The Irish golfer signed for a one over par final round of 71 to finish 13 under par for the tournament, one stroke clear of overnight leader Joakim Lagergren on a dramatic final day.

The 27-year-old climbs to fourth in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings with a win and was delighted to come out on top after going shot-for-shot with Lagergren across the entirety of the weekend.

“I’m over the moon and kind of lost for words,” he said. “I’ve waited a long time for this and for it to happen, with all my family out here today, is just amazing.

“The support out there calmed me down. Knowing that they were all there to support me made a difference.

“Joakim is a fierce competitor and a proven winner, and he’s won here before, so I knew not to take him lightly. I’m just pleased because I putted terribly today but I managed to get the job done.”

Purcell started the day one stoke behind Lagergren, but after mixing two birdies with five bogeys on the front nine, made the turn searching for a spark to kick-start his round.

An eagle on the par five tenth did just that, with Purcell joining Lagergren at the top of the leaderboard, before a dropped shot at hole 13 saw him one adrift with five holes to play.

Purcell then birdied the 15th, and when Lagergren bogeyed the same hole, a two-shot swing saw Purcell move into the solo lead for the first time on the final day, before he parred his way home for a memorable victory.

“On 18, it was the calmest I felt all day”

“I knew it was going to be tough but that there were chances on the back nine,” he added. “It was a big momentum swing when I held the putt on the tenth for eagle.

“I missed a chance on 14 to get back level, but made a nice birdie to go one ahead on 15 and then played really good golf coming in.

“On 18, it was the calmest I felt all day. After a few loose shots at the start of the day, I got into the flow of things and felt very in control and knew the job I had to do.

“Every time you can have a win, you can shoot up the Rankings, but there’s still a lot of golf to play over the rest of the year.”

Englishman Jack Senior posted a three under par round of 67 to finish in third, with Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist two shots further back in fourth. Dane Hamish Brown and South African Robin Williams finished in a share of fifth on eight under par.

Purcell now fourth in Road to Mallorca rankings

Purcell climbs 20 places to fourth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings on 683 points, while Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen remains in pole position on 1,061 points. Englishman John Parry sits second on 1,007, and Spaniard Joel Moscatel remains in third place on 870 points.

The Road to Mallorca continues next week with the Irish Challenge taking place at The K Club in Co Kildare from August 1-4.

Select scores after round four with Irish players in bold:

267 C PURCELL 66 65 65 71,
268 J LAGERGREN (SWE) 63 71 61 73,
269 J SENIOR (ENG) 67 69 66 67,
271 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 65 71 65 70,
272 R WILLIAMS (RSA) 69 69 67 67, H BROWN (DEN) 69 68 66 69,
273 L BJERREGAARD (DEN) 68 68 70 67, A QUIROS (ESP) 68 69 67 69, P PINEAU (FRA) 69 66 67 71,
274 R MCGOWAN (ENG) 68 72 67 67, A HALVORSEN (NOR) 72 69 66 67,
275 J FREIBURGHAUS (SUI) 72 69 68 66, O GUILLAMOUNDEGUY (FRA) 67 69 72 67, A CHESTERS (ENG) 68 72 66 69, W BESSELING (NED) 70 64 71 70, T HUNT (WAL) 67 69 68 71,
276 M LINDBERG (SWE) 68 72 71 65, M GIBOUDOT (FRA) 73 68 67 68, L VAN MEIJEL (NED) 71 70 66 69,

281 G HURLEY (IRL) 67 70 69 75,
282 J CALDWELL 70 71 71 70,

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The Irishman fired a bogey-free five under par round of 65 in testing conditions to reach nine under par for the week. He is three clear of Dane Jeppe Kristian Andersen, Swede Joakim Lagergren and Wil Besseling from the Netherland’s who share second.

The 27-year-old will go into the weekend in a commanding position, with his accuracy off the tee rewarded as wind and rain hit Co Antrim.

“I’m very pleased,” he said. “Any time you can go bogey-free it’s very nice, and especially round here. It’s quite demanding, so I did a good job.

“Me and my caddie did a great job. There were a lot of tricky wind conditions, a lot of crosswinds, but we were hitting good shots.

“I kept myself in position off the tee, and I think it didn’t feel as difficult as it probably should’ve because of that.”

Road to Mallorca

Purcell has enjoyed a strong first half of the Road to Mallorca season, recording three top ten finishes in 13 starts to sit 24th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.

With the top 20 earning promotion to the DP World Tour at the end of the year, Purcell is pleased to be in contention once more as he targets an elusive first Challenge Tour title.

“Any time you’re up there, it gives you that extra motivation to keep it going for four days,” he added. “I’ve been playing nicely this year so hopefully there’s more of the same tomorrow.

“After missing the cut last week I made sure to tell myself my game wasn’t too far away. It felt very close and it’s just about piecing it together for four rounds.

“I know golf is well supported up here, and I love playing in front of people, so I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Select scores after round two [Irish players in bold]:

131 C PURCELL 66 65,
134 J LAGERGREN (SWE) 63 71, J ANDERSEN (DEN) 65 69, W BESSELING (NED) 70 64,
135 P PINEAU (FRA) 69 66,
136 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 65 71, O GUILLAMOUNDEGUY (FRA) 67 69, J SENIOR (ENG) 67 69, L BJERREGAARD (DEN) 68 68, P L?NGFORS (SWE) 65 71, T HUNT (WAL) 67 69,
137 J THOMSON (ENG) 67 70, A QUIROS (ESP) 68 69, R KARLBERG (SWE) 67 70, H BROWN (DEN) 69 68, G HURLEY 67 70, S MAZZOLI (ITA) 67 70,
143 S THORNTON 72 71
144 J MURPHY 75 69
146 D MCELROY 73 73
147 M POWER 77 70
148 R MULLARNEY 75 73, A MAGUIRE 73 75
151 D MULLIGAN 70 81
C O’ROURKE 79 WD

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The 25-year-old carded six birdies and eagled his final hole to take the outright lead after day one at Vierumäki Resort.

“I drove the ball very well and putted well” the Corkman said. “I think I had eight putts through nine so I one-putted every green and holed out from a bunker, so I didn’t have to use the putter too much on the front nine!”

Sugrue used borrowed clubs

Like a number of his fellow professionals across the men’s and women’s game, Sugrue’s golf clubs were lost in transit but the Irishman managed to secure a loan set from a former DP World Tour player.

“The clubs aren’t mine, I lost my clubs coming here, so I got a set off Mikko Illonen and they are very nice, I might have to hold on to them!

“Just more of the same tomorrow, I’m really comfortable with that driver, every time I tee it up I think it is going to be a good one. We’ll just see where it takes us.”

Three-way tie for second spot

Finland’s Antii Ahokas and Italian’s Fillipo Bergamaschi and Michele Ortolini are in a three way-way tie for second place after the first round after the trio carded six under par rounds of 66.

Ahokas who won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2008 before struggling to maintain consistent form for much of the follow decade gave the leader board a home flavour.

”I haven’t played in front of a crowd for a while, so I was just trying to stay in my own bubble’ he admitted.  It was something I enjoyed but at the same time I focused on my own thing, but obviously it gives you energy.

“Quite a few people here now, this tournament is a couple of weeks earlier than normal, people are still on holidays, it is a warm week.  I think we’ll get some more crowds here, which is fantastic.”

Martin Simonsen of Denmark, ranked tenth in the Road to Mallorca standings, is the pick of a bunch of players one stroke back on five under, with Spaniard, Alejandro Del Rey, the highest ranked player in the field, also well placed after an opening three under par 69.

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The Swiss player shot a course record 64 in the opening round to hold the lead by one shot from a trio of players.

“It’s amazing, I’m really pleased with that round and great to have a start like that,” the 2017 Swiss Challenge winner said. “It was a fantastic morning out there, beautiful weather, great conditions, and my game was brilliant this morning.”

Among the three are Ireland’s Conor Purcell who shot a 65 on Thursday. He is joined on -7 by Frenchman Gary Stal and Stefano Mazzoli.

John Murphy is next best of the home players after shooting a 66. He is one of five players on six-under-par. Scotland’s Craig Ross, Todd Clements of England, Deon Germishuys and Jeon weon Ko of France are all on that score.

Tom McKibbin is next best of the Irish players on five-under-par. Paul McBride, Robert Moran (AM) and Gary Hurley shot 68s today and are currently inside the top-25.

South Africa’s Tristen Strydom recorded his third hole-in-one, and first in Europe, when he aced the par three 17th hole on his way to a three under par round 69.

Select Round one scores (Irish players highlighted)

64 J GIRRBACH (SUI),
65 C PURCELL, S MAZZOLI (ITA), G STAL (FRA),
66 D GERMISHUYS (RSA), J MURPHY, J KO (FRA), C ROSS (SCO), T CLEMENTS (ENG),
67 N KIMSEY (ENG), M ORRIN (ENG), A SADDIER (FRA), T MCKIBBIN, H ELLIS (ENG),
68 P MCBRIDE, R MORAN (AM) (IRL), L VAN MEIJEL (NED), P MEJOW (GER), V GARCIA BROTO (ESP), S DEL VAL (ESP), G HURLEY (IRL), R KAMINSKI (RSA), O FARRELL (ENG), J LONG (ENG),
69 J DE BRUYN (GER), T STRYDOM (RSA), J RUTHERFORD (ENG), R EVANS (ENG), J SAINZ (ESP), D RAVETTO (FRA), M MORUGAN (ESP), R PETERSSON (SWE), C MIVIS (BEL), M MANASSERO (ITA), M ITEN (SUI), J GUMBERG (USA).

Other Irish scores

72 J SUGRUE, R MCGEE, G MOYNIHAN,
73 R MULLARNEY, D MCELROY,
74 R CLARKE, M MCCLEAN,
75 M POWER (AM), C O’ROURKE,
76 M YOUNG, L GREHAN,
77 R DAWSON, C WILLIAMS,
78 L DONNELLY,
82 H FOLEY (AM).

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The twenty-nine-year-old is six under after 10 holes. He had birdies on the second, fifth, sixth, eight and tenth, with an eagle on the third hole. He gave a shot back with a bogey on the ninth.

Gary Hurley is the leading Irishman on five under par. He is joined on that score by Samuel Del Val of Spain, England’s Harry Ellis and Gary Stal of France.

Hurley birdied the tenth, eleventh,  thirteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth.

More to follow

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The Irish golfer shot a round of 66 on Friday, five strokes better than his opening round to lie on seven under par. He is joined on that mark by Frenchman Félix Mory.

The second round joint leaders at Wittelsbacher Golfclub are Spaniards Alejandro Del Rey and Manuel Elvira as well as Poland’s Mateusz Gradecki.

Del Rey recovered from a triple-bogey on his first hole to post a six under par second round 66. Gradecki shot a 68, one shot better than Elvira’s 69.

Del Rey, who holds the record for the lowest round in European Challenge Tour history after posting a 14 under par 58 at the 2021 Swiss Challenge, was delighted with the mental resilience he showed during the second round in Germany.

“I couldn’t have got off to a worse start,” he said. “I wasn’t nervous or anything it was just a bad swing on a tough hole. I had to mentally reset with a couple of pars and then I started to make birdies.”

Co-leader Gradecki kick-started his second round in style with a hole out eagle on the first and was pleased to reap the rewards of his hard work on the practice greens.

“I started with a hole out eagle on the first hole which was a nice bonus,” he said.“My putting wasn’t great to start with, but I stayed patient and the birdies started to come. There wasn’t much wind and the greens were receptive so it was definitely scoreable out there.”

Overnight leader Tadeáš Tetak sits in fourth place on nine under par, while Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist is a shot further back in fifth.

Round two scores (Irish golfers highlighted):

134 M GRADECKI (POL) 66 68, M ELVIRA (ESP) 65 69, A DEL REY (ESP) 68 66,
135 T TETAK (SVK) 64 71,
136 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 68 68,
137 F MORY (FRA) 70 67, J MURPHY 71 66,
138 M SCHMITT (GER) 67 71, C MIVIS (BEL) 69 69, J FAHRBRING (SWE) 69 69, D BROWN (ENG) 66 72, J PARRY (ENG) 68 70,
139 A BERGSTROM (SWE) 69 70, A SADDIER (FRA) 70 69, A JOHN (GER) 70 69, J FREIBURGHAUS (SUI) 68 71, J SAINZ (ESP) 70 69, D YOUNG (SCO) 71 68, B VIRTO (ESP) 68 71,
140 E ROUSAUD (ESP) 71 69, F SCHOTT (GER) 69 71, L SCALISE (ITA) 69 71, D GERMISHUYS (RSA) 68 72, T MCKIBBIN 67 73, S TILEY (ENG) 70 70, A BLOMME (SWE) 73 67,
141 K CANTLEY (SCO) 71 70, D MCELROY 71 70, N BACHEM (GER) 71 70, B RITTHAMMER (GER) 73 68, K JOHANNESSEN (NOR) 70 71, J KO (FRA) 72 69, T SLOMAN (ENG) 70 71, V RIU (FRA) 74 67, V MEYER (GER) 70 71, R MCGEE 70 71, C BLOMSTRAND (SWE) 73 68, A HIETALA (FIN) 71 70, M HIRMER (GER) 70 71,
142 C FYFE (SCO) 70 72, M ROTTLUFF (GER) 71 71, G BLOOR (ENG) 73 69, I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) 67 75, O FARRELL (ENG) 69 73, T BALTL (AUT) 73 69, R KAKKO (FIN) 71 71, A KNAPPE (GER) 71 71, M HAMMER (GER) 70 72, E DI NITTO (ITA) 71 71, C SORDET (FRA) 68 74, T VAHLENKAMP (GER) 73 69, J GIRRBACH (SUI) 68 74, P MARGOLIS (FRA) 72 70, R CONRADIE (RSA) 73 69, P L0NGFORS (SWE) 70 72, M LINDBERG (SWE) 74 68, M LUNDBERG (SWE) 70 72, D BORDA (ESP) 70 72, H ELLIS (ENG) 71 71, L RUUSKA (FIN) 70 72, J BAUMGARTNER (AM) (GER) 70 72, O LINDELL (FIN) 72 70,
143 J GARCIA (ESP) 74 69, J DE BRUYN (GER) 72 71, P MEJOW (GER) 72 71, R VAN WEST (NED) 70 73, R KLEU (AM) (SUI) 71 72, M WAITE (ENG) 71 72, ZACH (CZE) 70 73, P MOOLMAN (RSA) 70 73, L CIANCHETTI (ITA) 69 74, B RUSCH (SUI) 74 69, E LIPPARELLI (ITA) 69 74, K DAVIDSE (RSA) 71 72,
144 T WIEDEMEYER (AM) (GER) 71 73, K KOIVU (FIN) 68 76, D RAVETTO (FRA) 70 74, D FOOS (GER) 76 68, A ZEMMER (ITA) 71 73, L VAN MEIJEL (NED) 74 70, C BERARDO (FRA) 71 73, Y VAN DOREN (BEL) 70 74, B NEIL (SCO) 71 73, G STAL (FRA) 71 73, J WIKSTROM (SWE) 69 75, V LOPES (POR) 72 72, P ERIKSSON (SWE) 70 74, H RONEBLAD (SWE) 71 73,
145 V GARCIA BROTO (ESP) 72 73, U COUSSAUD (FRA) 73 72, S HEISELE (GER) 73 72, J QUESNE (FRA) 74 71, J MEYER DE BECO (BEL) 70 75, C BRING (DEN) 73 72, J ARNOY (NOR) 75 70, S GROS (FRA) 72 73, T STRYDOM (RSA) 73 72, M MANASSERO (ITA) 71 74, C ROSS (SCO) 71 74, W GLAWE (AM) (GER) 75 70, N JOHANSSON (SWE) 73 72, J RUTHERFORD (ENG) 75 70,
146 M HERRMANN (GER) 73 73, C WILLIAMS 72 74, J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA) 74 72, B POKE (DEN) 72 74, A DE BONDT (BEL) 77 69, T WIDING (SWE) 72 74, R KAMINSKI (RSA) 71 75, S FERNANDEZ (ESP) 71 75, J GUMBERG (USA) 76 70, B KESSON (SWE) 72 74, A ROMANO (ITA) 70 76,
147 S DEL VAL (ESP) 76 71, O LIESER (CZE) 71 76, M WIEGELE (AUT) 75 72, M ORRIN (ENG) 74 73, J VECCHI FOSSA (ITA) 72 75, H MAGNUS (ISL) 72 75,
148 N KIMSEY (ENG) 71 77, J BARES (CZE) 74 74, F MACCARIO (ITA) 72 76, S HENRY (SCO) 76 72, E BERTHEUSSEN (NOR) 70 78, P PINEAU (FRA) 74 74, A KORINEK (CZE) 76 72, B THALMAYR (GER) 72 76,
149 F BERGAMASCHI (ITA) 75 74, N REGNER (AUT) 75 74, M HONKALA (FIN) 76 73, M ITEN (SUI) 75 74, C WORSDALL (ENG) 73 76,
150 V PASTOR (ESP) 77 73, G BRIXI (CZE) 77 73, J SANDBORG (SWE) 72 78, E WALKER (SCO) 72 78, F PALSON (SWE) 71 79, I SAULO (FIN) 76 74,
151 C PURCELL (IRL) 74 77, P ELISSALDE (FRA) 77 74, D ERICKSON (USA) 73 78, A TIDEN (SWE) 77 74,
152 J KOLBING (GER) 80 72, R WATTEL (FRA) 73 79, C BRAEUNIG (GER) 74 78, J SCHAPER (RSA) 79 73,
153 D WICKS (ENG) 79 74, W PORTER (SCO) 81 72, F FLEER (GER) 72 81, A AHOKAS (FIN) 76 77, C WAUGH (USA) 80 73,
158 C SAHLSTROM (SWE) 82 76,
160 F KATZY (GER) 77 83,
162 M MURRAY (USA) 82 80,
**
OUT P EDBERG (SWE) 80 WD, R FOLEY (SUI) 76 RT,

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The Irish golfer carded two eagles, seven birdies and two bogeys to move three shots clear of South African Bryce Easton, Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Spaniard Borja Virto and Germany’s Alexander Knappe, who share second place on six under par.

McGee decided to take a break from competitive golf after the Covid-19 pandemic and made his first appearance on the European Challenge Tour for almost two years at the Empordà Challenge earlier this month, where he recorded a top 20 finish.

Now based in Florida

The 31-year-old recently moved to Florida in the United States and although he hasn’t been playing golf competitively, he has still found the time to fine tune his skills on the course.

“I’m delighted with my round today,” he said. “I haven’t been playing competitively for a couple of years now and this is only my second Challenge Tour event of the season.

“Due to Covid I decided to take a break from the professional game and went to live out in the United States and that’s where I’ve been for the last year and a half. I wasn’t able to travel into Europe but it’s nice to be back.

“I’ve probably played more golf being in Florida than I would have back at home. I’ve been playing every day and sometimes getting in 36 holes which has helped.”

Two eagles in first eight holes

McGee was delighted to make two eagles in his first eight holes in Brittany and believes the links-style course, where accuracy off the tee is paramount, is well suited to his game.

“It was a great feeling to get two eagles,” he said. “The 11^th hole was a short par five and I made the most of it. On the 17^th I holed out from the fairway with a wedge which was a nice surprise.

“I like the course because you have to hit it straight and that suits my game. You need to be pretty accurate with your approach shots and then you can make birdies.”

Englishman Alfie Plant, Frenchman Alexandre Daydou and Finland’s Matias Honkala share sixth place on five under par. Five players share ninth on four under, including Germany’s Freddy Schott and Englishman Ben Evans.

Ruaidhrí McGee will tee off alongside Englishman Todd Clements and home favourite Adrien Saddier at 2:00pm today.

Scores after round one:

 61 R MCGEE (IRL),
64 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA), B VIRTO (ESP), B EASTON (RSA), A KNAPPE (GER),
65 A PLANT (ENG), A DAYDOU (FRA), M HONKALA (FIN),
66 V RIU (FRA), S PETERSEN (SWE), B EVANS (ENG), F SCHOTT (GER), J THOMPSON (AUS),
67 I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP), D YOUNG (SCO), R DAWSON (IRL), A SADDIER (FRA), F PALSON (SWE), D DIXON (ENG), Z BAI (CHN), J PRINSLOO (RSA),
68 A ZEMMER (ITA), M LINDBERG (SWE), N REGNER (AUT), J THOMSON (ENG), J QUESNE (FRA), L JERLING (RSA), M ELVIRA (ESP), J SCHAPER (RSA), D FOOS (GER), A GRENIER (FRA), R DINWIDDIE (ENG), M ORRIN (ENG), J MCDONALD (SCO),
69 M LECHNER (AUT), U MALCOR (AM) (FRA), U COUSSAUD (FRA), P MARGOLIS (FRA), S TILEY (ENG), E DI NITTO (ITA), W ENEFER (ENG), C BOUNIOL (FRA), V LOPES (POR), A BARBE (AM) (FRA), A BJORNSSON (ISL), M BULLEN (ENG), G KRISTJANSSON (ISL), J SAINZ (ESP), S GROS (FRA), G BOYD (ENG),
70 G BRIXI (CZE), K ULENAERS (BEL), J FAHRBRING (SWE), J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA), R WATTEL (FRA), D MCELROY (NIR), L ROBINSON (ENG), D BOOTE (WAL), G STAL (FRA), S MANLEY (WAL), X PONCELET (FRA), D BORDA (ESP), P BAEK (DEN), T ELISSALDE (FRA), S GANDON (FRA), D GERMISHUYS (RSA), T STRYDOM (RSA), T CLEMENTS (ENG), B RITTHAMMER (GER), J ARNOY (NOR), J RUTHERFORD (ENG), P MOOLMAN (RSA), T GANDY (IMN),
71 J KENNEGARD (SWE), C MIVIS (BEL), J GARCIA (ESP), R EVANS (ENG), M MANASSERO (ITA), F MORY (FRA), P FOULQUIE (FRA), M MOHR (ENG), P MCBRIDE (IRL), G MOYNIHAN (IRL), H ELLIS (ENG), H TISSERAND (FRA), G KING (ENG), M GRADECKI (POL), S GREGORY (ENG), D BROWN (ENG), M RADUREAU (FRA), E BERTHEUSSEN (NOR), M DANIELSSON (FRA),
72 P EDBERG (SWE), J ADARRAGA GOMEZ (ESP), G BOURDY (FRA), S FERNANDEZ (ESP), P FIGUEIREDO (POR), E CATHERINE (FRA), B NEIL (SCO), N LEGENDRE (AM) (FRA), C ROSS (SCO), T MCKIBBIN (NIR), J PARRY (ENG),
73 J LONG (ENG), C VERROUGSTRAETE (FRA), S HENRY (SCO), D PERRIER (FRA), J DICK (ENG),
74 M WIEGELE (AUT), E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP), F BERGAMASCHI (ITA), E ESPA?A (FRA), T SLOMAN (ENG), M DECOTTIGNIES-LAFON (FRA), S DEL VAL (ESP), P ELISSALDE (FRA), R SANJUST (ITA), A ESMATGES (ESP), P BEAUVY (AM) (FRA), B BAUMGARTEN (USA), T SANTA (FRA), A ARIZABALETA (COL),
75 A DEL REY (ESP), B RUSCH (SUI), V BJ?RL?W (DEN), D RAVETTO (FRA), R VALLAEYS (FRA),
76 C SAHLSTROM (SWE), H LEGEAY-GAUCHER (FRA), M GASPAR (POR), P ROLLAND (FRA), S KRAAI (NED), A VELASCO (ESP), D DARNAUD (FRA), C POLETTI (FRA), L RUUSKA (FIN),
77 J MURPHY (IRL), J KO (FRA), L WEBER (FRA), D GUICHARD (FRA), R LESTER (IRL), K KOIVU (FIN), A BACHELIER (AM) (FRA),
78 C HEBERT (FRA), C BERARDO (FRA), B KEDOCHIM (FRA), C CANNON (ENG),
79 M WAITE (ENG), P LESCASTREYRES (FRA), J VECCHI FOSSA (ITA),
80 J PINTO BASTO (POR),
81 V JOFFRAY (FRA),
84 R FABRE (FRA),
86 R LE BOT (FRA).

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The tournament returns to the Road to Mallorca International Schedule this year. It will take place on a links course for the first time in the event’s history at the prestigious Portmarnock Links.

McBride made only one Challenge Tour start last season but has been keeping sharp by playing on the Alps Tour. He is excited by the prospect of teeing it up in Dublin at the end of the month.

“It’s great to have a Challenge Tour event in Ireland,” he said. “I’ve played a few events now in Ireland since I turned pro. This year’s event at Portmarnock Links is only five minutes from where I live so it’s great to have it on the schedule.

“We have such a great array of golf courses in Ireland and it’s great to be able to showcase them. This one will showcase everything that people stereotypically know Ireland for.”

Portmarnock provides a real test

The Championship course at Portmarnock Links was designed by two-time Masters Champion and former World Number One Bernhard Langer. It traverses the North Dublin dunes, a natural terrain to please the most ardent of links purists.

It will provide a true test of golf to the stars of the Challenge Tour and McBride believes it is incomparable to any other course on the Road to Mallorca.

“It’s going to be different. It all depends on the conditions,” he said. “If it’s calm, it plays completely different to if there’s wind.

“Portmarnock Links is a great links, it really is. You can’t really compare it to any other course on the Challenge Tour because we don’t play anything like it. It is a proper links golf course; there’s no half-links. It’s fully on the coast, there’s hills, there’s undulations and it’s firm and fast. It’s a really good course.

“You’d love to win the Irish Challenge. You’d love to win anytime on the Challenge Tour, I wouldn’t mind if it was in Italy, France, wherever, I’d like to win one way or another. If I had to pick, I’d pick Ireland but I’m certainly not limiting it to just that.”

The Irish Challenge is the sixth event on the 2021 Road to Mallorca International Schedule. It comprises 26 tournaments in 16 countries across the world.

The top 20 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings at the conclusion of the Challenge Tour Grand Final at T-Golf & Country Club, Mallorca, will earn full playing privileges on the European Tour in 2022.

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