Paul Dunne hoping for Irish spark

World number 176 Paul Dunne says the “signs are good” as he looks to bounce back to form with victory at this week’s Irish Open at Lahinch Golf Club.

Dunne has had some good results this season, with a third-place finish at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and a share of fourth at the Made in Denmark the two biggest highlights. However, the Irishman has also struggled on numerous occasions this year and he heads into this week’s Irish Open on the back of two missed cuts, having failed to make the weekend at both the BMW International Open and Andalucia Masters.

A return to his homeland could spark the revival the 26-year-old so desperately wants as the 2019 Open championship, which will be held at Royal Portrush, is just around the corner. Dunne, who broke his European Tour duck at the 2017 British Masters, admits he has been struggling to rediscover his best form but he feels a victory is not far away.

“I have had some good finishes, a lot of mediocre stuff and more missed cuts than I would like,” he was quoted as saying by the Independent.

“But the signs are good. Two big weeks and it can hopefully improve. “I am just waiting for something to happen to give me a bit of momentum because I feel like every round if it’s going along great, something happens which stalls everything.

“I feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle – you miss a couple of birdie chances, or you get a bad break at the wrong time. But a good result is close, I think. The challenge for me is keeping the ball in play when it gets windy. That will usually determine my weeks.”

Dunne is 81.00 to win the Irish Open while Spaniard Jon Rahm, who won the 2017 edition, leads the betting at 8.50.