Lowry backs Rory's Olympic choice

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Neil Manchip during The Open. Picture: Golffile Shane Lowry got “a lot of stick” for skipping Rio but he has total respect for the agonising Rory McIlroy has had to go through before committing to playing for Team Ireland at next year's Olympic Games in Japan.The pair have become close again in recent years and while both will be going for gold in Tok...
Tags: Japan, Florida, US, Sport, Ireland, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Paul Mcginley, European Tour, Tokyo, Rio De Janeiro, Shane Lowry, Olympic Games, Padraig Harrington, Lowry

Faldo's "Black" forecast for Tiger and Rory

FARMINGDALE, NY - May 14: 2012 and 2014 PGA Champion, Rory McIlroy speaks during a press conference for the 101st PGA Championship held at Bethpage Black Golf Course on May 14, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Hailey Garrett/PGA of America) Nick Faldo took a well-worn piece of paper out of his pocket and read his top tips for the US PGA."Moli, Rose, Dustin and Brooks are t...
Tags: US, Atlanta, Sport, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Pga Tour, European Tour, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tiger, Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Padraig Harrington, Black, Woods, Majors

Harrington finds fast finish in Dallas, Leona six back in Atlanta

Padraig Harrington Pádraig Harrington produced a stunning finish as Brooks Koepka fired an ominous warning shot ahead of next week's US PGA when he opened with a six-under 65 in the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas.The big Floridian will be going for his fourth win in seven major starts when he defends the Wanamaker Trophy at Bethpage, and while he’s tied for fourth behind...
Tags: New York, Sweden, US, Atlanta, Georgia, Sport, Thailand, Prague, Liverpool, Golf, Lee Westwood, Pga Tour, European Tour, Dallas, Brooks Koepka, Derry

Harrington reduces Ryder Cup picks to three

European Ryder Cup captain, Pádraig Harrington. Picture: Getty Images The European Tour today confirmed the qualification period for Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup team will start at the 2019 BMW PGA Championship - the fourth Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai - and conclude at the same event in September 2020.The Tour’s Tournament Committee met on Tuesday night, where they rat...
Tags: Europe, Sport, Ryder Cup, Golf, European Tour, Dubai, Wisconsin, Bmw, Padraig Harrington, Wentworth, Harrington, Whistling Straits, Tournament Committee, Straits Course

Power makes a move as late stumble hampers McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was left to rue late mistakes as Seamus Power roared into contention for the $7.7 million Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.The West Waterford man (32) needs to finish solo second to guarantee his major championship debut in the US PGA at Bethpage, and he was just six shots behind clubhouse leader Jason Dufner on five-under after a second round 68.A bogey at his final hole left him tied for sixth with Pat...
Tags: China, Germany, US, Spain, Sport, Power, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Pga Tour, European Tour, Patrick Reed, Finland, Castle, Padraig Harrington, Northamptonshire

Power moves into FedExCup top 125 after tie for fifth in New Orleans

Seamus Power Seamus Power took another giant step towards keeping his PGA Tour card when he tied for fifth with David Hearn in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.Also fifth last year, the West Waterford man and his Canadian playing partner made the cut on the mark before racing through the field by following an eight-under 64 in Saturday's fourballs with a priceless 68 in last nigh...
Tags: Australia, Scotland, Sport, Power, Morocco, Golf Channel, PGA of America, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Pga Tour, European Tour, Palmer, New Orleans, Derry

Oh Boys! How Good Is That!!!

The European Tours kills it with many of its videos.  Watch as pro Andy Sullivan tries like hell to get an ace.  He had 500 balls to get it done. Now, don’t you think you could hole one ball in 500 tries? Sure you could.  It isn’t as easy as you think but Andy sure enjoyed it…after awhile anyway.
Tags: Europe, Sport, Golf, European Tour, European, Chip Shots, Holre In One

Moynihan continues to climb as van Rooyen leads in Rabat

Erik van Rooyen. Picture: Getty Images Gavin Moynihan continued his remarkable comeback as Erik van Rooyen took a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Trophée Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.The Mount Juliet professional was five-over par and fearing the worst after starting 7-4-7 in Thursday’s opening round. But he's five-under for his last 51 holes and tied for 21st ...
Tags: Sport, Golf, European Tour

Round-up: McDowell continues resurgence, Leona rising

Graeme McDowell Graeme McDowell is in contention again but Seamus Power faces an anxious wait to see if he makes the cut and remains on track to rack up more valuable FedExCup points at the weather-delayed Zurich Classic of New Orleans.The West Waterford man and his Canadian playing partner David Hearn followed a 68 in the fourballs with another 68 in the second round foursomes at...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Pga Tour, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, LPGA, Amateur golf, Challenge Tour

Round up - "Lowry has the confidence I wish I had"

Paul McGinley at Lahinch for this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open media day. Picture: Kenneth O’Halloran Paul McGinley believes Shane Lowry's Jekyll and Hyde form could help the Offaly man become a Ryder Cup star.The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open host — who spoke about initially feeling "despondent" when Rory McIlroy ruled out an appearance at Lahinch — admits that Lowry has the sa...
Tags: Spain, Sport, Netherlands, Ian Poulter, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Henrik Stenson, Paul Mcginley, Pga Tour, European Tour, New Orleans, Island, Derry, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington

Dubai Duty Free enjoys Irish Open homecoming at Lahinch

The anticipation is building as the latest instalment of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open looms ever closer, with the picturesque Lahinch Golf Course in Co. Clare playing host to some of the greatest names in world golf from July 4-7Dubai Duty Free took over as the title sponsor of the high-profile golf tournament in 2015 with Rory McIlroy assuming the role of tournament host via his charity, the Rory Foundation. This year, Ry...
Tags: UK, US, Sport, Ireland, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Lee Westwood, Paul Mcginley, European Tour, Dubai, Roger Federer, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Uae, Seve Ballesteros, Abu Dhabi HSBC

Postman Poulter a big Irish Open delivery for Lahinch

The Ryder Cup has forged a bond between Paul McGinley and Ian Poulter. Picture: Getty Images Ian Poulter is the latest big star to commit to what promises to be a sellout Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch from July 4-7.The addition of the Ryder Cup "Postman" to a field that already boasts majors champions Louis Oosthuizen, Danny Willett, Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell ...
Tags: Sport, Ireland, Morocco, Ian Poulter, Graeme Mcdowell, Golf, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Paul Mcginley, European Tour, New Orleans, Louisiana, Shane Lowry, Zurich, Kenny, McDowell

Team Ireland hands budding stars €176,000 in grants

Team Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin, Leona Maguire and Robin Dawson Ireland's budding tour players have been handed a €46,000 cash boost with Team Ireland grants worth €176,000 awarded to 12 top players including Leona Maguire and Stephanie MeadowLPGA Tour player Meadow, rising star Maguire and European Tour category holders Gavin Moynihan, Robin Dawson and Cormac Sharvin have been awar...
Tags: California, Sport, Ireland, Golf, European Tour, Portugal, Ladies European Tour, Stephanie, Maguire, Meadow, LPGA, Quinta, Lago, Gavin Moynihan, Conor O'Rourke, Team Ireland

Knox to defend Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title

Russell Knox wins the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Picture: Getty Images Russell Knox has confirmed he will return to defend the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title at Lahinch from July 4-7.The Scot won dramatic fashion at Ballyliffin in 2018, holing a 45-foot birdie putt to force a play-off before sinking an almost identical one on the first extra hole to clinch a maiden Rolex S...
Tags: Europe, Usa, Sport, Ireland, Golf, Lee Westwood, European Tour, Wgc, Northern Ireland, Dubai, New Zealand, Knox, Danny Willett, Padraig Harrington, Inverness, Lahinch

Tiger Woods wins amazing fifth Masters 14 years after his last Green Jacket

• The 43-year-old wins 15th major by one stroke at Augusta• Johnson, Koepka and Schauffele share second placeTiger Woods wins the Masters. If ever five words did not do justice to an outcome …Let debate now rage as to where this sits in the pantheon of sporting comebacks. Fourteen years after he last put on the Green Jacket, 11 years after last winning a major and 24 months after conceding to friends “I’m done” Woods completed a triumph which rates as extraordinary even by his standards. Continu...
Tags: Sport, US sports, Golf, Tiger Woods, Pga Tour, European Tour, The Masters, Augusta, Johnson Koepka

Unflappable Molinari faces Woods test as McIlroy left with no answers

Francesco Molinari during the third round. Picture: Getty Images Rory McIlroy was all cut up over the rough as Tiger Woods put himself in position to chase down Francesco Molinari and capture his fifth green jacket and his 15th major at the Masters.After Tony Finau blasted an eight-under 64 to set the target at 11-under, Woods shot a clinical 67 to join him in a tie for second, tw...
Tags: Sport, Ian Poulter, Golf, Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy, European Tour, Brooks Koepka, Uspga, Molinari, Woods, Augusta, Majors, McIlroy, Carnoustie, Augusta National, Tony Finau

Lowry downcast as Augusta amplifies every weakness

Augusta National can be heaven when the putts are dropping and the roars are reverberating through the pines. But it's purgatory when the game is slipping away and Shane Lowry was in no mood for Masters joy after making a self-inflicted "comedy of errors" to open with a six-over 78.The Clara man hit just six fairways and only seven greens in regulation as he mixed seven bogeys with just one birdie, each mistake amplifying hi...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Pga Tour, European Tour, Shane Lowry, Clara, Lowry, Augusta, Majors, Creek, Augusta National

Lowry seeks a "trigger" and a way to live with the burden of great expectations

Shane Lowry sinks to his knees in disbelief as his five iron to the 11th trickles over the green. Shane Lowry believes it's time to push on and put his Masters quest behind him and set about rediscovering his early season form. The problem is balancing his own expectations with the sky high expectations of everyone else.Languishing near the bottom of the leaderboard after opening...
Tags: US, Sport, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, European Tour, Hilton, New Orleans, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Abu Dhabi, Padraig Harrington, Zurich, Clara, Adam Scott, Lowry, Majors

Lowry feeling ace with his girls at Augusta

Shane Lowry turns to his wife Wendy and baby daughter Iris after his ace at the second Shane Lowry was thrilled to blow off some pre-Masters tension and make an ace n the Par-Three Contest with his wife Wendy and baby daughter Iris getting a front row seat."It was good — 74 yards — it was special because my wife and baby were with me,” Lowry said with a grin. "I just wanted to mak...
Tags: England, Sport, Golf, European Tour, Shane Lowry, Iris, Lowry, Augusta, Majors, Sandy Lyle, Wendy, Wallace, Matt Wallace

Time for talking is over at Augusta

The 13th green at Augusta National The Masters is a tournament not a championship — a limited field event that's there to be won by the man in form who displays the stomach for battle down the stretch.Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Charl Schwartzel, Trevor Immelman, Angel Cabrera and Zach Johnson were all ranked outside the world's top 10 when they pulled on that gree...
Tags: Sport, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Pga Tour, European Tour, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tiger, Shane Lowry, Jack Nicklaus, Iris, Muirfield, Woods, Augusta

Lowry shows driving ambition on Masters return

Shane Lowry Shane Lowry is floating around Augusta National with the enthusiasm of a rookie and a grim determination never to take that precious invitation for granted.They say you only truly miss something when it's gone and after failing to make it down Magnolia Lane last year and then being forced to sweat to secure his invitation this year, the Clara man is determined to savou...
Tags: Georgia, Sport, Austin, Golf, European Tour, Abu Dhabi, Iris, Clara, Lowry, Augusta, Majors, Bay Hill, Mike Weir, Augusta National, Kevin Na, Francesco Molinari

My Favorite Golfers…

I’ve been a fan of golf for a long time now and I was a fan of the game long before I actually started to play. Playing the game didn’t start for me until I was in my mid-twenties somewhere in the early 1980’s. But my affinity for the game didn’t start with the game but rather the players. By the time I noticed the game “The Man” in the game was none other than the Greatest of All Time,… Continue Reading →
Tags: Sport, Golf Channel, Golf, Tom Watson, Rory Mcilroy, European Tour, Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Great White Shark, McIlroy, Greg Norman, Tiger Wood, Arnold Palmer, Scotsman, Justin Thomas, Chip Shots

McIlroy "better prepared" than ever to win the Masters — McGinley

Paul McGinley Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy has the mental strength and the maturity to avoid becoming an Augusta nearly-man like Greg Norman and Ernie Els.The Great White Shark and the Big Easy were hailed as certainties to win the Masters only to suffer a devastating series of disappointments,But Sky Sports analyst McGinley sees a more mature and mellow McIlroy as capable ...
Tags: Georgia, Sport, Golf, Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy, Pga Tour, European Tour, Abu Dhabi, Danny Willett, Darren Clarke, Sawgrass, Lowry, Ernie Els, Woods, Augusta, Great White Shark

Lowry still waiting to book Augusta ticket

Shane Lowry. Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America Shane Lowry inched closer to Augusta with a hard-fought half with Masters champions Patrick Reed in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship in Texas.But while the calculations indicate that the world number 48 should remain inside world's top 50 after Sunday's qualification cut-off, he's not mathematically safe just ...
Tags: Japan, Usa, Texas, China, US, Sport, Austin, Golf, Phil Mickelson, Rory Mcilroy, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Pga Tour, European Tour, Patrick Reed

Oosthuizen confirmed for Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

Lahinch Golf Club in Co Clare Louis Oosthuizen has announced that he will play the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for the first time since 2009, with the former Open Champion earmarking Lahinch Golf Club as the perfect place to hone his links skills ahead of the final Major of the 2019 season in Northern Ireland two weeks later.The South African joins 2018 Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwo...
Tags: America, Sport, Ireland, Golf, Lee Westwood, Paul Mcginley, European Tour, Northern Ireland, Dubai, West Coast, Shane Lowry, Danny Willett, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, PAUL, St Andrews

McBride continues hot streak with winning 66 at Portmarnock Links

The Island’s Paul McBride (GB&I) plays his tee shot on the 15th hole during foursomes at the 2017 Walker Cup at The Los Angeles Country Club. Sept. 9, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane) Paul McBride took up where he left off on the Portugal Golf Tour and fired a bogey-free, five-under 66 — the lowest round recorded in the TaylorMade Winter Series this season — to take home the top...
Tags: Sport, Css, Golf, European Tour, Moynihan, Butler, McBride, Dillon, Dawson, Gavin Moynihan, Joe Dillon, Kinsale, Nett, Amateur golf, PGA Irish Region, Challenge Tour

Casey makes his case for Augusta; Meadow 40th in Phoenix

Only Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have won more world ranking points than Paul Casey (above) this year. Paul Casey threw down the Masters gauntlet to Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson when he retained the Valspar Championship with a dogged performance in Tampa.The English Ryder Cup star (41), who has five top-10 finishes in 12 appearances at Augusta National, chiselled out a one-...
Tags: South Korea, Spain, Sport, United States, Golf, Rory Mcilroy, Pga Tour, European Tour, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Johnson, Shane Lowry, Madrid, Padraig Harrington, KO, Tampa

Hend edges out Elvira in Maybank Championship playoff

Scott Hend with the Maybank Championship trophy. Picture: Getty Images Pádraig Harrington finished a creditable tied 30th in his return from injury as Australia's Scott Hend claimed his third European Tour title with a dramatic playoff win over Spain's Nacho Elvira in the weather-affected Maybank Championship.Back in action for the first time since last November after breaking a b...
Tags: Usa, England, Australia, Germany, Spain, Sport, Thailand, Golf, Kuala Lumpur, European Tour, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Murray, Elvira, Lee, Tony

Round-up: McDowell in, Power out; Meadow hits 67; Walsh contending

Thomas Pieters. Picture: Getty Robert Garrigus became the first player to be suspended for testing positive for "a drug of abuse" under the PGA Tour's Anti-Doping Programme.The PGA Tour said in a statement that the American, who tweeted that he had failed a drugs test for marijuana, was suspended for three months.  Big-hitting Garrigus (41), who won on the PGA Tour in 2010 and fin...
Tags: Amateur golf, European Tour, PGA Tour

Elvira hits the front in Malaysia

Nacho Elvira. Picture: Getty Images Nacho Elvira has a first European Tour title in his sights as he takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Maybank Championship.Spaniard Elvira, a four-time winner on the European Challenge Tour, missed five straight cuts at the start of the season before finishing second in his last event in Qatar.He closed his third round at Saujana Go...
Tags: European Tour