“17-Year-Old Seán Keeling Shocks the Golf World with Star-Making Irish Open Debut – and Pádraig Harrington’s Secret Advice!”

Seán Keeling, a 17-year-old from Roganstown, may not have outshone his idol Rory McIlroy, but he certainly made his mark with an impressive opening round of 70 at the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down. The teenager, who trained at the Made in Holywood Academy under the guidance of coach Geoff Loughrey, who learned from McIlroy’s coach Michael Bannon, made 17 consecutive pars before sinking a 15-foot birdie putt in near darkness on the 18th, finishing at one-under par and tying for 20th place.

 

Keeling’s was one of only two bogey-free rounds on a day when McIlroy saved what could have been a disappointing start for the Irish players, finishing with a three-under 68 to tie for fourth place, just two shots behind England’s Todd Clements, who led with a five-under 66. Shane Lowry also birdied the last hole to card a 72, tying him for 51st alongside Royal Dublin amateur Max Kennedy and Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell.

 

Keeling, now studying at Texas Tech where Ludvig Aberg once shined, was the story of the day. Reflecting on his round, Keeling said, “I’m happy enough. I had to stay patient on the back nine and waited for my birdie on the last. A bogey-free round here is something I’ll take any day. The first two holes could have gone very differently, but I made two good pars, and from there, I played solid golf, hitting plenty of greens.”

 

Before heading out, Keeling reminded himself, “If you lose your patience around here, you’re in trouble. You’ve got to have a good attitude and just be resilient. Mistakes will happen, but it’s about how you handle them.”

 

Keeling isn’t content with just participating; he’s aiming high. “It’s a dream come true to play in this tournament. I’ve been attending it for the last six or seven years, and now to be playing in it is amazing. My goal is to make the cut, have a good run over the weekend, and who knows? Why not give myself a chance to win?”

 

Keeling recently played a practice round with Pádraig Harrington, who offered some valuable advice. “The main takeaway was to be patient and resilient. You’ll face ups and downs in this game, but it’s about how you bounce back. Harrington also said that consistency is overrated; it’s better to win than to just make cuts or finish in the top 10 because you’re remembered for your victories.”

 

On a day when the conditions were challenging, with a cool north-west wind gusting up to 40 km/h, McIlroy was pleased with his start. “Anytime you can shoot three-under around this place, you have to be happy,” said the world No. 3. McIlroy bounced back from bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes with three birdies to finish strong.

 

Lowry, who had a slow start, showed his experience by recovering well. After a bogey on the second hole and a three-putt on the third, he regained his composure with a great up-and-down on the fourth and another on the fifth, eventually carding a birdie on the ninth and finishing with a four at the last. “When you’re having a good year, it’s easier to bounce back from a start like that,” said Lowry. Max kennedy also appreciated Harrington’s guidance during their practice round. “He’s a great man!” Kennedy said. “He gave loads of tips and some great life advice—just keep at it, don’t give up, and don’t compare yourself to others. It’s simple but invaluable advice.”