year-old amateur in 2016, he opened with a 69 to occupy a place in the top 10 after round one and while he missed the cut that week, he has since become the kind of efficient ball-striking, resilient-minded golf machine that the US Open test sets out to identify.
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
Minimal change in low-key squad announcement for Ireland's US summer tests
THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS low-key, the squad itself not straying too far from recent iterations after all. It was released through FAI social media channels at noon, while a press release landed in journalists' inboxes. There was no press conference with head coach Carla Ward, as is customary; some quotes instead circulated for use as the 23-player selection for a friendly double-header against the US was unveiled. Katie McCabe's unavailability was flagged last week, the captain rested after a hectic season which culminated in Champions League glory with Arsenal. Ward stated McCabe was 'on the verge of burnout' after the Nations League group finale against Slovenia, and suggested 'a number' of other players would not travel Stateside for the off-season series. More change was probably anticipated than followed, Ward selecting a relatively familiar squad as Ireland build towards their Nations League play-off with Belgium in October. Eight players were listed by the FAI as unavailable, four of them long-term injury absentees in Jamie Finn, Jess Ziu, Lily Agg and Tara O'Hanlon. Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan had both been ruled out of the last camp, while Aoife Mannion joined the captain as the other name: the Manchester United defender played the first half of the Türkiye game, but didn't feature against Slovenia as her load — and a quad knock — was managed. Aside from the now-retired Louise Quinn, Shelbourne's Aoibheann Clancy was the only other player from the last squad not included following a recent bereavement. 'The WNT players and staff send their condolences to midfielder Aoibheann Clancy following the passing of her mother, Siobhan. She is being given the time to deal with this difficult period and has the full support of the WNT squad,' read the press release. Advertisement Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson (centre) return to the squad. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Ellen Molloy, Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson were the three headline inclusions. Molloy and Nolan receive their first call-ups under Ward. Molloy has been impressing in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division since returning to Wexford, and now gets a fresh opportunity with Ireland. The 21-year-old midfielder was a regular under Vera Pauw, before an ACL injury interrupted her rise. A move to Championship outfit Sheffield United followed, and Molloy won her first senior cap since 2022 in last October's Euro 2025 playoff semi-final against Georgia. Another injury followed, she left Sheffield in January after four months due to personal reasons, and has been thriving amid home comforts. Nolan is back in the fold for the first time since late 2023 under Eileen Gleeson, having last played for Ireland in the pre-World Cup friendlies against the US. It's a full circle moment for the Crystal Palace defender, who has see-sawed between fine form and injury in recent times. 'Hayley has been unlucky to miss out on being included in recent squads, simply because we have a lot of competition for places at centre-back,' said Ward. 'We have kept an eye on her at club level, I've spoken with her managers and also had conversations with her. So we are excited to bring Hayley in and give her a chance.' There notable change is in defence, in the absence of first-choice full-backs McCabe and Mannion. Atkinson gets the nod as another left-sided option alongside Megan Campbell and Chloe Mustaki, while right-back is an area in which Ireland currently lack choice. Mannion appeared to nail down the position through the Nations League, though is naturally a centre-back. Jessie Stapleton deputised against Slovenia and will most likely have to do so again without injured duo Payne and Finn, but Nolan's versatility could also be useful. Expect huge competition at centre-half: there's a spot up for grabs for the first leg against Belgium with Anna Patten suspended, and no shortage of contenders. The rest of the squad runs along the same lines as the last, with no change in the goalkeeping department and Molloy added to a midfield selection spearheaded by Denise O'Sullivan, who will be stand-in captain. 'Ellen is a player who we have been tracking closely,' said Ward. 'She has done well for Wexford over the last two months and has been on the longlist for our squads, so we needed an opportunity to take a closer look at her in our environment and this is it. 'We know how talented Ellen is but it's how she can adapt that to international level is what we need to look at. I watched her when she was with Sheffield United and we've been watching her at Wexford, so we want to see how she gets on during this camp.' There's also continuity in attack, all who featured in the last window returning. New recruit Erin Healy is recalled, and could win her first cap in her country of birth. Atkinson is actually listed as a forward. The 23-year-old Dubliner gets a fresh international opportunity following her departure from Crystal Palace. She was in Ward's first squad where 'tough love' was offered after falling 'out of favour' at Palace, but was left out thereafter. Related Reads Recalls and absentees as Ireland squad named for US friendlies Have expectations been set too high for Ireland after mixed Nations League group? Like Molloy and Nolan, the 2023 World Cup bolter will be looking to get back in the picture. Ireland head coach Carla Ward. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Further experimentation with new faces, like younger and domestic talent, may have been hoped for in some quarters, but Ward sticks with pretty settled squad as the Belgium play-off looms large. The US provide formidable competition as the world number one, reigning Olympic champions and four-time World Cup winners. Their European-based players will be rested, but Emma Hayes still has an abundance of top stars to choose from. Ward cites her as a mentor and close friend and has unique insight, having worked in the set-up at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a scout and performance analyst. Now, she leads Ireland into their 16th and 17th meetings with the US in Denver (Thursday 26 June) and Cincinnati (Thursday 29 June). 'We know how good USA are, they've always been world-class but I believe Emma has taken them to another level and that's why this is a great test for us. To be coming up against the very best is a good opportunity for us,' said Ward. 'When these games were first proposed to us we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. 'Of course you always want to win games but, for me, the most important aspect of these two games will be the performance and continuing to implement our processes. 'These two fixtures will be our final preparation, in terms of games, before we take on Belgium in October, so we want to make the most of these opportunities.'
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
US Open: Scheffler the man to beat, Lowry better primed than distracted McIlroy
YOU'LL BE HEARING a lot this week about 'the greatest test in golf', as the organisers of the US Open take their historic championship back to Oakmont in Pittsburgh, whose founding principle was to be the most challenging golf course in America. And so the 2025 US Open may cross the threshold from test to outright trial. The rough is long and knottier than the tree lights you took down from your attic last Christmas; the greens are slippery and more sloped than even those at Augusta National; and the eighth hole is the longest par-three in major championship history. Speaking on Golf Channel on Tuesday, the long-serving former head pro Bob Ford was asked to describe the typical member at Oakmont. 'Sadistic', he replied. The whole set-up is designed, ultimately, to have pro golfers break out in the kind of cold sweats they otherwise reserve for the prospect of a tougher tax regime in Florida. Jon Rahm said on Tuesday he expects the winning score to be over-par if the rain stays away. Rory McIlroy played a practice round last Monday week and birdied the final two holes to card an 81. While the course has been deluged by rain in the weeks leading up to the tournament, the forecast for the opening days of action is more agreeable, although the weekend face the risk of disruption from thunderstorms. Without this rain, says McIlroy, the course would have been 'impossible.' There are only two Irish golfers in the field, as all of Seamus Power, Graeme McDowell, Tom McKibbin and Padraig Harrington failed to make it through qualifying. Organisers have handily paired them together, and so McIlroy and Shane Lowry will play alongside each other and Justin Rose, teeing off early on Thursday and among the late wave on Friday. McIlroy playing alongside Rose evokes easily-accessed memories of the Masters, and trust McIlroy to take the aftermath as interesting as it could possibly have been. He spoke from Augusta in April of feeling freed from the burden of his long major drought; McIlroy was, in his own words, now playing with house money. Er, not so. He barely made the cut at a bizarrely surly PGA Championship, at which he swerved media interviews amid annoyance at the leaking of the fact he had to change his non-conforming driver, and then missed the cut by a mile at last week's Canadian Open with what was, in strokes gained terms, the second-worst round of his career. McIlroy missed the cut the last time this tournament was held at Oakmont, which started a three-year run of missed cuts at the US Open. His reaction to this run is one of the more underrated aspects of his career, and he has been freakishly consistent at the tournament since. He has been in the top-10 in each of the last six years, finishing as runner-up in each of the last two editions. Advertisement Maintaining that consistency this week rests on him finding form off the tee. His driving accuracy across each of his last three events has been abysmal, and a failure to find fairways at Oakmont will mean an early end to his challenge. Having tried a new driver in Canada, McIlroy has switched up his equipment once again this week. 'I feel a little better with the driver over the weekend at home and even today playing a practice round, so hopefully I can hit a few more fairways than I have been hitting and give myself some opportunities', said McIlroy at his Tuesday afternoon press conference. A bigger question is the inner drive. McIlroy admitted ahead of the Canadian Open he had been finding it hard to have the same motivation to grind on the range now that he's achieved all he had set out to do. Speaking to the press this week, McIlroy didn't give the impression of a man who has re-fixed a maniacal focus on golf. 'I think chasing a certain goal for the better part of a decade and a half, I think I'm allowed a little bit of time to relax a little bit. But here at Oakmont, I certainly can't relax this week', before then talking of how one of his goals this year was to take up more hobbies and see more of the world, and so he's joined caddie Harry Diamond and manager Niall O'Connor for their on-the-road tennis matches. His playing partner, by contrast, arrives in much more consistent form, albeit appearing increasingly tortured by his inability to get over the line on Sunday. Lowry had a galling close shave at the Truist Championship the week before the PGA Championship, at which he missed the cut on one of his least favourite courses on Earth. He made a stunning Sunday start in Canada last week – five-under through his first four holes – only to cool off too early to catch the later starters. Lowry is less daunted than most by Oakmont, where in 2016 he took a four-shot lead into the final day only to shoot a round of six-over 76 to finish in a tie for second, three shots off winner Dustin Johnson. Lowry is a much better player now, though, and this is a course which will reward his accuracy off the tee – where he ranks among the top-30 on the PGA Tour – along with the quality of his iron play and his hands around the green, where greenside rough will reward only the very best. His contention will rest, though, on how he performs on the greens: he has shown an ability to catch fire with his putter, but these sprawling, sloping greens are redolent of those at Augusta National, on which Lowry has occasionally struggled. That said, Lowry arrives in a better position to contend than McIlroy. Their biggest issue for all may not be the brute of the course, but Scottie Scheffler. Having made a slow(ish) start to the season after hand surgery in the off-season, Scheffler is once again the dominant man in the sport: he has won on three of his last four starts and arrives exuding that air of apparent invincibility. Given Scheffler's awesome form, the brutality of the Oakmont test may ultimately be a favour to everybody else in the field. Scheffler has never won this championship, though victory this week will see him rocking up to Portrush next month seeking to complete the career Grand Slam. Scottie Scheffler: 2025 PGA Championship winner. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Who can stop him? Jon Rahm finally returned to relevance at a major championship with his Sunday charge at Quail Hollow, where his finishing score did not reflect the pressure he exerted on Scheffler. He has the muscle to deal with the Oakmont rough, along with the form to compete. Bryson DeChambeau has meanwhile 3D-printed a new set of irons in the hope he can successfully defend his title this week: at the Masters and Quail Hollow, he contended despite his ball-striking, rather than because of it. Oakmont, though, is going to be too tough to hide any aspect of your game. DeChambeau is now undoubtedly the most popular player in the game, thanks mainly to his YouTube videos, which he says has given him a new lease of life on the course. 'I view my legacy as not just winning golf tournaments', DeChambeau told the press on Tuesday. 'I view it as how much good can I do for the game outside of playing professionally. That's a metric that I hold myself up to. 'The start is YouTube, but there is so much more that's coming down the line, and that's also what gets me up every day, as well.' Elsewhere within that press conference he began some megaphone negotiations with LIV over a contract renewal – 'They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide' – explained if he hadn't been a golfer he would be working on how AI will be integrated into biomechanics and hailed his own business sense with the deathless line that his Crushers LIV team have been 'EBIDTA positive for the past two years.' (LIV golf is hardly leaning into the traditional partisanship of other team sports. EBIDTA positive. . . you'll never sing that.') DeChambeau will be the most popular man on the golf course, though Scheffler is, as ever, the man to beat. The greater the test, the more likely the best player is to emerge from the field. And the best player by a street is Scottie Scheffler. Tips Gavin Cooney A winner not named Scottie Scheffler: Jon Rahm (9/1) A solid, make-your-money-back e/w bet: Harris English (55/1) A wild outsider who might make you a fortune: Aaron Rai (75/1) Fintan O'Toole A winner not named Scottie Scheffler: Xander Schuaffele (18/1) A solid, make-your-money-back e/w bet: Harris English (55/1) A wild outsider who might make you a fortune: Rasmus Hojgaard (150/1)
