Kearney gets the call into this week's Joburg Open

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
By PHILIP REID
Niall Kearney's decision to kick-start his professional career by undertaking the journey to South Africa has reaped dividends, with the 21-year-old Dubliner securing a sponsor’s invite into this week’s Joburg Open – which completes the European Tour’s co-sanctioned tournaments with the Sunshine Tour – starting in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Although last year’s Walker Cup campaigner missed the cut on his professional debut in the Africa Open last week, Kearney’s status – having joined the expanding stable of golfers at Horizon Sports – has earned him a precious invite into a tournament where South African Charl Schwartzel will aim for back-to-back titles after starting his year’s work with victory at the East London Club on Sunday.
Kearney is the new kid on the block as far as the Irish contingent competing at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Club – where the East and West courses will be used – is concerned, with Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Michael Hoey, Gary Murphy and tour school graduate Simon Thornton all competing.
Clarke, who started his season with a tied-28th finish in the Africa Open, recognises he has a lot to do if he is to achieve the target of reclaiming his Ryder Cup place for the match with the United States in October. Currently ranked 115th in the official world rankings, which doesn’t guarantee him places in any of the majors or WGCs, Clarke moved on to Johnannesburg remarking, “I want to get back on that team. I’m currently outside the top 50 in the world, so I’ve got to play and play well if I’m to make that team.”
The JoBurg Open is played over two courses, one of which, the East, Clarke considers “one of the best in South Africa, it is a fantastic course.”
Clarke’s best finish in the tournament was fourth in 2008, a season he secured his last two wins on tour in the Asian Open and the Dutch Open.