John Murphy hopes that the good times in his golf game are just around the corner after he finished with a flourish on day one of the Irish Challenge at the K Club to perhaps breathe life into his campaign.
Murphy lost his DP World Tour card last year and it has been another season of struggles on the Challenge Tour as he has yet to make a cut in his eleven starts so far but a morale boosting three-under 69 that included four birdies in his last five holes could prove to be the tonic he needs.
“This year has felt a lot of the time one step forward two steps back,” said the 26-year-old.
“I’ve felt very close then very far away so I mean just have to keep reminding myself that the good times are ahead. Keep working hard and allow myself to free up and enjoy the game as much as possible. I’m sure there will be good things down the road.”
The Kinsale man has fond memories of the Palmer South at the K Club having finished third the last time the Irish Challenge was played here in 2022.
“The fact it is in Ireland, the home comforts help a lot. I am familiar with the place and I like the feel of the place and I just love the K Club every time I come here there’s a nice vibe and aura about the place so looking forward to tomorrow.”
Teeing off the tenth, Murphy started well with birdies on 11 and 15 with just one bogey on the 12th. He began the turn for home with back-to-back bogeys but rather than tumble down the leaderboard, he rallied and might have changed the tune for his season with three birdies in a row from the fifth and a closing birdie on the 9th to lie in a share of 17th place, six shots off the lead.
A lot of it is down to attitude for Murphy and he hopes he can maintain a positive one for the long run.
“I felt like I was playing lovely the first thirteen holes and I was one-over without doing a whole lot wrong so it is satisfying to finish with a few birdies and keep myself in the loop. Long way to go but I played lovely and there’s a lot of golf left to play.
“I gave myself loads of chances out there, there are loads of chances but you have to execute the shots and it can be a bit tricky in places. Very happy with how I played today and looking forward to going into tomorrow with the same attitude.”