ERIN, Wis. — Matthew McClean received the rain-delayed U.S. Mid-Beginner on Saturday, constructing a 5-up lead and holding off shut pal Hugh Foley in an all-Irish closing at Erin Hills.
The 36-hole championship match was cut up over two days due to rain earlier within the week. McClean was 2 up after 18 holes on Friday night, after which took benefit of Foleys bogeys to construct an enormous lead.
Foley ran off three straight birdies late within the match, just for McClean to shut him out with par on the thirty fifth gap for a 3-and-1 victory.
The victory sends McLean to the Masters in April and the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership in June.
It ended a protracted and inseparable week between the Irish associates.
They flew out of Dublin collectively on Sept. 5. They shared a rental automotive and personal housing and performed follow rounds collectively. After which it was all enterprise within the championship match, and McClean was largely in management all through.
He turned the second Irish winner of a USGA title this 12 months, following Padraig Harrington on the U.S. Senior Open.
McLean stated former British Open champion Shane Lowry, who received the BMW PGA Championship final week at Wentworth, messaged them Friday night time to say there could be at the least yet another Irish participant at Augusta Nationwide and the U.S. Open.
Simply fortunately it is me going there, McClean stated. Hugh has performed unbelievable golf this 12 months. For the previous three months he is in all probability been the very best participant in Eire comfortably. It is in all probability in a means who I needed to play within the closing, however on the similar time it is not the particular person you wish to lose within the closing, as nicely.