Nenagh's Dodd minding the stars at the US Open

A Nenagh man was mixing with some of the biggest stars in world sport last week.

Donncha Dodd, son of journalist Ronan Dodd and teacher and former local councillor Virginia O'Dowd, was working in the USGA's Player Services Department at the US Open in Shinnecock Hills, on Long Island, New York.

“I help with the players with their flights, transportation, tee-times, accommodation and this like that,” he said of his role in an interview with CNN's Golf correspondent Shane O'Donoghue, who is a fellow Tipperary man, hailing from Clonmel.

Dodd secured the internship with the USGA at the start of the year which saw him involved in all the pre-planning to ensure the stars of world golf wanted to nothing when they teed it up for the second major of the year, won by Brooks Koepka who successfully defended his title on Sunday night.

“It has been one of the most intense, busiest weeks of my life, and probably one of the best as well,” added Dodd of the experience, including playing in a mini-basketball tournament with American Tony Finau who was in the final pairing on Sunday, before slipping down the field.

 

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