Feed aggregator

Paul Lawrie. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley missed the one under par cut by two shots as Paul Lawrie stormed into the halfway lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Hoey followed his bogey free 68 with just one birdie against three bogeys and a double in a 77 to finish on one over par alongside McGinley, who shot a one over 73.

Breezy conditions made scoring a challenge in the second round but wind specialist Lawrie, 47, fired a six under par 66 to move a step closer to becoming the first player to win the event three times.

The 47-year old won at Doha Golf Club in 1999 - a few months before his Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie - and 2012, both times going on to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team the same year.

In his 16th appearance at the Qatar Masters, Lawrie again showed his affinity for windy conditions, carding seven birdies and a bogey to move to 11 under for the tournament, one shot clear of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who birdied the last for a 68.

Frenchman Grégory Bourdy and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello also signed for 68s - the former enjoying a hole-in-one at the eighth - to lie a shot further back on nine under par alongside Englishman Andrew Johnston (69), while Sergio Garcia, the 2014 champion, was one of five players on eight under after a bogey-free 66 which included an eagle two at the par four 16th.

South African Branden Grace did his chances of successfully defending the tournament no harm with a five under par 67 to move into a share of tied 11th place on seven under.

Paul Lawrie“It was pretty much the same as yesterday - I played nicely tee-to-green. I hit a lot of good shots. When you play nicely as that and control the flight of the ball like I did yesterday, you know you're going to hole a few putts, you're going to shoot low. So it was a good day.“They put the tees forward today, obviously thinking that the wind was going to blow pretty hard. So I got a little frustrated after 15, because I thought, you're not taking advantage of the conditions today. Then I played some nice golf and made a few birdies.“It's nice to go back to places that you know you can play well on and you have done in the past. It's got to help that you know you've won this tournament twice before. But there’s a long way to go; you know the old adage. A lot of golf to be played, a lot of top players are still up there. But so far, so good.”Nicolas Colsaerts“It was a bit more of a grind, the front nine was a bit scruffy. There are probably a few shots that I would like to have again. And then I made a fantastic eagle on the first, my tenth, which got me back into the rhythm that I was hoping for. I played pretty steadily for the rest of that nine and four under is a pretty decent score today.“I've played quite well in the last couple years here. It seems like I know what to do on certain key holes and key shots. The back nine is probably a little more scoreable, so if you get off to a good start and keep the rhythm going, you can actually play quite well out here.”Rafa Cabrera- Bello“I think I'm well known for being a very consistent player. On a day with a lot of wind, normally you need to use a lot of resources and I think I'm good at that. I'm used to playing with the wind, plus I like this course.“Normally if I can use the wind, I'll use it. But sometimes it gets to the point that it's so much that you just have to play against it, and then that's when it gets really tricky.“I just missed some shots because of overdoing the wind or paying way too much attention to it. I think I was pretty much in control the entire day, which is something I'm proud of, especially on windy days.”Grégory Bourdy“It was not as difficult as yesterday. This morning, the wind was not blowing too hard. I think it's a good score, especially the hole-in-one, I'm very pleased about that. I had 158 metres to the pin and it was a straight shot into the wind. It's my third hole-in-one on Tour, which is great.“My game was again solid this morning. I just missed a few birdies, but my putting was not as great as yesterday. The rest of the game was actually very good. So I think nine under after two rounds in these conditions, on this course – I’m very happy about that.”Andrew Johnston“It's a good start and I’m pleased with the two days. I drove the ball well and kept it in play. I've hit a lot of good iron shots the right side of the pin, and I've putted well. I've just taken every hole as it comes. I holed some good putts at good times for birdies and hit some good shots at other good times. It's sort of gelled well together.“I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, keep the ball in play, hit some good shots and hole some putts and do exactly the same as what I’ve done until now.”Sergio Garcia“Any time you shoot under par, it's good. Even though my finish wasn't great yesterday, I was still happy with the beginning. Today I played really nicely. I think I hit every green. It was another good round, so I’ve just got to try to do more of the same on Friday, Saturday.“I had a really good front nine. I felt like I played well on the back when it was getting tougher; the wind was picking up. A lot of putts burned the edge, and finally I made a bomb on eight. The one you don't expect to go in was the one I made. It was a little bit of surprise, so I didn't know what to do.“I don't know if they were dance moves (on the eighth green). They were like jabs. When we got to the ninth tee, I said to my caddie and to the guys, 'I think that celebration is going to look a little bit funny on TV'.”Round 2 scores:

133 P Lawrie (Sco) 67 66, 

134 N Colsaerts (Bel) 66 68, 

135 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 67 68, A Johnston (Eng) 66 69, G Bourdy (Fra) 67 68, 

136 S Garcia (Esp) 70 66, T Olesen (Den) 67 69, T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 69, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 67, P Edberg (Swe) 70 66, 

137 B Rumford (Aus) 68 69, J Luiten (Ned) 70 67, G Coetzee (RSA) 67 70, B Grace (RSA) 70 67, K Broberg (Swe) 67 70, J Campillo (Esp) 69 68, J Fahrbring (Swe) 69 68, P Larrazábal (Esp) 65 72, M Kieffer (Ger) 69 68, 

138 L Bjerregaard (Den) 68 70, L Slattery (Eng) 69 69, B Dredge (Wal) 71 67, E Els (RSA) 68 70, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 65 73, R Rock (Eng) 68 70, A Noren (Swe) 69 69, B Wiesberger (Aut) 68 70, R Gouveia (Por) 67 71, G Havret (Fra) 71 67, 

139 M Ilonen (Fin) 71 68, P Meesawat (Tha) 72 67, B Åkesson (Swe) 66 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 69, 

140 J Lagergren (Swe) 72 68, R Karlsson (Swe) 73 67, B Stone (RSA) 72 68, R Ramsay (Sco) 71 69, C Lutton (Sco) 68 72, A Cañizares (Esp) 73 67, R Kakko (Fin) 69 71, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 72, M Siem (Ger) 69 71, J Morrison (Eng) 70 70, B Evans (Eng) 69 71, M Korhonen (Fin) 72 68, 

141 R Paratore (Ita) 75 66, T Bjørn (Den) 69 72, T Hatton (Eng) 71 70, R Bland (Eng) 72 69, P Hanson (Swe) 74 67, B Hebert (Fra) 71 70, M Warren (Sco) 73 68, S Benson (Eng) 74 67, N Holman (Aus) 70 71, O Wilson (Eng) 72 69, M Fraser (Aus) 69 72, 

142 C Shinkwin (Eng) 68 74, H Porteous (RSA) 71 71, G Stal (Fra) 74 68, T Immelman (RSA) 68 74, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 72 70, R Davies (Wal) 69 73, N Fasth (Swe) 71 71, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 69 73, J Cheng (am) (Chn) 72 70, 

143 W Ashun (Chn) 73 70, A Dodt (Aus) 72 71, A Quiros (Esp) 70 73, J Hansen (Den) 71 72, S Jamieson (Sco) 73 70, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 72 71, D Lipsky (USA) 71 72, T Pieters (Bel) 75 68, B Dechambeau (am) (USA) 73 70.

CUT

144 S Gallacher (Sco) 72 72, R Wattel (Fra) 76 68, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 73, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 75 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 75 69, S Gros (Fra) 76 68, E Espana (Fra) 71 73, 

145 M Hoey (Nir) 68 77, O Fisher (Eng) 73 72, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 73 72, S Hend (Aus) 72 73, P Uihlein (USA) 71 74, W Ormsby (Aus) 70 75, P McGinley (Irl) 72 73, H Otto (RSA) 72 73, G Boyd (Eng) 75 70, S Dyson (Eng) 76 69, C Paisley (Eng) 75 70, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 72 73, A McArthur (Sco) 74 71, C Wood (Eng) 74 71, 

146 G Storm (Eng) 74 72, F Zanotti (Par) 74 72, M Manassero (Ita) 75 71, T Linard (Fra) 75 71, D Howell (Eng) 73 73, J Quesne (Fra) 72 74, 

147 C Lee (Sco) 73 74, M Carlsson (Swe) 71 76, R Jacquelin (Fra) 72 75, N Elvira (Esp) 71 76, D Fichardt (RSA) 73 74, F Aguilar (Chi) 74 73, E De La Riva (Esp) 72 75, 

148 J Busby (Eng) 73 75, M Madsen (Den) 74 74, A Levy (Fra) 74 74, 

149 U Van Den Berg (RSA) 74 75, M Weir (Can) 73 76, D Brooks (Eng) 71 78, 

150 J McLeary (Sco) 75 75, A Al Shahrani (am) (Qat) 75 75, 

151 J Parry (Eng) 75 76, 

152 J Jeong (Kor) 73 79, E Pepperell (Eng) 75 77, 

153 D Foos (Ger) 76 77, J Daly (USA) 79 74, 

154 R Thomas (am) (Ind) 79 75, 

158 A Al Kaabi (am) (Qat) 79 79, 

** S Khan (Eng) 75 RT, S Webster (Eng) 79 WD, J Winther (Den) RT.

Announcing details of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open clubs initiative are (l-r) Michael Davern, Chief Executive, The K Club; Barry Funston, Chief Executive, the Rory Foundation; Antonia Beggs, European Tour; George Horan, President Dubai Duty Free and Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI). Picture © Golffile | Fran Caffrey

Rory McIlroy and the European Tour have massive plans for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open but there’s doubt about Lough Erne Resort’s planned hosting in 2017 and utter confusion between the tour and the Irish Region of the PGA over a possible qualifying event. 

Not only is the Lough Erne Resort no longer certain to host next year despite being officially name as the 2017 venue two years ago, but the Irish Region of the PGA deny categorically they have been in talks with the European Tour about an official Irish Open Qualifier.

On the future of Lough Erne as the 2017 venue, Antonia Beggs, Championship Director of the PGA European Tour, deferred to her new boss, Canadian Keith Pelley.

“The new Chief Executive came on board in August as a very dynamic individual who is currently assessing the strategic placing of the Irish Open and that will involve prize fund, it will involve the date and venues and that is all being discussed at the moment.” she said of any possible change of date going forward and the strategy concerning the venue. 

" We can’t confirm (Lough Erne) either way. It is all down to the Chief Executive.”

She added: “Keith Pelley says we are not working as individual tournaments but as the European Tour and we have to get as many great players as possible playing and then work out which tournaments they play in. 

“There is no definitive decision (about Lough Erne) and I am not going even begin to speak on the CEO’s behalf or I’ll have my P45 tomorrow. 

“The Irish Open is such a key part of the overall strategy and as one of the biggest tournaments that there is in golf, he is looking at it as part of our overall strategy.

“We have a once-in-a-generation superstar in Rory McIlroy hosting this tournament, who transcends not just golf but sport in general. 

“So we came up with a five-point plan of how we can engage Ireland or the island of Ireland and how we can get the golf clubs of Ireland behind this tournament this year.”

The doubts about Lough Erne will be of major interest to Northern Ireland’s current First Minister, Arlene Foster, a Co Fermanagh native.When asked during the Open Championship announcement at Royal Portrush last October about the possibility that the 2017 Irish Open might not go to the Enniskillen resort in her native county after all, she said: "You'll have to ask the European Tour. The announcement has been made. 

“The expectation is there. Certainly all of the agencies are working towards 2017. Nothing has changed, or you would know.”

As for the Irish Open Qualifier, the PGA Irish Region says categorically it hasn’t been consulted about the possibility that the Tour may replace the traditional, automatic places awarded two the top six in last year’s Irish Region Order of Merit with an irish Open Qualifier.

A similar event was staged in Scotland last year with five spots awarded in the field for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane to the leading five professionals or amateurs a 36-hole, £50,000 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Qualifier, held the weekend before at North Berwick.

That event was open to PGA qualified club pros, assorted mini tour professionals and even amateurs with one of the amateurs making the Gullane field.

Ms Beggs said: “This one isn’t Keith Pelley’s strategy but we’d love to run a competition for the (PGA) pros. If we are looking after the amateurs, let’s look after the pros in the golf clubs as well and get them engaged with the tournament.

“We are working on it with Michael McCumiskey of the Irish PGA to see what we can come up with but there is no definitive answer at the moment.”

However, when contacted for comment, Irish Region secretary McCumiskey said it was news to him and he was adamant he’d heard nothing from the European Tour or Ms Beggs and spoken with no-one about a qualifier.

While aware that Aberdeen Asset Management sponsored Scottish Open Qualifier, last year, McCumiskey said: “I can only deal with the facts and I have had no conversations with the European Tour about an Irish Open Qualifier either verbally, or in person or by any means. I know nothing about it.”

In recent years, the European Tour has offered six spots to the Irish Region of the PGA, which Dundalk has awarded to the top six eligible players in the previous season’s Order of Merit.

Last year’s Top-6 were Eamonn Brady (Clontarf), David Higgins (Waterville), Colm Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance Limited), Neil O’Briain (Old Conna), Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) and Brendan McGovern (Headfort).

Losing all six places to a potential Irish Open Qualifier would be contentious even if Dubai Duty Free were to pump thousands into an event that would count on the Irish Region’s schedule.

Michael McCumiskey, secretary of the PGA Irish Region

While she was unsure what might happen, Beggs indicated that losing all six spots was not the preferred option.

“Categorically we can say that we would never take all of those places away,” she said. "There is no definitive answer at the moment.

"If there had been, we would have announced it today. We wanted to announce something today. But I would expect us to make an announcement on whether it is going to happen or not in the next two to three weeks.

"You have the amateur element of it as well. We have to see how we can engage everybody and see. I hope to have an answer for you in a few weeks. We’d like to make everyone happy.”

As for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open proper, McIlroy wants to get Irish clubs heavily involved in an event that Pelley regards as one of the foundation stones of the European Tour and a key part of his strategy for the future.

In co-opertation with the European Tour and his Rory Foundation, four-time major winner McIlroy has come up with a five point plan to bring back the glory days of mass club participation in the event which will be played on the Palmer Ryder Cup course from May 19-22.

With The K Club capable of hosting 45-50,000 fans a day at the 2006 Ryder Cup, organisers are dreaming of another sell out week and hoping to get at least 100,000 fans to see McIlroy and some of the world’s elite play for boosted, €4 million prize fund.

The new initiatives include a chance for clubs to send a mixed team to compete in the tournament Pro-Am via regional and national qualifiers for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Club Challenge.

An “Irish Open Skills Challenge” and “Get Into Golf With Rory” initiative will also be run to encourage under 15s and schools to get more involved in the game while there will also be special ticket and coach offers exclusive to golf clubs so they can organise a big day out at The K Club next May.  

Michael Davern, Chief Executive, The K Club; Barry Funston, Chief Executive, the Rory Foundation; Antonia Beggs, European Tour; George Horan, President Dubai Duty Free and Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI). Picture © Golffile | Fran Caffrey

McIlroy is asking every golf club in Ireland to nominate one individual as its Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Ambassador and become he main point of contact at the club for all things relating to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

“The Irish Open has always been very close to my heart but I would love this year’s event to be even more special as it will once again be hosted by the Rory Foundation,” McIlroy said in a statement.

“I am extremely proud to come from these shores and we are truly blessed with loads of great, accessible courses which I have no doubt have played a big part in Ireland punching well above its weight with the exceptional golfing talent we have produced, north and south, over the years.

“I want the entire golfing world to know this and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is the perfect vehicle as it showcases the quality of our golf courses to more than quarter of a billion homes around the globe.  

"With this in mind, I’m determined to make sure that the Irish Open, which has grown tremendously in recent years, maintains its current status as one of the best events in world golf.

“We can achieve this if we all pull together, which is why I’m asking clubs to embrace this year’s event, get involved and help make it one of the best ever.  I’m really looking forward to working with our golf clubs to promote what I believe is one of the best tournaments on the professional circuit - in one of the best golfing destinations in the world.”

Sponsors Dubai Duty Free, who recently agreed to extend their agreement for three years until 2018, estimated that they got $150 million worth of exposure from last year’s championship at Royal County Down.

No big name players have been announced yet but there are plans to have as many of the 2006 Ryder Cup team members as possible compete.

They could include Tiger Woods but the 14-time major winner hasn’t played since last August and as he’s currently recovering from a fourth back surgery, he has set no date for his return to the fairways.

McIlroy recalls going to the Irish Open by coach as a young teenager in 2003 and 2004, leaving Holywood Golf Club at 5am to see his idols in action at Portmarnock and Co Louth.

Those Irish Opens were not the huge sell out events of yesteryear but the venues (even if Portmarnock’s men only rule is a problem) are believed to be high on McIlroy’s wish list for future Irish Opens south of the border. 

In Northern Ireland, Portstewart has been touted as a potential venue for next year.

SINGAPORE-Darren Clarke during round one of The SMBC Singapore Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization. Picture by Paul Lakatos/ Lagardère Sports

World No 1 Jordan Spieth is just a shot off the clubhouse lead in the weather-delayed SMBC Singapore Open but it was also a good day for Cork's Niall Turner.

As Spieth carded a four under par 67 to trail early leaders Keith Horne of South Africa and compatriot Barry Henson by one stroke at a steamy Sentosa Golf Club, Muskerry star Turner posted a one under 70 to share 21st in his opening event of the year.

While he had 33 putts, the former Irish Close runner-up missed just two greens in a four-birdie round before play was suspended late in the afternoon due to lightning. 

Scores

"I was a bit rusty after the winter break but it was good to get under par," said Turner. "The heat was unreal out there!

 

"Everything was pretty solid but I struggled with the speed of the greens on front nine  and didn't feel sharper until the back."

European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke had three three-putts and 36 putts in an opening, three over par 74.

As for Spieth, he had a bogey-free round, highlighted by an opening 20-footer for birdie.

Spieth said: “My speed control was great, with no three putts, I had a lot of putts over 30 feet today, I know I was not hitting it close enough but I managed to hit the fairway to a good number and get onto the greens where I just need to two-putt. It was pretty stress free and but there were no real opportunities."

Cormac Sharvin reacts after making his putt on the 14th hole to win the match during the morning foursomes matches of the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. © USGA/Chris Keane

Walker Cup hero Cormac Sharvin has turned professional and will make his debut in Australia next week.

The 23-year old, now former University of Stirling player from Ardglass, is in the field for the PGA Tour of Australasia's $300,000 Oates Vic Open at the 13th Beach Golf Links' Beach Course in Barwon Heads, Victoria, from February 4-7.

Winner of three points out of three for Great Britain and Ireland in last year's record-setting Walker Cup win over the United States at Royal Lytham and St Annes, the Co Down man was due to graduate from university next May.

We understand he will sign with a major international management agency and details of this and his decision to start his professional career in Australia will be officially announced early next week.

Sharvin birdied the 18th to beat Paul Dunne one up in the final of the 2013 Irish Amateur Close Championship at Connemara Golf Links and claimed last season's Brabazon Trophy to cement his place in the Walker Cup side.

He is regarded by many as one of the most talented Irish amateurs to emerge since Rory McIlroy

World No 11 Olivia Mehaffey shook off her jet-lag to move up the leaderboard and head the Irish challenge in the 86th Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship.

The Royal County Down Ladies star, who flew into Lisbon from the South American Amateur via Paris alongside Chloe Ryan, fired two birdies and just one bogey in a 71 at Montado to move up 41 spots to 14th on two over par.

Spain’s world No 3 and current European Amateur champion added a 68 to her opening 66 to lead by an impressive six strokes on 10 under par from Germany’s Esther Henseleit (68) and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela (70).

Lahinch’s Sinead Sexton soared 42 places to 30t thanks to a level par 72 and joins  Maria Dunne, who added a 75 to her first round 74, on five over par.

86th Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship

Detailed scoreboard

• 1 Maria Parra ESP -10 134 66 68      
• 2 Esther Henseleit GER -4 140 72 68      
• 3 Albane Valenzuela SUI -4 140 70 70      
• 4 Puk Lyng Thomsen DEN -2 142 72 70      
• 5 Emma Grechi FRA -1 143 73 70      
• 6 Roos Haarman NED -1 143 70 73      
• 7 Alessia Nobilio ITA PAR 144 71 73      
• 8 Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso ITA PAR 144 71 73      
• 9 Beatrice Wallin SWE PAR 144 70 74      
• 10 Carlotta Ricolfi ITA +1 145 73 72      
• 11 Margot Bechadergue FRA +1 145 73 72      
• 12 Gemma Clews ENG +1 145 69 76      
• 13 Lianna Bailey ENG +2 146 76 70      

Irish

• 14 (55) Olivia Mehaffey IRL +2 146 75 71      
• 30 (72) Sinead Sexton IRL +5 149 77 72      
• 35 (33) Maria Dunne IRL +5 149 74 75      
• 42 (48) Jessica Ross IRL +6 150 75 75      
• 56 (70) Julie McCarthy IRL +8 152 77 75      
• 69 (53) Chloe Ryan IRL +10 154 75 79      
• 77 (86) Paula Grant IRL +13 157 80 77 
• 79 (77) Mairead Martin IRL +13 157 77 80      
• 88 (87) Mary Doyle IRL +27 171 81 90

Paul Dunne talks to the press at Torrey Pines

it would be hard to find three more different people than Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne and Seamus Power but all three will be united by a common goal when they begin their US Tour seasons today.

Improving every day and building on last season’s progress is the goal for all three and while West Waterford talent Power will be plying his trade on the Web.com Tour, he’s worked hard over the winter to build on his debut season on the second tier circuit last year.

Power tees it up in the $625,000 Panama Claro Championship in Panama City hoping to make a fast start to the season having struggled to get early momentum last year.

Some great work the last 3 days with @Power4Seamus @WebDotComTour @boditraksports pic.twitter.com/8SVUgN8kFX

— Ken Guilford (@Kenguilfordgolf) January 17, 2016

And it will be a similar story for Lowry and Dunne as they tee it up in a stellar field at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

Dunne, who is also playing the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in a fortnight having failed to secure starts on the European Tour’s Desert Swing, spoke about his hopes for his fledgling career before winning his card last year.

“If I have instant success, great,” he told Bunkered Magazine. "If not, I’m not the sort of person who’s going to live or die by how I play.

"Loving my new @zerorestriction clothing today at practice...Helping me work on ripping the new @pingtour G driver in a light rain!" https://www.instagram.com/seamyp/

"I think that the people who matter most to me will like me either way whether I win or come last. I’m just excited to be getting the opportunity to try and play this game for a living.”

But after battling his way through Q-School and making an excellent start to life on tour by making four cuts made out of five (with a first top 10 in the Joburg Open two weeks ago), the 23-year old Greystones native is clearly comfortable.

His long term goal is clearly the US circuit he’ll be looking to become the first player to win their first PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines for 25 years when he joins Derek Fathauer and Mark Hubbard on the South Course this afternoon.

Dunne hit the headlines last summer when he became the first amateur since 1927 to share the lead of the Open Championship after 54 holes, before eventually finishing 30th at St Andrews.

He went on to gain his European Tour card via the qualifying school in November but is taking advantage of a gap in his schedule to play in the United States, where he attended the same college as former US Open champion Graeme McDowell.

“I’m very excited to make my PGA Tour debut this week and spend a few weeks in California,” said Dunne, who turned professional after helping Great Britain and Ireland to a record Walker Cup win.

“When I was playing in college I was always striving to turn pro and play golf on a professional tour and I was excited to get my European Tour card back in November. And now I have a few weeks off the European Tour, I’m really excited to see what the PGA Tour has to offer.

“Category 16 status on the European Tour is for Q-School graduates, so it doesn’t get you in every event. When I was looking at the schedule I knew I had the first couple of events in South Africa (he finished ninth in the Joburg Open) and then my category wouldn’t get me into the events in the desert swing.

“So I knew I had a good break in tournaments and then we just sought places to play and looked to America. We were lucky enough to get invites over here.

“Obviously the overall goal for me would be to end up on the PGA Tour so any exposure I can get to that early is great.

“In terms of goals for the week, I kind of set my goals at the start of the year to just try and improve every day. Get better each week and let results take care of themselves. So I’m just going to keep working on my game and hopefully I put some good scores together.”

Dunne is joined in La Jolla by Lowry and No 2 Jason Day, who is a doubt for the defence of his title at Torrey Pines after being laid low by a virus.

Day pulled out of the pre-tournament pro-am but hopes to be fit enough today to play the opening round.

Shane Lowry

New world number four Rickie Fowler is also at Torrey Pines after making the 17-hour journey from Abu Dhabi, having won his second European Tour title on Sunday.

Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose are also competing and after knocking off some early season rust in the EurAsia Cup, Lowry will be hoping to hit the ground running and rack up some early Ryder Cup qualifying points.

Lowry, who starts on the North Course alongside Alex Cjeka and Angel Cabrera, will not be wanting for confidence and if he flags at any stage, he can look back at his win in last season’s WGC-Bridgestone Invational for inspiration.

“That gives me great confidence,” Lowry said last week. “I am walking down the back nine of a big tournament and I see Bubba Watson, Justin Rose  and Jim Furyk on the leaderboard trying to chase me down. It’s just something that tells me that if I am in that position again, I know I am able to do it.”

European champion and world amateur No 3, Maria Parra of Spain

Maria Dunne heads the nine-strong Irish contingent after opening with a two over 74 in the 86th Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship.

The Skerries star made five bogeys in her round but three birdies repaired some of the damage on a day when just 10 of the 90-strong field broke par at Montado Hotel & Golf Resort, an hour south of Lisbon.

World No 11 Olivia Mehaffey from Royal County Down Ladies and Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan only jetted in from the South American Amateur in Chile on Monday and did well to post 75s to join Donaghadee’s Jessica Ross on three over par

The leading Irish players have a long way to go to catch Spain’s Maria Parra, the world No 3 and reigning European Amateur champion, who made seven birdies in a a six under 66 to lead by three strokes from England’s Emily Slater and Gemma Clews.

Parra went out in one under 35 before storming home in 31 thanks to a birdie at the 10th and four more in her last five holes.

Ross was five over with three to play but finished strongly for her 75 while Mehaffey did well to match that score having started on the back nine and slipped to four over par after just seven holes.

Forrest Little's Julie McCarthy birdied the last for a 77 that left her alongside Sinead Sexton and Mairead Martin on five over.

LIsburn’s Paula Grant was undone by a quadruple bogey eight at the 13th as she signed for an eight over 80 while former Irish Close champion Mary Doyle made two birdies in an 81.

86º Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship, Montado (Par 72)

Scores

• 1 Maria Parra ESP -6 66
• 2 Emily Slater ENG -3 69
• 3 Gemma Clews ENG -3 69
• 4 Albane Valenzuela SUI -2 70
• 5 Roos Haarman NED -2 70
• 6 Beatrice Wallin SWE -2 70
• 7 Emilie Alba Paltrinieri ITA -1 71
• 8 Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso ITA -1 71
• 9 Gabrielle Macdonald SCO -1 71
• 10 Alessia Nobilio ITA -1 71
• 33 Maria Dunne IRL +2 74
• 48 Jessica Ross IRL +3 75
• 53 Chloe Ryan IRL +3 75
• 55 Olivia Mehaffey IRL +3 75
• 70 Julie McCarthy IRL +5 77
• 72 Sinead Sexton IRL +5 77
• 77 Mairead Martin IRL +5 77
• 86 Paula Grant IRL +8 80
• 87 Mary Doyle IRL +9 81

Reeve Whitson

Royal County Down's Reeve Whitson closed with a level par 72 to share 28th in the Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic in Egypt.

The former international star, who was tied 22nd on his 2016 debut last week, picked up €338. 

Scores

Headfort's Rory McNamara made three bogeys and two birdies in a 73 to finish 36th on five over with Stackstown's Richard Bridges tied 42nd after a final round 76.

At the top of the leaderboard, Belgium's Christopher Mivis birdied four of the last five holes for a 65 and a three stroke win on 10 under par from Dutchman Michael Kraaij, Austria's Bernard Neumayer and Germany's Max Kramer.

Louis Oosthuizen. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Hoey carded his first bobey free round sunce last October’s British Masters when he opened with a four under 68 in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Set to turn 37 in a fortnight, Hoey birdied the fourth, fifth, 15th and 18th, missing just one green in regulation, to end the day tied for 14th before former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal.

As Paul McGinley made four birdies and four bogeys in a level par 72 to share 62nd spot, Oostuizen shot a flawless, seven under par 65.

The 33-year old South African has won his first tournament of the calendar year in four of the last five years, and he did his chances of continuing that trend no harm at a windy Doha Golf Club, where he shares the lead with Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal.

One shot behind are Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, making only his second European Tour appearance since mid-October last year, England’s Andrew Johnston and Swedish Challenge Tour graduate Björn Åkesson, who impressed with a third place finish in the Joburg Open two weeks ago.

Eagle-par-eagle. https://t.co/i1m59mudti

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 27, 2016

A group of eight players, including Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and two-time former champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland, were two shots back at five under par.

South Africa’s Branden Grace, defending champion and highest ranked player in the field, opened with a two under par 70, as did Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who won here in 2014.

Louis Oosthuizen“The most satisfying thing was probably being bogey-free. There were two occasions where I looked like I was going to make bogeys, but I recovered well and the rest was just pretty solid. I like playing in the desert. I always play well around here and just like the golf course, and I like playing in windy conditions – although if it gets really windy it’s going to be difficult. I don’t know the reason why I always play well in January – probably because I’m well rested after a long break and a holiday. I should take more eight-week breaks. I enjoy the time away from the course and not touching my clubs, and afterwards I’m ready to go again and hungry to get back playing.”Pablo Larrazábal“I hit it very well from tee to green and made 17 greens in regulation, which in these conditions is very good. I gave myself a lot of birdie chances and that was key because with these tricky greens, you're not going to hole too many, but I holed seven, so it was very good. Last year I was playing very well in the middle of the season but then got a big injury at The Open Championship, and after that it was very tough to keep the rhythm and to come back. Consistency is the way we want to work, and to start playing more rounds under par is the way to go.”Nicolas Colsaerts“When I drive it that well, it makes a round a lot easier. When it’s on like this it’s very stress-free. If I'm as good as I was off the tee today, it makes a big difference to the rest of my game because I can come in with shorter irons into the greens.“I had one of the best winters I’ve had in recent years. Since I didn’t play any Final Series event last season, I stopped a lot earlier than previous years. Even though I went to Australia and Thailand and played a couple of events, I felt like it was good to see something else for a while and not get stuck in seeing the same people and playing golf with the same people all the time. It was just a matter of playing tournaments without having the stress of rankings, which I had for most of the season last year.”Björn Åkesson“My game feels really good. I changed my grip a little bit this morning on the driving range, and it worked out really well today. So I would say that’s the key. And I putted well on the front nine. I had lots of chances on the back nine, as well, but missed many of them. The golf course is fantastic and I love the back nine. It’s got so many good holes, and the finishing three holes are amazing. It feels like I’m developing my game all the time, and hopefully I’m looking bright for the future.”Andrew Johnston“I’m very happy with the score today. I’m pleased with the way I controlled the ball flight and I putted well, so it was good. It was tricky today. You’ve got quite a few crosswinds, so you want to be starting the ball wide enough and not losing it in the wind, and controlling the distance coming into some of the greens. And then putting can be difficult. The greens are grainier than last week and especially with the winds, it’s tricky. I had a great break in December. I watched Arsenal quite a lot, I watched the darts, and spent time with my mates and family. It was a good rest.”Round 1 scores

65 L Oosthuizen (RSA), P Larrazábal (Esp), 

66 B Åkesson (Swe), A Johnston (Eng), N Colsaerts (Bel), 

67 T Fleetwood (Eng), P Lawrie (Sco), K Broberg (Swe), G Bourdy (Fra), R Cabrera-Bello (Esp), T Olesen (Den), G Coetzee (RSA), R Gouveia (Por), 

68 E Els (RSA), B Wiesberger (Aut), M Hoey (Nir), C Lutton (Sco), T Jaidee (Tha), L Bjerregaard (Den), B Rumford (Aus), T Immelman (RSA), R Rock (Eng) , C Shinkwin (Eng) ,, , 

69 J Carlsson (Swe), B Evans (Eng), R Davies (Wal), R Kakko (Fin), M Kieffer (Ger), K Aphibarnrat (Tha), M Siem (Ger), J Fahrbring (Swe), A Noren (Swe) , L Slattery (Eng) , M Fraser (Aus) , J Campillo (Esp) , T Bjørn (Den)

70 B Grace (RSA), J Luiten (Ned), S Garcia (Esp), S Kjeldsen (Den), P Edberg (Swe), J Morrison (Eng), W Ormsby (Aus), A Quiros (Esp), N Holman (Aus), 

71 M Carlsson (Swe), G Havret (Fra), D Brooks (Eng), D Lipsky (USA), N Fasth (Swe), P Uihlein (USA), B Hebert (Fra), J Hansen (Den), D Drysdale (Sco), M Ilonen (Fin), T Hatton (Eng), R Ramsay (Sco), B Dredge (Wal), N Elvira (Esp), E Espana (Fra), H Porteous (RSA), 

72 T Fisher Jnr (RSA), J Quesne (Fra), P McGinley (Irl), S Hend (Aus), B Virto Astudillo (Esp), A Dodt (Aus), R Jacquelin (Fra), M Korhonen (Fin), E De La Riva (Esp), J Lagergren (Swe), P Meesawat (Tha), O Wilson (Eng), R Bland (Eng), B Stone (RSA), M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), H Otto (RSA), S Gallacher (Sco), J Cheng (am) (Chn), 

73 M Warren (Sco), D Fichardt (RSA), R Dinwiddie (Eng), C Lee (Sco), S Jamieson (Sco), J Jeong (Kor), O Fisher (Eng), J Busby (Eng), M Weir (Can), W Ashun (Chn), A Cañizares (Esp), R Karlsson (Swe), D Howell (Eng), B Dechambeau (am) (USA), 

74 S Benson (Eng), A McArthur (Sco), P Hanson (Swe), M Madsen (Den), A Levy (Fra), C Wood (Eng), F Zanotti (Par), F Aguilar (Chi), G Stal (Fra), G Storm (Eng), U Van Den Berg (RSA), 

75 T Linard (Fra), R Paratore (Ita), E Pepperell (Eng), J Parry (Eng), C Paisley (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J McLeary (Sco), T Pieters (Bel), M Baldwin (Eng) , M Manassero (Ita) , G Boyd (Eng) , S Khan (Eng) , A Al Shahrani (am) (Qat) ,

76 S Gros (Fra), S Dyson (Eng), R Wattel (Fra), D Foos (Ger), 

79 S Webster (Eng), J Daly (USA), R Thomas (am) (Ind), A Al Kaabi (am) (Qat), 

RET J Winther (Den),

Niall Turner

Niall Turner must overcome world No 1 Jordan Spieth in this week's US$1m SMBC Singapore Open if he's to achieve his goal of winning on the Asian Tour this season in his first outing of the year.

But given his enthusiasm and desire to finally put some injury plagued seasons behind him, the 33-year old former Muskerry player is right to shoot for the stars.

Jordan Spieth poses with an Irish fan in Singapore

Last season, Turner finished an excellent 58th in the Asian Tour's Order of Merit with fifth place finishes in the Venetian Macao Open in October and Decembers' Philippine Open.

That money list position got him into the field this but but he's aiming even higher now and a win would guarantee him a card for two years.

With the merger with the European Tour still on the cards, the Asian Tour looks a good bet for the former Irish Close runner up.

"Physically I am in great shape," said Turner, who is joined on Sentosa Island by European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, Jamie Donaldson an d said recently. "The last four years were pretty miserable for me at times. The issue was a defect in my hip that I was born with and took a whole to fully correct. Finally I have a clean bill of health and I am excited about the coming year.

"I would love to win an event. That would give me a two year exemption, which would be great and give me entry into more European Tour events."

Turner will be targeting the co-sanctioned events this year - the Maybank Championship, True Thailand Classic and the Hero Honda Indian Open.

Driving average up 13yards to 301 last year! All this work with @NoelMurphyCoach paying off pic.twitter.com/p7MMRrwd7S

— Niall Turner (@NiallTurnerGolf) January 14, 2016

But he has his work cut out to win this week with Spieth now in possession of a personalised Irish soccer shirt ahead of this summer's European Championships.

The world No 1 finished a jaded fifth behind Rickie Fowler in Abu Dhabi last week but believes that by resting enough he can contend on Sunday.

“Since arriving, I’ve spent the day resting, just trying to catch up on sleep, strength and rehydrate," said the Masters and US Open champion.

“This golf course is ranked in the top-60 in the world which is pretty special. Once Thursday starts I don’t mind the humidity and heat as I’m used to it in the summer in Texas."

Spieth started the year commandingly with a victory on the PGA Tour in Maui in January, and settled for tied-fifth place in Abu Dhabi last week.

Great day fine tuning equip and testing shafts with @Foregolfcustom before heading off to a warm Asia! Thanks lads pic.twitter.com/MBfLM8zxci

— Niall Turner (@NiallTurnerGolf) January 12, 2016

The Asian Tour reported:

While he admits that his globetrotting schedule has taken a toll on his game, the American is convinced he can still produce his ‘A’ game at the Sentosa Golf Club after taking a deserved break upon his arrival in Singapore on Monday.“I wouldn’t be over here now if I weren’t interested in playing around the world. For me it doesn’t matter as long as it fits the schedule.

SINGAPORE-L-R- Jamie Donaldson of Wales, Y E Yang of Korea, Shingo Katayama of Japan, Jordan Spieth of the USA, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, An Byeong-hun of Korea pictured with the trophy Tuesday January 26, 2016, ahead of the SMBC Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club, Serapong Course, Singapore. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Lagardère Sports.

“It won’t be a problem getting down on the golf course. I’ve looked over the yardage book already and it looks like a tricky golf course so I’m going to need to get as much information as I can,” said Spieth.“I’m sure the wind will be a factor, and sometimes the downfall in playing a couple of weeks in a row where you have to travel long distances is that you don’t play get the preparation or knowledge of golf course that you only have but we can still go with it,” he added.

The SMBC Singapore Open features the top 60 players from the Asian Tour, top 60 from the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), leading Singapore professionals and amateurs and invites including players from the top 50 in the world such as Spieth, Byeong Hun An or Jamie Donaldson.

Delighted to be associated with @PeccaviWines for this weeks sing open @asiantourgolf. Fantastic wines pic.twitter.com/cGL3XIGsER

— Niall Turner (@NiallTurnerGolf) January 26, 2016

Pádraig Harrington in the Golf Swing Shirt

Pádraig Harrington is everyone's favourite mad professor — a golfing alchemist toiling in his laboratory in search of the formula that will turn something ordinary into pure gold.

The 44-year old posted a video on Twitter today — just his 106th tweet since he joined the social media platform in June 2011 — and christened it his "Unexpected trick shot."

The slo-mo video was made i  the swing studio in the bowels his Dublin home — an Aladdin's Cave of irons, drivers, putters, swing aids and electronic gadgets. There's a net at one end where he blasts ball after ball during his downtime in search of that special feeling.

The walls are painted with a mural representing the Old Course at St Andrews, where he has won twice but came up short over the last 13 holes of The Open last season.

Unexpected trick shot. pic.twitter.com/LKt1uKHMht

— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) January 26, 2016

Harrington's wrists appear to be locked into some sort of swing aid and the ball rides up the  the net, hits a ceiling light and bounces back on the mat again where Harrington nonchalantly fields it and re-tees it for another whack.

The pock-marked wall behind the net (check out the marks near the ceiling) are reminders of other long days spent in the basement.

He cleared it out in December 2009 and sold off dozens of clubs (and other bits and pieces) for charity. But given the number of gadgets he's brought out on tour over the years, we're guessing it might be time for another sale. 

The inventions and innovations were certainly eye catching. Here's a few of my favourites:

The brain hat Okay, it was just some sort of brain scanning monitor attached to his cap but it certainly made for a good early story during a slow week in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Doral in 2013. Early in the week. the Dubliner wore a specially designed baseball cap fitted with electronic sensors that beamed information to an iPad, so he could work out which side of his brain was more active over a shot - the analytical left side or the more instinctive right side.The Happy Gilmore warm up

Padraig Harrington's awesome Happy Gilmore warm-up: http://t.co/uMDLUI4waa pic.twitter.com/j2PbDsec8f

— GOLF.com (@golf_com) March 3, 2015

Harrington's Happy Gilmore warm up exercise — a full run up to the ball followed by a full blood lunge with the driver, remains one of the great sights in sport.

Balance paws It was around the same time the man with 20-20 vision started wearing spectacles. Again it was 2013 and during the build up to The Open at Muirfield that Harrington tried out his Chango Balance Paws to work on his balance and stability.Swing shirt He achieved the same effect for years by tucking a towel or a wood cover under his armpits to keep his upper body and arms in sync. He's also put a child’s foam ball between his elbows. But the invention of the Golf Swing Shirt was too good to be true.Resistance bands and Happy Gilmores combo

Warming up with the resistance band/Happy Gilmore combo at the Honda Classic last year. It was an event he would go on to win in a playoff despite a 71st hole double bogey

Harrington added a new element to the Happy Gilmore warm up by putting a giant elastic bands around his thighs to active his glutes during the last year's Honda Classic win.

Light laser therapy 

Pádraig Harrington ices his wrist at Royal Birkdale in 2008

When he injured his wrist shortly before his Open Championship title defence at Royal Birkdale in 2008, Harrington went to Phil Mickelson's hotel every night to borrow his light laser machine. It worked. He retained the Claret Jug.

He's had many, many others from the Torpedo Putter (and the belly putter) to a variety of contraptions such as lasers, elastic bands, spirit levels and other weird and wonderful things.

Back in 2005, he acquired a wristwatch that could tell him his swing speed and other crucial data. At one stage he had three heart monitors, a sophisticated launch monitor, a digital spirit level to help read greens, an altimeter, a computerised putting system, a range finder and dozens of home made inventions. 

“I like my gadgets,” Harrington said a decade ago. “I have all sorts of things that I’m interested in. In my gym I have three different types of heart monitors that do different things. I have one that tells you that information how you are going along day to day.  You wake in the morning, take a reading and it tells you whether you need to rest or not. Basically tells you when you are overdoing it.

“If you were sick in your body and didn’t know it, this thing would pick it up. It would go off the charts with somebody who was stressed.”

That @padraig_h tweet from his basement reminded me of December 2009, when he sold off the contents for charity. pic.twitter.com/1qo4oM6bel

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) January 26, 2016

Harrington has added dozens of newer gadgets to his collection since then and regularly checks his urine and blood to aid his training regime.

“I have home made gadgets,” he revealed. “Some of them work but I’ve also made plenty of things that turned out to be useless as well.”

Once thing is certain, he's never boring.

Richard Bridges at St Andrews

EPD Tour trio Reeve Whitson, Rory McNamara and Richard Bridges had to work hard to make the cut in the Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic in Egypt.

Former Spanish Amateur champion Whitson added a level par 72 to his opening 76 to to share 30th with McNamara (72) on four over par, nine strokes behind Austrians Bernard Neumayer (73) and Berni Reiter (68) and Alexis Anghert (68) of France.

The leading trio head the 44 survivors by two strokes on five under par from Scotland's David Law (70), Germany's Maximilan Rohrig (70), France's Alex Kaleka (69) and Belgium's Christopher Mivis (72).

Scores

La Cala based McNamara began his second round with three successive bogeys and then followed a birdie at the sixth and a bogey at the 11th with three birdies in his last  six holes for a 72 that helped him make the cut with a shot to spare.

Stackstown left-hander Bridges was six over for the tournament with eight holes to play but the former Irish international dug deep and after following a birdie at the 11th with a dropped shot at the 15th, he crucially birdied the par-five 17th for a 73 to squeak inside the cut line on five over.

Druids Glen

Golf course rankings usually prompt the sharpening of knives and the grinding of molars but the annual Golfing Magazine readers' poll of Ireland's Top 50 Parkland layouts does exactly what it says on the tin.

Nearly 2,000 readers of Golfing/Golfingweekly.ie took the trouble to vote for their favourites and the result was that last year's top two swapped places with Druids Glen in Co Wicklow leapfrogging the Palmer Ryder Cup Course at The K Club, host venue for this year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, as Ireland's No 1.

Many of my personal favourites made the list though it's hard to believe that Royal Belfast or Belvoir Park did not get more support and make the Top 50 list, which will be published next week.

The biggest mover was the Castlemartyr Resort in Cork, which rose 15 places to 22nd while Palmerstown Stud near Naas jumped 13 spots to 11th and Luttrellstown Castle on the north bank of the River Liffey, rose 13 spots to 18th. Bunclody and Knightsbrook also moved into the top 25.

The Heritage in Co Laois, the Seve Ballesteros/Jeff Howes designed gem in Killenard, is now No 10, up two places on last year, while Killarney's Killeen Course also rose in the rankings and is now 12th. 

Golfing Magazine Top 50 Parkland Courses 2016

1. Druids Glen – Up 1
2. The K Club, Palmer Course – Down 1
3. Mount Juliet – Up 1
4. Slieve Russell – Up 1
5. Lough Erne – Up 1
6. Fota Island – Up 1
7. Killeen Castle – Up 1
8. Carton House, O’Meara Course – Up 1
9. Cork Golf Club – Up 1
10. The Heritage Resort – Up 2
11. Palmerstown Stud – Up 13
12. Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, Killeen – Up 4 
13. Malone Golf Club – No change
14. Concra Wood – Up 1
15. Headfort New – Down 1
16. Galgorm Castle Golf Club & Estate – Up 3
17. Dun Laoghaire – Down 3
18. Luttrellstown Castle Golf & Country Club – Up 13
19. Roe Park Resort – New entry
20. The K Club, Smurfit Course – No change
21. Malahide Golf Club - Up 10
22. Castlemartyr Resort – Up 15
23. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club – Up 9
24. Knightsbrook Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort – Up 12
25. Galway Bay Resort – New entry
26. Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Golf Resort – Up 7
27. Royal Tara – New entry
28. Tulfarris Golf Club – Up 13
29. Carlow Golf Club – Down 11
30. New Forest – Down 4
31. Waterford Castle Golf Resort – New entry
32. Powerscourt Golf Club, West Course – Down 9
33. Portumna Golf Club – Up 14
34. Roganstown Hotel & Country Club – New entry
35. Moyola Park – No change
36. Glen of the Downs – Up 7
37. Grange Golf Club – Down 15
38. Esker Hills Golf Club – No change.
39. Hermitage Golf Club – Down 10
40. Glasson Country House Hotel & Golf Club – No change
41. Tullamore Golf Club – Down 12
42. Tramore Golf Club – No change
43. Balbriggan Golf Club – No change
44. Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort – New entry
45. Mullingar Golf Club – Down 12
46. Royal Curragh Golf Club – New entry
47. Woodbrook Golf Club – Down 10
48. Castle Dargan Golf Hotel & Spa – Up 2
49. Westport Golf Club – Up 1
50. Castle Golf Club – Down 8.

Bryson DeChambeau in action in Abu Dhabi last week. Picture: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy isn't the only major winner to try amateur Bryson DeChambeau's set of unusual irons.

Pádraig Harrington hit them in Memphis last year and while he's impressed with 22-year old Californian's individual style, believing it will be good for his confidence when he turns professional after the Masters, he insists the flat-cap wearing American has two swings, not one.

"I hit his clubs in Memphis — he got an invite and was practicing near us, so I actually went over and had a go with all the clubs to see what they are like," Harrington revealed at the recent Irish Golf Writers' Association annual dinner at Castleknock Golf Club.

Here's DeChambeau in action pic.twitter.com/axPK86o3h9

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) August 21, 2015

"If somebody told you, that's the way it should have been when you were five years of age, you would have believed it, no problem. I was brought up a different way.

"They say all his clubs are the same length as a seven iron and he plays with this one-plane swing. But he changes again for his woods. So he has two swings. Even though he says all his irons are the same, the driver is swung like a normal driver because it has the normal lie, so it clearly doesn't work for every club."

Despite his misgivings about DeChambeau's uni-swing theory, Harrington is impressed by what he sees. 

"He is just particularly talented," Harrington said of a player who was tied 45th on his PGA Tour debut during the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis that week.

Here are Bryson DeChambeau's amazing clubs, all the same shaft, different lofts pic.twitter.com/Uq1aCLYrJf

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) August 21, 2015

"Give him a normal set of golf clubs and he is going to do very well. He is very talented.

"It does help for an amateur coming into the pro game that he is so used to being an individual. He has always had people looking at him because he is different. And that brings a huge amount of self-confidence.  

"He is not necessarily looking to anybody else to find confidence. He is  committed to what he is doing and I think that will really help him when he turns pro."

Describing himself as a "scientist" DeChambeau opened with a 64 to take the first round lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week but ended up tied 54th after subsequent rounds of 72, 78 and 72.

Irish fans have been familar with him since he beat Paul Dunne in the quarter-finals of the US Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields and led the losing US Walker Cup team last September.

The Irish Golf Writers' Association annual awards dinner was kindly sponsored by Carr Golf.

Sofía García and Juan Álvarez with their respective trophies

Olivia Mehaffey finished with a frustrating 12 pars in a row to end up just two strokes behind winner Sofía García in the South American Amateur Championship in Peru.

As Colin Fairweather tied for ninth in the men’s championship behind Uruguay’s Juan Álvarez, Mehaffey closed with a one under 71 to finish fifth on five under par.

The world No 11 — two off the lead starting the day — bogeyed the par-five first and while she birdied the second and the sixth, she could only look on as García birdied the 18th to break out of a four-way share of the lead with Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher, England’s Bronte Law and Peru’s Lucía Gutiérrez and take the title.

I don't even know what I just witnessed out there today... Frustrating doesn't even come close

— Olivia Mehaffey (@OliviaMehaffey) January 24, 2016

Simmermacher missed a short birdie putt on the last, carding a 69 and after Law and Gutierrez both parred, Garcia sank her birdie putt to become the first woman to successfully defend the title. 

Simmermacher (69), Law (71) and Gutiérrez  (71), shared second spot on 282 with Mehaffey on 283 and Castletroy’s Chloey Ryan (76) tied for 39th on 310.

Women’s championship scores

In the men’s championship, overnight leader Alvarez closed with a 70 yo win by one stroke from defending champion Scott Harvey of the US on 10 under par.

Knock talent Fairweather closed with a two over 74 to share ninth spot on level par with Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon also shooting 74 to share 26th on eight over.

Men’s championship scores

Mehaffey and Ryan jetted out of Lima to Paris and then on to Lisbon for this week’s Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship at Montado, where they will be joined by Jessica Ross, Maria Dunne, Julie McCarthy, Paula Grant, Sinead Sexton, Mary Doyle and Mairead Martin. Entries 

Rickie Fowler. Picture: Getty Images

Pádraig Harrington pointed out over a month ago that the modern game was so replete with superstars at the top level — he named at least five who’d be unbeatable on their day — that Rickie Fowler’s victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship came as no surprise.

The third man in the marquee group featuring world No 1 Jordan Spieth and No 3 Rory McIlroy over the first two days, the Californian ended up winning by a shot from the massive hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters.

Rory McIlroy ended up third with Henrik Stenson but only changed the look of the leaderboard when he was out of contention, closing with three birdies from the 12th followed by an impressive long range eagle putt at the last for a 68.

The Holywood star began the final round three behind Fowler, who completed a third round 65 early in the day to lead by two.

McIlroy then played the front nine in one over par 37, hitting just one fairway, as Fowler played the same stretch in two under.

The American closed with a 69 to win by one from Pieters but it was the manner of his win that stood out — a brace of birdies to start, an unlucly double at the seventh followed by a holed bunker shot for eagle at the eighth, a chip in birdie at the 17th just when Pieters (and McIlroy) were threatning to reduce his lead to one stroke.

Harrington predicted late last year that an explosive head to head betwen McIlroy and Jordan Spieth with both playing at the top of their game was unlikely to happen.

He also pointed out that there was a lot going on at the top of the game apart from Spieth, Jason Day and McIlroy. 

“As good as Rickie is, and I always pick him out as the star to watch, I was baffled by his selection at the start of (last) year as the underachiever,” Harrington said of the player who won The Players, the Scottish Open and the Deutsche Bank Championship last season.

“I don’t think he overachieved at all. I think Rickie Fowler is the real deal, not that I’m saying something people don’t already know. He could easily be in that top three. Physically he has got a great game and his head is in the right place. 

“It is silly to count those top three when there is Bubba Watson — and this is the difference from the Tiger era. When Tiger turned up with his A game, he dominated the field. There are probably four guys and a few fringe players on top of that, if they turn up with their A game, they are going to dominate the field. 

“It is unlikely they will turn up with their A game and somebody else will turn up with theirs too. It will be fascinating to watch all these guys with their A games but what we are seeing more and more because of the strength in depth is A games winning and nothing else. 

"Somebody is going to play lights out every week. Whereas Tiger was able to win with his B game. I am not saying these guys don’t have a good B game, but that they likelihood is that somebody is going to have their A game every week.”

Fowler is now up from sixth to fourth in the world but with McIlroy not firing on all cylinders and Spieth (68) somehow scrambling his way into a share of fifth with his B game, it only remains for Bubba Watson to beat what’s now being called the Big Four during the West Coast swing for the moniker to be changed to Big Five in time for Augusta.

“I was talking with Michael up the 18th fairway saying, wow, a birdie here and we’re definitely Top-10, and I felt like we were off this week,” Spieth said. "I didn't make anything. I didn't quite give a few myself a lot of chances the first couple rounds.

“I didn't get in a rhythm, and when I did have chances, they just wouldn't go in. I was just a little off on the read or the speed, one of the two. Sometimes that happens during a week, and we kind of grinded out eight-under on the weekend in what really could have been something special, but it also could have been worse.”
 
Fowler didn’t have his A game either but rounds of 70 68 65 and 69 were enough to get the job done and remind everyone in Europe that the United States Ryder Cup team will be very strong indeed. 

Naturally, he’s eyeing a major win and the world No 1 ranking. On paper, it’s achievable. In reality, it’s now a question of seeing who can best prepare for the really big weeks and claim those major prizes.

“I think golf’s just in a really good position right now,” Fowler said. "Having what Jason did last year through the summer, what Jordan did all year, still doing it, and Rory, I mean, he had a "not-so-good" year and won, I think it was four times or something. That's a pretty good not-so-good year.

"Yeah, the guys at the top of playing really well, and I look back at Kapalua, having played decent, but if you don't have your A Game and you're not playing well, you're not going to win. Because some guys, someone's going to show up and play well that week. The level of golf is very high, and it's pretty special to be ranked fourth now.

“I've got my eye sight on 1, that would be the ultimate goal, but I'm up against some pretty tough competition".

McIlroy sank a monster eagle putt at the last to join Stenson in posting a clubhouse target of 14 under but it was never going to be enough with Fowler and Pieters both ahead of him with the reachable par-five 18th to play. 

“I really just left myself too much to do, with the back nine that I played in the third round and then the front nine that I played in the final round here this afternoo,” McIlroy said. " I think I played those holes in 1-over par, which you can’t do.

“So if I had to take anything back from this week, it would have been that stretch of holes where I just didn't quite have anything going my way, and as I said, just left myself too much to do with nine holes to go."

McIlroy played the last few holes with a resigned swagger, chipping in for birdie from the rough and holing that huge eagle putt. For a first apeparance of the season, it was another good week in Abu Dhabi where he now has four seconds and two third places finished in Abu Dhabi in his last seven appearances.

He added: "I feel my game is in good shape going into this run of golf that I’ve got coming up. It's a busy schedule that I've got going into the Masters. I would have liked to have started the season just that little bit better with a win, but I feel my performance here, I can take plenty away from it and build on it and build gradually up towards the first major of the season at Augusta.”

Fowler will also have one eye on the Masters and he could not have been happier with his sixth win as a professional.

“This was a big one,” he said. "Last year, obviously having a multiple-win season, I wanted to come back and work on getting back in the winner's circle after a successful season and keep moving forward - this is a great start.

“When something happens like that (shot at eight), it definitely gives you a little boost of confidence knowing that you've got a good break with that after having a bad break, and sometimes you need to little luck on your side to get some wins.

“It’s the first time I've been inside the top five (on World Rankings). I've gotten in the five, so this is the highest, or lowest, however you want to say it, I've been ranked. So it's definitely nice to be up there. The ultimate goal this year is to go win a major and this is a step in the right direction for sure.

“I've got my eye sight on one (in the world), that would be the ultimate goal, but I'm up against some pretty tough competition.

“I'm excited. There's definitely some fine-tuning that we can do and we can always get better. I know all the players out here are always trying to get better, and that’s the goal moving forward, to be ready for Augusta.”

Darren Clarke (72) and Michael Hoey (74) finished near the back of the field on one under and level par respectively.

Scores:

272 R Fowler (USA) 70 68 65 69, 

273 T Pieters (Bel) 69 73 64 67, 

274 R McIlroy (Nir) 66 70 70 68, H Stenson (Swe) 65 72 70 67, 

277 J Luiten (Ned) 69 68 68 72, B Grace (RSA) 66 74 66 71, M Siem (Ger) 72 68 70 67, A Cañizares (Esp) 71 71 66 69, B An (Kor) 69 68 69 71, J Spieth (USA) 68 73 68 68, 

278 T Bjørn (Den) 68 69 71 70, P Hanson (Swe) 69 69 69 71, S Kapur (Ind) 74 69 65 70, 

279 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 70 67 70 72, I Poulter (Eng) 70 69 68 72, 

280 W Ashun (Chn) 69 72 69 70, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 71 71 69, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 71 68 70, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 69 70 70 71, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 69 71 71, R Ramsay (Sco) 73 66 72 69, 

281 D Drysdale (Sco) 71 71 70 69, J Lagergren (Swe) 70 73 73 65, M Ilonen (Fin) 71 71 70 69, A Sullivan (Eng) 67 67 74 73, 

282 B Wiesberger (Aut) 72 70 70 70, F Zanotti (Par) 70 69 69 74, B Stone (RSA) 73 69 68 72, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 71 73 70, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 70 67 76, R Rock (Eng) 70 67 71 74, M Carlsson (Swe) 71 72 72 67, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 71 73 68, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 70 74 69, 

283 R Fisher (Eng) 70 73 73 67, B Dredge (Wal) 72 67 73 71, A Noren (Swe) 72 70 70 71, D Horsey (Eng) 71 68 71 73, G Coetzee (RSA) 69 72 69 73, D Howell (Eng) 68 69 73 73, R Knox (Sco) 70 73 71 69, P Meesawat (Tha) 72 67 74 70, O Fisher (Eng) 72 71 68 72, B Rumford (Aus) 73 67 70 73, K Broberg (Swe) 73 69 74 67, 

284 T Hatton (Eng) 72 69 74 69, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 71 69 74, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 70 67 76, B Evans (Eng) 70 72 68 74, S Jamieson (Sco) 70 73 66 75, B Hebert (Fra) 71 72 70 71, 

285 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 72 67 76, R Bland (Eng) 67 71 75 72, 

286 S Hend (Aus) 72 71 73 70, N Fasth (Swe) 68 72 73 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 72 71 74, D Willett (Eng) 75 68 69 74, G Bourdy (Fra) 72 71 72 71, J Morrison (Eng) 72 68 70 76, B Dechambeau (am) (USA) 64 72 78 72, 

287 D Brooks (Eng) 69 74 71 73, E De La Riva (Esp) 72 69 76 70, R Gouveia (Por) 72 71 72 72, S Dyson (Eng) 69 72 74 72, D Clarke (Nir) 73 70 72 72, 

288 M Hoey (Nir) 72 69 73 74, R Karlberg (Swe) 74 69 74 71, M Madsen (Den) 72 71 71 74, 

289 M Korhonen (Fin) 69 73 74 73, 

292 R Kakko (Fin) 72 68 75 77, 

293 A Johnston (Eng) 70 73 72 78, 

297 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 70 71 78 78, T Olesen (Den) 71 72 76 78.

Olivia Mehaffey

World No 11 Olivia Mehaffey made six birdies in her last 11 holes to move within two stokes of the lead entering today's final round of the South American Amateur Championship in Peru.

The Royal County Down Ladies' star dropped two early shots at the fourth and fifth but birdied the eighth to stop the rot and then caught fire, storming home in five under 31 for a 68 that moved her up eight spots to solo fourth at Lima Golf Club.

At four under, 18-year old Mehaffey is two behind Paraguay's Sofia Garcia (68), who leads by one stroke from Peru's Lucia Gutierrez (70) and England's Bronte Law (67).

Castletroy's Chloe Ryan continued her fightback from a poor opening round with a second successive 75 leaving her in joint 41st.

Women's championship scores

In the men's championship, Knock's Colin Fairweather birdied the 18th for a second successive 73 that leaves him tied for sixth on two under with Argentina's Andres Gallegos and England's Marco Penge, six strokes behind Uruguay's Juan Alvarez.

Alvarez shot a three under 69 and leads by just one stroke in the R&A supported event from Welshman David Boote (71) and by three from Matias Simaski of Argentina.

Massereene's Tiarnan McLarnon, the Irish Close champion, shot a 73 but climbed 27 places to tied 26th on six over.

Men's championship scores

Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy is part of a five-way share of the lead in the delayed third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship after a day of drama in the desert, writes the European Tour.

The four-time Major Champion finished off his second round in stunning fashion on Saturday morning by following a birdie on the 17th hole with a tap in eagle on the 18th for a two under par 70. Fog had delayed the start of play by nearly three hours for a second consecutive day, but the Northern Irishman did not let the interruptions affect him, as he also made a strong start to his third round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.  

Scores

After the re-start, McIlroy picked up shots on the second and fourth holes, before his only bogey of the day on the fifth, but he then added another birdie on the eighth to move to ten under par for the tournament.

The four-time runner up was two shots off the pace set by playing partner Andy Sullivan when their group stood on the ninth tee, but Sullivan lost his ball off the tee and went on to card a triple bogey seven, just as fading light halted play for the day.

That meant McIlroy, who safely made par, will resume play on Sunday morning at the top of the leaderboard alongside American Rickie Fowler, who was four under through 11; South African Branden Grace, who was six under par after 16 holes; Dutchman Joost Luiten, who was three under after birdieing his tenth and final hole of the day; and Englishman Ian Poulter, who surged to the summit after making five birdies and no bogeys in the 13 holes he completed.

Sullivan also remains in contention, one shot back on nine under par, alongside Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Thomas Pieters, Henrik Stenson and Robert Rock. Meanwhile, World Number One Jordan Spieth, who is making his debut in the event, was one of only 13 players to complete their third rounds. The American posted a four under par round of 68 to move to seven under, just three shots off the pace.

Rory McIlroy“It was a solid enough nine. I obviously played them a bit better than I played them yesterday. I thought if it could have been maybe one better – had a three-putt on five - but I thought it was a solid nine holes, and I did what I needed to do. Your rhythm is a bit off (with the delays), stop and start.“But I felt like I played well those nine holes and made a couple of nice putts, gave myself a few more chances and I’m in a decent position going into tomorrow.”Ian Poulter“I holed a couple of nice putts, which was key to moving up the board, and I’m quite happy. I played real solid. I was able to hit some good shots, I was able to take advantage and hole a couple of nice putts and now I find myself on the board.“It's nice to see myself up there on the board. It's nice to get off to a good start to 2016 and hopefully I can continue that through tomorrow and have a good finish.”Rickie Fowler“The last two holes - ten and 11 – I hit some good shots. I made a good putt to finish on the 11th. The game feels good, I’m happy to make a couple of putts there at the last. I decided to hit the putt on 11 after the horn blew – I just wanted to make it to kind of keep things going - and I’m looking forward to getting back out tomorrow.“I've kind of rounded into form as the week has gone on. I’m looking forward to getting back, get some food and rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow and hopefully a lot of birdies.”Jordan Spieth“I’m very pleased. My short game is there when tee-to-green wasn't. But then, when my tee-to-green was on, I just didn't make anything. I just haven't made any putts this week. I've made maybe one outside of ten feet, and I've missed a few inside ten feet."“We were on about number six when the shadows were pretty long and weren't sure if we were going to make it. We got up there and didn't really know if there were any rules around us, who tees off first.“We let them tee off first, and I was first to tee off and as I struck my shot, the horn blew at the buzzer. We were all very, very relieved to have that happen. It saved us about five-plus hours in arriving to the course tomorrow.”

The word “done deal” has been used in Limerick circles to describe a potential future bid by JP McManus’ Adare Manor resort to host the 2026 Ryder Cup.

Whatever the truth of that claim, the five-star property just outside Limerick City is clearly going to be something special when it reopens after an 18-month refurbishment in 2017 and prepares to host the 2018 JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am.

Pádraig Harrington has given his expert view on some of the changes that are to be carried out to the Robert Trent Jones Snr designed golf course and American architect Tom Fazio, who transformed Waterville Golf Links, is to make the great parkland course and even more impressive test.

As for this week's closure of the resort, which the Limerick Leader says “could transform it into the ‘Augusta of Europe’, planning permission was granted this by Limerick City and County Council for redevelopment plans estimated to cost up to €50m.

“This is a new beginning in Adare Manor’s grand history," said general manager Anita Higgins. "We are taking an intermission before starting a glorious new chapter in 2017. Great care and attention has been taken in drawing up the proposed plans which will ensure the renovations honour the building’s architectural heritage and maintain the hotel’s signature style and world renowned status.”

A large tranche of the hotel’s possessions - some 1,000 lots including the bed President Bill Clinton slept in during his stay - will be up for sale in a public auction in the Manor next Thursday and Friday, January 28 and 29, from 10am.

Aidan Foley, of Irish Country Home, who previously handled the sale of items in Mayo’s Ashford Castle before it closed for refurbishments, said this “will be an iconic sale, representing exceptional value”.

Former US President Bill Clinton stayed at the resort while Tiger Woods and entertainment celebrities Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Bruce Springsteen, Hugh Grant, Mel Gibson and Aidan Quinn were also guests.

The new plans include a new bedroom wing of 40 rooms and a ballroom with capacity for around 350 patrons. 

The extra bedrooms are being added to cater for huge demand coming from North America specifically, which forms about 75% of its customer base.

Rory McIlroy hits to the 18th

Rory McIlroy showed he has the ability to change the entire complexion of a tournament in an instant with a stunning birdie-eagle finish to his weather-delayed second round in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Five off the lead as he resumed play earlier today, the world No 3 came close to getting some shots back on resumption of play but remained patient and got his reward with a tap in birdie at the 17th and near albatross at the 18th, where his five wood from 268 yards ran past the edge of the hole and finished around six inches away.

270 yards ➡️ 6 inches https://t.co/QNSX1XP1rS

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 23, 2016

It all added up to a two under 70 for McIlroy, who is tied for second with amateur Bryson DeChambeau on eight under par, just two shots behind Andy Sullivan.

After an opening 66, Race to Dubai champion was out of sorts on Friday and one over after a bogey on the ninth.

He resumed on the 14th and made a trio of pars, missing a short putt for birdie on the 16th, before he missed by inches from 100 yards on the next and tapped in from two feet for a first gain of his round.

Mcllroy revealed: "I said, 'let's finish three-three' and I was able to. I don't know if I should say that to myself on the first tee, 'okay, let's have 18 threes here' - Rory McIlroy

"I knew I needed something and I knew I wanted to finish well and I knew 18 was a chance and 17 playing downwind, I would have a wedge in there. So I knew I had a couple of good chances. But I didn't quite expect to do it on 18 there. That was a nice way to finish.

"I've been close before but never had an albatross. Looked pretty close from back there. I'm not sure how close it did come to going in but just happy to finish with an eagle like that and get myself up the leaderboard and stay within touching distance of the leaders."

He added: "Average round to be fair but that's the thing, even when you're not really at your best, to be able to come away with a 70 and still keep within it up of the leaders, I'm really happy with that."

McIlroy's 17th hole: