Irish Golf Desk

Glass half full for Harrington

Brian Keogh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:48:37 PST

Monterey Peninsula Country ClubPadraig Harrington finished the opening day atop the leaderboard in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The only problem was that his name was alongside that of 14-handicap amateur partner JP McManus.

McIlroy finds top gear on back straight

Brian Keogh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:50:54 PST

Rory McIlroy birdied seven of his last 10 holes to open with a 66 in Dubai. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy missed a golden opportunity to earn some brownie points with his other half when he gave his caddie the credit for helping him birdie seven of the last 10 holes and open with a six under 66 in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Harrington addresses "vice" issue

Brian Keogh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:43:38 PST

Padraig Harrington was in locquacious form at Pebble Beach. He’s got other plans, of course, but Padraig Harrington doesn’t rule out accepting a vice-captain’s role at September’s Ryder Cup.

Maturing McIlroy supresses his Seve drive

Brian Keogh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:20:30 PST

Rory McIlroy in full flight. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comRory McIlroy admits he must resist the urge to play like Seve Ballesteros if he’s to continue his relentless rise in the world rankings.

Harrington refuses to be licked

Brian Keogh — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:25:00 PST

Padraig Harrington admits he went nuts over the winter and changed his TONGUE position.

Hoey dreaming the Ryder Cup dream

Brian Keogh — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:15:35 PST

Michael Hoey is now ranked 90th in the world, a career high. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey has set his sights on what he once thought was the impossible dream - a Ryder Cup cap.

Paul Lawrie is Qatar hero as Hoey finds form

Brian Keogh — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:48:47 PST

Michael Hoey finished 12th behidn Paul Lawrie in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey shook off the effects of a stomach bug to clinch his best finish since last season’s Alfred Dunhill Championship victory and boost his Ryder Cup hopes at the 54-hole Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

Turner 20th in Myanmar

Brian Keogh — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:24:13 PST

Australia’s Kieran Pratt won the Myanmar Open in a play-off. Picture courtesy of asiantour.comNiall Turner got his Asian Tour season off to a positive start when he closed with a three under par 69 to finish tied 20th in the Zaykabar Myanmar Open.

Turner slips back in Myanmar

Brian Keogh — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:46:24 PST

Niall TurnerMuskerry’s Niall Turner suffered a back nine collapse to slip nine shots off the pace entering the final round of the Asian Tour’s Zaykabar Myanmar Open.

After opening with rounds of 69 and 68 at Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club in Yangon, the 28-year old Cork player fired a level par 72 on Saturday to fall back to tied 23rd on seven under par.

Olympic allegiance - "Emotions should be taken out of it" says Harrington

Brian Keogh — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:20:34 PST

Padraig Harrington played his role in helping golf return to the Olympic Games. Picture courtesy randa.orgPadraig Harrington believes he’s doing Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell a favour by advising them to declare for Team Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.

Clarifying the remarks he made in a TV interview to be broadcast on Setanta Ireland this weekend, the Dubliner reckons he’s giving the Northern Ireland pair the perfect “way out” of an emotive Britain v Ireland debate that could leave other Irish players “devastated” if they miss the boat to Rio de Janeiro.

Rory should declare for GB - Harrington

Brian Keogh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:08:57 PST

Rory McIlroy will have a decision to make on his Olympic Games future. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington believes Rory McIlroy should tee it up for Great Britain when golf returns to the Olympic Games in 2016.

Q School woe for Heggarty

Andy Dean — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:34:14 PST

Jimmy HeggartyA nightmare final round cost Jimmy Heggarty dearly as he missed out on a Senior Tour card for 2012 at Qualifying School in Portugal.

After opening rounds of 70, 71 and 70 had put the Claremorris man in contention, a final-round 78 saw him tumble from two under par to five over, well adrift of the qualifying mark at Vale da Pinta.

Royal Portrush lands 2014 British Amateur

Brian Keogh — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:37:54 PST

The news that Royal Portrush will host the British Amateur Championship in 2014 will revive hopes that the Dunluce Links is a step closer to staging The Open for the first time since 1951.

Clarke parts company with Open caddie

Brian Keogh — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:17:50 PST

John Mulrooney in the locker room at Royal St George’s shortly after Darren Clarke’s Open victory.Darren Clarke has split with the caddie who helped him beak his major duck and lift the Open at Royal St George’s.

McIlroy back to world No 2 as Rock wins Abu Dhabi

Brian Keogh — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:22:10 PST

Winner Robert Rock with the trophy. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy regained the world No 2 ranking from Lee Westwood when he finished runner-up to surprise winner Robert Rock in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.