Memories of a marker

Few people know the setting for The 153^rd Open quite like Gary McNeill does.

But the surroundings at Royal Portrush were far from familiar as the club’s long-serving head professional stood on the first tee on moving day when golf’s original Championship last took place at the venue in 2019.

With hundreds of spectators crowded around the tee box, and his every move captured by live TV crews, McNeill can recall the nervous energy running through his body as he placed his tee in the ground, ready to get his round underway at The 148^th Open.

He was playing as the marker alongside Paul Waring on the course he knew inside out – and although it felt like unfamiliar territory at the time a safe shot down the first followed and the day turned out to be one he’d never forget.

Six years on McNeill recalls the special memories made during his round on Saturday and hasn’t ruled out doing it all over again when the Championship returns to Royal Portrush in July.

“Obviously I was very nervous, and very glad to get off that first tee,” McNeill said.

“What I remembered about it was being called and how quiet it all went. Our first tee is not a big area so you really get the impression that the people are right on top of you.

“Of course once you set up over the golf ball and you get ready to swing, everything happened before I realised it. And off we went.”

That first tee shot was one he’d played over many times in his mind, but it was another moment McNeill has been reliving the most in the past six years.

He added: “I've sat in the grandstands many, many times at Opens and watched golfers play the 18th hole.

“But to have that experience up the 18th, and hit a couple of good shots as well, was great.

“It was one of those experiences that you'll just remember forever.”

After a distinguished amateur career, which included wins at both the Irish Boys Championship and the Irish Amateur Championship, he moved in to coaching.

Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington have both reaped rewards from his expertise on the range, while video sessions with Darren Clarke saw the two become good friends.

After learning that the Championship would be taking place at the course he calls home in 2019 – the first time it had returned to Northern Ireland in 68 years - and with his round as marker looming large, McNeill wanted to work on his own game.

"Traditionally it falls on the club pro's lap to either do it or nominate someone to do it.

“I was very keen to do it, but I hadn't really been competing very much at all and any golf I played I was playing here at the club.

“I went back out and I started to play in just whatever I could play in - pro-ams, the Winter Alliance, or whatever it was.

“I went off and started to practice a bit more and play a little bit more and then come the year of the Championship itself I entered regional qualifying. I obviously didn't qualify but I took a few things away from that.

“By the time The Open came here I had been playing and practicing a bit, so the game felt fine.”

McNeill played as marker on both the Saturday and Sunday and has many reminders from the weekend – a now iconic weekend which saw Shane Lowry triumph as Champion Golfer of the Year in front of a partisan Irish crowd.

“It was a wonderful experience and I've got some great photographs. [The broadcaster] cut all the footage as well, because they record everything, so I've got 30 minutes of footage from Saturday and about 30 minutes from Sunday.

“So I've got that always to look back on.”

He now can’t wait for the Championships to return to the venue this summer, and left the door open to a possible second stint as marker.

He added: “It's a special thing to do. I’m not sure if I'm going to do it again. Plenty of colleagues are prepared to step in.

“I think if I did, it would certainly be the last chance I would have to do it.

“It's six years further down the line and when you're in your mid-50s everything hurts a little more, so I'm going to have to see how things go.

“I've been captain of the PGA over in Ireland so I've been playing more than I had been. We'll see how things go over the next couple of months.”

McNeill's participation in this year’s Championship might be up in the air right now, but what’s for sure is that there will be many more special memories made when The 153rd Open arrives at Royal Portrush in July.