John Murphy doesn't have to look too far to find any inspiration, if he were to require it, this week. It was a year ago that Séamus Power played his way into the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic via the Monday qualifiers and, on the back of a top-10 finish, embarked on a magical journey that has taken the Waterford man to a PGA Tour win and a place inside the world's top-50 that has opened doors into the Majors.
This week, Murphy – a graduate of the University of Louisville – is sharing a rented house with Power and, for good measure, is also in the field for the $9 million at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas where he is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. Initially, it was given to him when still an amateur but the offer to defer for a year until he could play as a professional was too good to refuse.
“I thought it would be stupid to turn that down,” admitted Murphy, the 23-year-old Corkman who will be playing in just his second PGA Tour event having missed the cut earlier this season in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am – and who, for the most part, will be focusing his efforts on the Challenge Tour in Europe in his bid to earn a full tour card on the DP World Tour.
For now, though, the focus is on the Byron Nelson and the possibilities that presents for the former Walker Cup player, who ticks so many boxes in what you’d want from a prototype, young professional: a wise head on young shoulders, and an all-round game that is good and still developing.
Murphy – speaking at a virtual media conference arranged by insurance broker Arachas, one of his main sponsors – hasn’t played for six weeks since the Challenge Tour events in South Africa but prepared by returning to Louisville last week to use the facilities there – and also take in the Kentucky Derby. He is all set for the tournament this week before eyeing up a return to events in Europe, on the Challenge Tour and perhaps – if a sponsor’s invitation comes his way – in the Horizon Irish Open.
But this week is a big week, a big money event with a field headlined by world number one and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, and one where Murphy is hoping to pick up a pointer or two from his housemate and to be ready to go come Thursday's first round.
“Séamus has showed as much persistence as any Irish golfer ever that I can remember in terms of how long he had to wait for his time. What was it, three or four years ago, and he was on the Korn Ferry Tour and it’s incredible to see where he is now.
“It’s not an easy thing to do, to break into the top-50 in the world, and it doesn’t look like he’s stopping any time soon. It is motivating to see. I’m looking forward to kind of picking his brain a bit, see how he goes about his job in preparation. It’s obviously great to learn from one of the best in the world.”
And, although ranked 553rd in the world and truly still in the early days of his professional journey, Murphy has found belief in his own game. There was the top-10 finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links in October last year; and even the missed cut at Pebble Brought was viewed as all part of the learning curve.
“I learned my long game was great that week [in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am]. I know I can cope, that the kind of mechanisms I have to deal with pressure, I find have been very reliable for me in the past. So I think just try and make sure technically I am as good as I can be for Thursday and just go from there,” said Murphy of his mindset heading into this week’s tournament.
He added of finding his own comfort zone since turning professional:
“Séamus is a prime example, he didn’t get his first PGA Tour card until he was in his 30s and that’s certainly more inspiration for me. I’m young, I’m 23, and as much as I don’t want to sit back and be content with where I am, I’m very comfortable with the fact that I have time to figure things out and figure out what works best for me.
“Right now I’m kind of at the stage where I’m going to show up every day and do the most I can to feel like I’m getting better. Some days that might be sitting there and taking a break, watching a movie, that’s one thing I’ve learned from the likes of Shane [Lowry].
“The year after he won the British Open, he didn’t touch a golf club for maybe a month, maybe more, that winter. So sometimes you have to listen to yourself, listen to what works best for you and I’m still at the stage where I’m trying to figure some of that out. But I feel like last year was a huge learning curve and I figured out a lot about myself and that the best way is to grind, essentially. I’m looking forward to learning more.”
