Having made a dream start to his professional career last week, Englishman Jimmy Mullen arrives at this week’s Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort with a spring in his step and hoping to capitalise on his good form on his Challenge Tour debut.
The 21 year old launched himself into the limelight on his first professional start at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship when he led the field on both of the opening two days in Scotland.
While the weekend did not go quite as he had planned, Mullen was still delighted with his performance after also playing a starring role in last month’s Walker Cup, as the only man to claim a 100 per cent points’ record in Great Britain and Ireland’s victory over the USA.
The 2015 Welsh Open Stroke Play Champion is still walking on air as he prepares to make an early impression on Europe’s top developmental tour and he was delighted to be given the opportunity to line out alongside four of his Walker Cup team-mates in County Carlow this week.
“It was obviously a great first cheque as a professional,” he said. “It was great to realise I can compete when I’m playing well, which is fantastic to know. I know if I keep working hard someday I can be established on tour.
“I was disappointed with the finish in the end but if someone had offered me 30th place I would have bitten their hand off.
“My game is in pretty good shape. It’s a bit different going from links to parkland this week but we’ll see how it goes, I’ll just take what’s given to me really.
“I’ve talked to a few players and they’ve said the standard is really good out here. You have to play well to make money out here though. I’m looking forward to it and I’m just taking whatever invites I can to learn about how the Challenge Tour is, what the players are like and what it’s like to travel.
“I don’t know what to expect on the Challenge Tour but I think I’ll be able to prepare for next year and if I can get onto the tour, then learn a lot more. It’s just getting ready for next year for me now.”
The Christy O’Connor Jnr-designed course at Mount Wolseley has been the subject of wholesome praise from many players this week and Mullen believes it may just suit his game.
“I do like the course, it’s quite generous of the tee, which does suit me,” he said.” The greens are slopey so if you want to shoot a good round here you have to hit your second shots close because you’re going to have some big breaking putts.
“I’m quietly confident this week but golf throws up a lot of unexpected things so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
