Ireland's 'Mr 57' in form with Augusta spot on table

Inspired by Ben Hogan, with a swing resembling Bryson DeChambeau - Castleknock native David Carey will make his first PGA Tour start in the US today at the Valero Texas Open.

Carey won Monday's qualifier with a round of 65 at the Fair Oaks Country Club, with his girlfriend Caitlin as caddie, a novelty highlighted by the PGA Tour social media team this week. She will be remaining on his bag this week, Carey confirmed after.

As an indicator of the rigmarole involved in reaching the starting gate this week, Carey had already come through a pre-qualifier to earn a place in Monday's qualifier.

Monday qualifiers for @ValeroTXOpen: David Carey (65) Peter Kuest (66) Austen Truslow (67) Peter Lansburgh (68) @DavidCareyGolf also won the Pre-Qualifier to get in to the Monday Qualifier and will make his first stateside TOUR start, all with his girlfriend on the bag ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wnVQRkNVs2

While Seamus Power is known for taking a rather left-field, circuitous route to achieving recognition in his homeland, Carey's journey is even quirkier.

A former Ireland boys international, he took the unusual step of turning pro in his teens, as soon as an Alps Tour card became available.

For the unaware - and there are many - the Alps Tour is a third level tour in European golf, underneath the second level Challenge Tour and the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour, of course). There are a number of third-level tours, this one is sanctioned by the golf associations in France, Austria, Switzerland and Morocco.

Carey, now 26, is still best known for shooting the lowest ever round in a professional tournament, with a 57 on a par-68 layout when winning the Cervino Open back in 2019.

He subsequently adopted the moniker 'Mr 57', which is referenced in