McIlroy makes perfect start in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty Images Rory McIlroy fired a warning shot across the bows of his global rivals when he opened his 2021 account by cruising to an effortless-looking eight-under 64 to claim the early lead in the fog-delayed Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.The world number six was reunited with coach Michael Bannon before Christmas, and with his ...
Tags: Scotland, US, Sport, Paraguay, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Shane Lowry, Abu Dhabi, Padraig Harrington, Lowry, Michael, McIlroy, Abu Dhabi HSBC

McIlroy starts with clean slate in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy. Pic: Getty Images Wiping the slate clean is part of the joy of a new year and Rory McIlroy is no different as he bids for the first opening week win of his career in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.As he jumped to the defence of pal Justin Thomas who admitted it was “humiliating” and “embarrassing” to be dumped by a sponsor for blurting ...
Tags: England, China, Sport, Hawaii, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, European Tour, Wgc, Ralph Lauren, Abu Dhabi, Thomas, McIlroy, Abu Dhabi HSBC, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy Pic

JP McManus Pro-Am postponed until 2022

Adare Manor The on-going coronavirus pandemic has forced the JP McManus Pro-Am Steering Committee to move early and postpone the sellout two-day tournament for a second time until 2022.Originally scheduled for Adare Manor in July 2020, the charity event was postponed last April and rescheduled for 5-6 July this year with the likes of Tiger Woods, Ror...
Tags: Sport, Ireland, Golf, Pga Tour, European Tour, Dustin Johnson, Niall Horan, Amateur golf, Colm Hannon, Pro Am Committee, JP McManus Pro Am Steering Committee, Rory McIlroy Brooks Koepka Phil Mickelson, Mark Wahlberg Hugh Grant Jamie Dornan

Lowry wary of “hot mics”

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his stroke from the No. 4 tee during Round 2 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, November 13, 2020. Shane Lowry reckons golf TV producers could back off with microphones after US star Justin Thomas lost a major sponsor after he was heard uttering a homophobic slur in anger.World No 3 Thomas, who joins Low...
Tags: Europe, Usa, US, America, Sport, Ireland, Golf, Phil Mickelson, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Belgium, Ralph Lauren, Shane Lowry, Abu Dhabi

Lowry: "I’ve only really had one good chance of making the Ryder Cup team and I messed that up myself"

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his stroke from the No. 12 tee during Round 4 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, November 15, 2020.
Tags: Sport, Ireland, Golf, European Tour, Shane Lowry, Lowry, Augusta National Golf Club

DeChambeau dodges Trump; Cops catch up with Cabrera in Rio

Bryson DeChambeau on the No. 15 hole during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, November 12, 2020. Golf continues to shoot itself in the foot with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera facing extradition to his homeland for gender violence and Bryson DeChambeau missing a golden opportunity to distance himself from the behaviour of US P...
Tags: Saudi Arabia, US, America, Sport, New Jersey, Pga, PGA of America, Golf, Pga Tour, European Tour, Brazil, Argentina, Dustin Johnson, Benfica, Interpol, Cordoba

Dunne and Sharvin land Saudi International invitations

Takumi Kanaya of Japan (above), Akshay Bhatia, Paul Dunne, Harry Hall, Shergo Kurdi, Eduard Rousaud Sabate and Cormac Sharvin receive coveted invites for the Saudi International next month. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Paul Dunne and Cormac Sharvin will tee it up on invitations in next month's Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Ad...
Tags: Japan, England, Saudi Arabia, Kingdom, Softbank, America, Spain, Sport, GCC, Middle East, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, European Tour, Oman

Harrington to start 2021 in Middle East

Pádraig Harrington Ryder Cup skipper Pádraig Harrington will begin 2021 with back to back European Tour appearances in the Middle East.The three-time major winner will join Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from January 21-24 before going on to tee it up in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where Lowry and...
Tags: US, Sport, Ireland, Middle East, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Kenya, Abu Dhabi, Padraig Harrington, Lowry, McIlroy, Abu Dhabi HSBC, McDowell, Harrington

Lee Westwood wins fourth AGW Golfer of the Year award

Lee Westwood of England plays his second shot on the No. 14 hole during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, November 12, 2020. England’s Lee Westwood has been voted the Association of Golf Writers’ Golfer of the Year for a record fourth time.Westwood received 53 percent to secure the 2020 ‘Golfer of the Year’ title from AIG...
Tags: Europe, UK, England, Germany, Sport, Aig, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Dubai, States, Kate, Association, Lee

Mount Juliet reveals "immense amount of preparation" for 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

The par-three 11th at Mount Juliet Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, is delighted to confirm that it will host the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The event, which takes place from July 1st until July 4th, 2021, returns to Mount Juliet Estate in a historic year for the championship golf course, as it will be celebra...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Tom Watson, Sergio Garcia, Fred Couples, European Tour, Shell, Ernie Els, Sam Torrance, Retief Goosen, County Kilkenny, Thomas Bjørn, Mount Juliet Golf Club, Mount Juliet Estate, Nick Faldo Bernhard Langer, Mount Juliet Mount Juliet Estate

Harrington tweaks Ryder Cup qualifying process

The 43rd edition of The Ryder Cup will be played on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 21-26, 2021.  The European Tour has confirmed that the qualification process for next year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin will resume on January 1, 2021 and conclude at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday September 12, ...
Tags: Sport, Atlantic, Paris, Ryder Cup, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Wisconsin, Danny Willett, Padraig Harrington, Wentworth, Abu Dhabi HSBC, Harrington, Le Golf National, Whistling Straits, Tyrrell Hatton

Dubai Duty Free returns in one-year deal for €3 million Irish Open

Shane Lowry will be expected to warm up for his defence of The Open in the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet from 1-4 July. European Tour boss Keith Pelley can take a bow after putting together an expansive 2021 schedule that includes a €3 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet from July 1-4.As revealed by the Irish Independe...
Tags: UK, England, Mexico, Sport, Aberdeen, Ireland, Porsche, Italy, Middle East, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Pga Tour, European Tour, Wgc, Dubai, Shane Lowry

Mullarney and Yates top dogs at TaylorMade Winter Series

Naas’ Jonathan Yates Professionals Ronan Mullarney and Jonathan Yates took the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Links.Naas professional Yates won the gross by a shot from AIG Irish Close champion Hugh Foley and by two from Portmarnock’s James Temple while Galway man Mullarney also shot 68 to win the nett as 92 players teed it ...
Tags: Sport, Aig, Golf, European Tour, Dublin, Galway, Foley, Taylormade, Whelan, Tara, Yates, Naas, Portmarnock, Quinlan, Amateur golf, Challenge Tour

Rozner named Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year

Antoine Rozner. Picture: Getty Images Antoine Rozner has been named Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year after finishing in 26th place on the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex, just a week after earning his maiden European Tour victory at the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.The 27-year-old becomes the first Frenchman to receive...
Tags: Sport, Italy, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Road, Mallorca, Rozner, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Challenge Tour, Antoine Rozner, Rasmus Højgaard, Dubai Championship, Byeong Hun An Brooks Koepka, Robert MacIntyre Rozner, Jumeirah Golf Estates ' Fire Course

Välimäki crowned Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year

Sami Välimäki. Picture: Getty Images Sami Välimäki has become the first Finnish player to be named the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after an impressive 2020 campaign which included a maiden win at March’s Oman Open and culminated in a top five finish at the season-ending Rolex Series event, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai....
Tags: Usa, UK, Wales, Nokia, Sport, South Africa, Ian Poulter, Nick Faldo, Golf, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, European Tour, Dubai, Oman, Finland, Denmark

Westwood crowned European No 1 for third time; Fitzpatrick wins second DP World Tour Championship

Lee Westwood poses with the Race to Dubai Trophy. Picture: Getty Images Lee Westwood claimed the Race to Dubai for the third time and insisted he would give his all for Pádraig Harrington if he qualifies for an 11th Ryder Cup cap at Whistling Straits next year.The Nottingham man (47) finished outright second, one stroke behind compatriot Matthew Fitzp...
Tags: Japan, US, Sport, Golf, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Patrick Reed, Dubai, Finland, Houston, Padraig Harrington, Reed, Lee, Sullivan, Worksop, Crocker

Flogas Irish Scratch Series set for season finale on December 21

The 18th at Seapoint. Picture: Ronan Lang The hugely successful Flogas Irish Scratch Series will bring the curtain down on 2020 with a €1,000 Christmas outing at Seapoint Golf Links on December 21.The Series was set up to give our amateur stars and touring professionals some competitive practice during the coronavirus pandemic, kicking off on June 29 ...
Tags: Sport, Golf, European Tour, Gary, LPGA, Whitehead, Leona Maguire, John Hickey, Amateur golf, K Club, John Ross Galbraith, JONATHAN YATES, Seapoint, Europro Tour, Aine Donegan, Lauren Walsh

Irish Open poised to regain July date

BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 27: John Catlin of the United States receives the trophy from Sinead El Sibai, Dubai Duty Free Senior Vice President of Marketing following his victory during Day Four of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort on September 27, 2020 in Ballymena, United Kingdom. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) ...
Tags: Japan, England, US, Sport, United States, Ireland, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, European Tour, Patrick Reed, Northern Ireland, Dubai, Houston, Shane Lowry, Reed, Ballymena

Perez sets the pace in Dubai; McDowell six back

Victor Perez. Picture: Getty Images Victor Perez took a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, with the Frenchman chasing history at the fourth and final Rolex Series event of the year as he aims to become the first player from France to be crowned Race to Dubai champion.The 28-year-old has already enjoyed tw...
Tags: Usa, France, Sport, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Martin Kaymer, JP, Perez, Lewis, McDowell, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Victor Perez

McDowell eyes Ryder Cup captaincy in Adare

Graeme McDowell on the 13th green during the second round at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (Robert Beck/USGA) Graeme McDowell would love to make a fifth Ryder Cup appearance under Pádraig Harrington but admits a vice-captain’s role would be the perfect stepping stone to becomin...
Tags: Europe, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Sport, Ryder Cup, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Patrick Reed, Dubai, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Sergio, Reed, Mamaroneck

Injured Westwood bullish about Race to Dubai chances

Lee Westwood Lee Westwood is keeping his fingers crossed he can overcome a niggling back injury and claim a third Race to Dubai title this week.The Worksop man (47) was crowned European No 1 for the second time when denied Rory McIlroy the DP World Tour Championship in 2009.But he admits he’s heading into the unknown at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where a ...
Tags: US, Sport, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, European Tour, Dubai, Houston, Rory, McIlroy, Abu Dhabi HSBC, Worksop, LPGA, Westwood, Banbridge, Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow

Bezuidenhout goes back to back with South African Open win

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Photo by Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images Christiaan Bezuidenhout wrote another thrilling chapter in his remarkable golfing story by cruising to a five-stroke win in the South African Open in Sun City.The South African (26) signed for a final round of 69 at the Gary Player Country Club to win on 18-under-par from Welshma...
Tags: Sport, Golf, European Tour, Jamie Donaldson, Coca Cola, Sun City, Andalucia, Donaldson, Valderrama, Gary Player Country Club, Dylan Frittelli, Bezuidenhout, Christiaan BEZUIDENHOUT, Leopard Creek, Carl Fourie Sunshine Tour Gallo

Bezuidenhout poised in Sun City

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Photo by Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images Christiaan Bezuidenhout has the chance to join South African golf royalty as he takes a five-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the South African Open at the Gary Player Country Club.Bezuidenhout signed for his third consecutive 67 to top the leaderboard on 15 under par, wi...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Justin Rose, European Tour, Jamie Donaldson, Sun City, South, Christiaan, Dylan Frittelli, Bezuidenhout, Christiaan BEZUIDENHOUT, Frittelli, Leopard Creek, Carl Fourie, Gary Player Country Club Bezuidenhout, ScoresThe South

Kearney 31st as Rozner claims maiden win

Antoine Rozner. Picture: Getty Images Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney tied for 31st as Antoine Rozner claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.Tied for 21st overnight, Kearney made an eagle, a birdie and two bogeys in a closing 71 to finishes on 13-under, picking up €7,545.After a stellar final round ...
Tags: Sport, Italy, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Evans, Mauritius, Mike, Soderberg, Baldwin, Wallace, Sullivan, Kearney, Rolex, Andy Sullivan, J Smith

Kearney has fun on Route 66

Andy Sullivan and Matt Wallace share a joke in Dubai. Picture: Getty Images Niall Kearney shot a six-under 66 — slicing a shot off his day-old career-best—to scorch up the leaderboard in the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.Aiming to “enjoy” his golf with his dad Joe on his bag, the Dubliner (32) made an eagle and five birdies on the F...
Tags: England, Mexico, Sport, Golf, Pga Tour, European Tour, Dubai, Dallas, Jamie Donaldson, Eddie, Sun City, Joe, Kearney, Andy Sullivan, Russell Knox, Matt Wallace

Bezuidenhout in six-way tie for SA Open lead

Christiaan Bezuidenhout during day 1 of the 2020 SA Open Championship at Gary Player Country Club. Photo by Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images Christiaan Bezuidenhout opened with a five-under-par 67 to place him in a six-way tie for the first-round lead of the South African Open as he chases back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour and European...
Tags: Sport, Austria, Ireland, South Africa, Golf, European Tour, Schwab, Gary Player Country Club, Bezuidenhout, Cormac Sharvin, Matthieu PAVON, Christiaan BEZUIDENHOUT, Matthias Schwab, Aron Zemmer, Jonathan Caldwell, Leopard Creek

Career low fires up Kearney in Dubai

Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney can end a frustrating season on a high after carding the lowest round of his European Tour career in the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.The Dubliner (32) made the cut at Qualifying School last year to secure a full season on the Challenge Tour and minor status on the main circuit. But with his season destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the two-time former I...
Tags: England, Texas, Scotland, Sport, Thailand, Chile, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Argentina, Dallas, Dublin, Ross Fisher, Charley Hull, Ernie Els, Sullivan

Irish playing catch up as Sullivan catches fire in Dubai

Andy Sullivan. Picture: Getty Images Niall Kearney and Gavin Moynihan have their work cut out to make the cut in the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.Royal Dublin man Kearney (32) bogeyed the par-five 18th to open with a one-under 71 and share 67th place, ten strokes behind a red-hot Andy Sullivan, who shot a stunning 11 unde...
Tags: Sport, Cyprus, Golf, European Tour, Portugal, Dubai, Ross Fisher, Mike, Tiley, Sullivan, Kearney, Andy Sullivan, Matt Wallace, Rikard Karlberg, Gavin Moynihan, Marc Warren

Porsche extends sponsorship European Open to 2023

Paul Casey. Picture: Getty Images Porsche has reaffirmed its commitment to world-class golf with a three-year extension of the title sponsorship of the Porsche European Open, with Paul Casey set to defend his title next year at Green Eagle Golf Courses from June 3-6, 2021.Porsche became title sponsors of the European Open in 2015 when it returned to t...
Tags: Scotland, Germany, Sport, Austria, Porsche, Golf, European Tour, Paul Casey, Hamburg, Casey, Executive Board, Porsche AG, Detlev von Platen, Robert MacIntyre, Walton Heath, Green Eagle

McIlroy insists money hasn't dulled his competitive edge

Rory McIlroy drives at the 11th during round three of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, November 14, 2020. Picture © Augusta National Rory McIlroy has hit back at the critics who say money has made him “soft” and his best days are behind him.The four-time Major champion was winless in 2020 after suffering a major loss of form follo...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Pga Tour, European Tour, Tokyo, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Abu Dhabi, Danny Willett, Martin Kaymer, Lowry, Rio, Augusta, Rory, McIlroy