McIlroy pulls out of Seve Trophy

US Open champion Rory McIlroy has pulled out of Great Britain and Ireland's team for the Seve Trophy.

The 22-year-old was part of the winning side two years ago and cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal had said he wanted to see as many big names as possible play.

But McIlroy said he wanted some time off before he began a run of 12 weeks on the road.

"I want to try to get two weeks at home and do a few things before I head off on that big run," said McIlroy.

Britain's Lee Westwood has yet to confirm his attendance while world number one Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Martin Laird and Justin Rose are likely to be absent because of the FedEx Cup play-offs in America.

McIlroy is due to tee of in the first round of the European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on Thursday in his first event since injuring his right arm at the US PGA Championship earlier this month.

"Now it's not painful," he said. "It's more like a numb sensation, like if someone gives you a dead arm.

"It's nearly 100% and I'm happy with it."

The world number six has spent his recovery time in the United States with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, the current world number one tennis player who is currently playing in the US Open.

The pair are understood to have met when they attended the David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko fight on July 2 and McIlroy believes their new relationship can inspire him to top golf's world rankings.Wozniacki is currently playing in the US Open while McIlroy is set to tee off in the European Masters

"It's a big goal of mine. I want to become the best player in the world," said McIlroy.

"I think we definitely spur each other on. She's number one in the world and I've got a major and we sort of both want what each other have.

"She's got a great work ethic and it's something I can probably learn a lot from

"It's a lot more physically demanding than golf. They do put the work in, they really do.

"It's just amazing how they can get up each morning and keep doing the same thing, putting their bodies through that."

McIlroy added the couple were taking their relationship "a day at a time" considering their hectic tournament schedules for the remainder of the season.

Sponsors Open Day Offer

The Irish Golf Club Gazette in conjunction with sponsors, VIBROGYMpro and Golf Club Print, are delighted to announce a programme exclusively for Irish golf clubs to help promote Open Days and other guest competitions.

These events have become even more vital for promoting golf clubs and also generating valuable green fees, with many clubs working together to minimise date conflicts. The chance to promote those days and not have to pay costly advertising or promotion - in these tougher times - is a saving worth money to any club

The support of VIBROGYM and Golf Club Print sponsorship will allow fifty golf clubs to promote their events continuously  - i.e. twelve month period - for a once off fee of one hundred euro and  will include PR support, as well as a programme for each of the fifty clubs to fill the timesheet for those Open Days.

In addition, each club will receive a free pair of tickets for the 2012 Irish Open* courtesy of the European Tour.

To avail of this offer please send contact details and club name to email irishgolfclubgazette@gmail.com, by text to 087 9368202 or Twitter @irisgholfclubs.

All requests must be received no later than 5 pm Friday, September 2nd 2011.

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* 2010 Irish Open subject to official confirmation.

 

European Solheim Cup Selected

Captain Alison Nicholas has named her European Team for The Solheim Cup, taking place at Killeen Castle in Ireland from September 23-25. Nicholas handed her wild cards to Spain’s Azahara Muñoz, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, England’s Karen Stupples and Sandra Gal of Germany. 

The four complete the 12-woman team that will attempt to wrest The Cup back from the United States of America three weeks’ from now. 

“I am confident in my team and I believe that we will do very well at Killeen Castle,” said Nicholas, who also captained the European side in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in America.

“These players represent the best of European women’s golf and we look forward to putting on a magnificent show for the fans.”

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew along with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth, Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson qualified from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

England’s Melissa Reid and Laura Davies, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Christel Boeljon from the Netherlands had already earned their places on the team from the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points’ list.

Nicholas has two assistant captains in Joanne Morley and Annika Sorenstam, while the United States Team Captain, Rosie Jones, also has two assistant captains. They are Sherri Steinhauer and Juli Inkster, who will be the first playing captain in Solheim Cup history. Jones named her team on August 21.

The United States has won the last three matches and eight of the 11 editions played against Europe since the inaugural event in 1990 with an overall score line of 8-3. However, Europe will be targeting a fourth home victory after their most recent success at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden in 2003.

TEAM

Melissa Reid (England)

Laura Davies (England)

Suzann Pettersen (Norway)

Christel Boeljon (Netherlands)

Maria Hjorth (Sweden)

Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)

Catriona Matthew (Scotland)

Sophie Gustafson (Sweden)

Azahara Muñoz (Spain)

Caroline Hedwall (Sweden)

Karen Stupples (England)

Sandra Gal (Germany)

McGinley says Centenary Course Superb

On the eve of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley believes the PGA Centenary Course is in superb condition as the build-up to The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles gathers pace.

With Gleneagles investing heavily in new clubhouse and practice facilities at the world class resort – not to mention the continuing evolution of the PGA Centenary Course as it matures towards hosting golf’s greatest team event – McGinley, the man who holed the winning putt at the Belfry in 2002, is hugely impressed.

“It’s in the best condition that I have ever seen it,” said the Irishman, who was announced as Captain to the GB&I Team for the Vivendi Seve Trophy.

“The investment they have made in the clubhouse and the practice facilities is fantastic and the course is in great condition – the fairways are the best I have seen on Tour this year.

“The new green on the seventh is a lot better and had improved the hole dramatically and all-in-all the course is in very good condition all round.

“The course here has taken a lot of criticism and I have to say that some of that has been unfair. All I would say to that is that it is always easier to criticise than it is to praise and I think they have made some great improvements here – it should be a great venue for The Ryder Cup.”

Monty European Ryder Cup Warning

Colin Montgomerie has warned every European star basing himself in the United States - and that includes Rory McIlroy again next season - that they run the risk of not making the Ryder Cup.

The qualifying race starts again in Switzerland next week with the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Montgomerie found leaving out world number nine Paul Caseyl ast year the hardest thing he had to do as captain - and he hopes his successor Jose Maria Olazabal does not face the same dilemma next August.

The pair play together in the first two rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Thursday and Friday and Montgomerie said: "No doubt we'll have a chat on the way round."

Olazabal has opted for only two wild cards instead of Montgomerie's three - and three did not prove enough to get either Casey or Justin Rose, twice a winner in the States during the qualifying period, into his side.

"I think it surprised us all that a world top-10 player didn't make it and I do hope that Olazabal doesn't have that same issue," Montgomerie continued.

"I hope it's more cut and dried for him that it was for me and that the two picks are obvious."

Risk

However, Montgomerie added: "If you base yourself in America you are taking a risk to make the Ryder Cup team, quite simple."

Casey lost out to the uncapped Edoardo Molinari, choosing to play in the (non-counting) first leg of the FedEx Cup play-offs in New Jersey, whereas the Italian birdied the final three holes to win at Gleneagles 12 months ago.

Rose, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald were also in the States despite Montgomerie asking them all to fly to Scotland instead.

"I feel that Olazabal will have a stronger representation of Ryder Cup players next year than I did," he said.

"It's quite straightforward. If you don't make the top 10 you might not make the team and you can't rely on a pick."

The first five of the team for Chicago next year will be based on their European Tour earnings and the next five from their world ranking points during the 12-month race.

Another of the PGA Tour members hoping to make Olazabal's side is leading Scot Martin Laird,currently ranked 25th in the world - but he will not start earning points until January.

Scottish hopes

That is because he did not want to commit to 13 European Tour events this season.

"That's unfortunate for him and for Scottish golf," added Montgomerie.

"At the same time Molinari managed to make the team starting from the Challenge Tour. He proved to the captain - me - that he was capable of playing the Ryder Cup and it's up to Martin Laird now to do what Edoardo Molinari did.

"Win three times, get as close as he possibly can to qualification and be one of those two picks of Olazabal's if he doesn't qualify.

"I wish him well, of course. It's been 2006 since a Scot has represented the team and that's too long."

Montgomerie was that player himself and although he is currently down at 285th in the world the 48-year-old has not given up all hope of earning a ninth cap.

He is glad just to be back playing this week. His last event was the Scottish Open at the start of last month and after briefly leading it early in the final round he fell back to 31st and so still has not had a top five finish for over three years.

Molinari is back to defend his title against a field that also includes his brother Francesco, leader after 54 holes last year, Dane Anders Hansen, third in the USPGA Championship, and Irish Open winner Simon Dyson.

Maguire Twins in Junior Solheim Team

Leona Maguire

Europe has assembled a strong team comprising 12 golfers from eight different countries as it bids to wrest the PING Junior Solheim Cup back from the Americans at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland, on September 20-21.

The European side will include Irish twins, Leona and Lisa Maguire, who will be performing in front of their home fans after earning two of the six automatic places from the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking. The other four automatic places were claimed by French trio, Céline Boutier, Manon Gidali and Emilie Alonso, plus new British Girls’ champion, Margaux Vanmol from Belgium.

The six Captain’s Picks were awarded to English duo, Charley Hull and Lauren Taylor, Welsh girl Amy Boulden, Sweden’s Emma Nilsson, Spain’s Luna Sabrón and Antonia Scherer from Germany.

"The Solheim family is very excited about the make-up of the European Junior Solheim Cup Team,” said John A. Solheim, CEO of PING. “It reflects a strong mix of players from all over Europe. With the Maguire sisters playing at home, it will certainly add to the challenge the United States team will face in defending their title."

The European team, under its non-playing Captain, former US and British Women’s Open champion Lotta Neumann, is bidding to regain the PING Junior Solheim Cup trophy it lost 8 ½ - 5 ½ at Aurora Golf Club, Illinois, USA, two years ago.

The USA has won three and lost two of the previous matches, which were inaugurated back in 2002. To date, the home side has won on all of the previous five occasions.

The PING Junior Solheim Cup matches feature two teams comprising 12 of the best female golfers, aged between 12 and 18, from Europe and the USA. The juniors play match play in a similar format to The Solheim Cup.

The matches are traditionally played immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, to be staged at Killeen Castle from September 23-25, and this year local interest is bound to be particularly high now that it has been confirmed the Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, will both be making their second appearances in the match.

The 16 year-old twins, from Slieve Russell, made their debuts at Aurora GC back in 2009 and will be hoping to reverse the defeat they suffered on that occasion after an impressive 2011 season during which they finished first and third, respectively, on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking. The Ranking was calculated from the cumulative results at seven of the most prestigious girls’ and women’s events in Europe.

Leona Maguire headed the Ranking after winning the individual title at the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championship in Austria, finishing third at the Irish Under-18 Girls’ Championship at Knightsbrook and fourth at the International European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in Holland. Meanwhile, her sister, Lisa, was third on the Ranking after a string of fine results including winning both the European Ladies’ event in Holland and the Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championships at Jerez Golf.

The Maguire sisters were separated on the ranking by Celine Boutier, one of three members of the victorious French team at the European Girls’ Team championship who will play at Knightsbrook. She has been a consistently strong performer all season, losing in the final of the Girls’ British Amateur Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the French International Lady Juniors’ Championship and finishing tied sixth at the Irish Girls’ Under-18 Championship at Knightstbrook.

In fourth and fifth place among the automatic qualifiers for the European side were the other two French girls, Manon Gidali, the losing finalist at the French International Lady Juniors’ Amateur Championship and the runner-up at the Irish Girls’ Under-18 Championship, and Emilie Alonso, who lost out to Leona Maguire in the final of the Spanish Girls’ event. The last automatic place went to Belgium’s Margaux Vanmol, who made a late move up the Ranking by defeating Boutier by one hole in the final of the Girls’ British Amateur Championship at Gullane.

A whole host of girls had strong claims to receive one of the six Wild Card picks but, after considerable deliberation, they went to Lauren Taylor, the winner of British Women’s Open Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush; Amy Boulden, who reached the semi-finals of the same event; Charley Hull, who won the 2011 English Women’s Stroke Play Championship and was runner-up in the Match Play equivalent; Emma Nilsson, a semi-finalist at both the Spanish International Ladies’ Championship and the Girls’ British Amateur Championship; Antonia Scherer, a consistent player who was also a semi-finalist in Spain; and Luna Sobrón, another consistent player and last week’s quarter-finalist at the Girls’ British Amateur Championship. 

This is a great team,” said Neumann, who made six appearances in the Solheim Cup and was vice-captain to Alison Nicholas at the 2099 match Illinois.

“It is always something special to represent Europe and is something the girls will never forget.

“We have got a lot of different nationalities in our team and now we are going to have to get our minds set and focus on winning together.”

The PING Junior Solheim Cup was inaugurated by PING in 2002. Previous PING Junior Solheim Cup competitors include Paula Creamer, Anna Nordqvist, Morgan Pressel, Caroline Hedwall, Tania Elosequi, Britanny Lincicome and Melissa Reid. PING is the owner and title sponsor, and for this year the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union is the Official Host, Twenty Eleven IGPL is the Promoter, Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort is the Official Venue and the Ladies European Tour is the Governing Body.

For more information about both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and The Solheim Cup please visit www.solheimcup.com and www.ladieseuropeantour.com. For media enquiries, please contact Colin Callander at Golf Marketing Services on 44 (0)1438 718399.

Teams Representing Europe and the USA at the PING Junior Solheim Cup

TEAM EUROPE

Captain: Lotta Neumann, Sweden 

Vice Captain: Ludivine Kreutz, France

Players

Emilie Alonso, France

Amy Boulden, Wales

Céline Boutier, France

Manon Gidali, France

Charley Hull, England

Emma Nilsson, Sweden

Leona Maguire, Ireland

Lisa Maguire, Ireland

Luna Sabrón, Spain

Antonia Scherer, Germany

Lauren Taylor, England

Margaux Vanmol, Belgium

TEAM USA

Captain: Meg Mallon

Vice Captain: Courtney Jones

Players

Karen Chung

Jaye Marie Green

Kyung Kim

Alison Lee

Esther Lee

Ashlan Ramsey

Summar Roachell

Mariah Stackhouse

McKenzie Talbert

Emma Talley

Gabriella Then

Lindsey Weaver

USA Solheim Cup Team Announced

U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Rosie Jones has revealed the 12-player squad that will represent the U.S in their quest to retain the Solheim Cup at the 12th playing of the international team event at Killeen Castle in Ireland next month. 

The U.S. Team will feature nine players returning from the victorious 2009 team including Rolex Rankings No. 2 and points leader Cristie Kerr, and Solheim Cup veteran and assistant captain Juli Inkster.

Kerr wins U.S. Team points race; Jones names Hurst and O’Toole as captain’s picks

Jones announced the 10 points qualifiers and her two captain’s picks – Vicky Hurst and LPGA Tour rookie Ryann O’Toole – live on Golf Channel.

Based on the final U.S Solheim Cup standings, the top-10 players who automatically qualified for the U.S team are (listed in order of points ranking): Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang, Juli Inkster, and Christina Kim. Hurst and O’Toole round out the U.S. Team as captain’s picks. Lewis is the only automatic qualifier not to have played for the U.S in 2009.

“This has been an extremely exciting and difficult selection process,” said Jones. “I’ve been tracking these players for more than two years and tonight I feel we have built a fantastic team to represent the United States. Vicky and Ryann are two really solid players who will complement our team as we now focus on our strategy and performance next month at The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle.”

Inkster becomes the oldest player to participate in The Solheim Cup at the age of 51. She will also be the first-ever playing assistant captain from U.S. or Europe.

“I will be a player first and an assistant captain second and Rosie understands that,” Inkster said. “I feel like most of my career I’ve worn two hats as a mom and as a player, but it will be a challenge.”

Qualifying points for the U.S. Team are awarded weekly to the top-20 finishers and ties at official LPGA tournaments. Points are doubled at the four major championships every year. Points during a Solheim Cup year are weighted with 60 points for a win, 30 for second, 28.5 for third, 27 for fourth, 25.5 for fifth, 24 for sixth, 22.5 for seventh, 21 for eighth, 19.5 for ninth, 18 for 10th, 16.5 for 11th, 15 for 12th, 13.5 for 13th, 12 for 14th, 10.5 for 15th, 9 for 16th, 7.5 for 17th, 6 for 18th, 4.5 for 19th and 3 for 20th.

U.S. players started earning 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup points at the 2009 Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore., and ended today at the 2011 Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola. U.S. Players begin earning points toward the 2013 Solheim Cup at the CN Canadian Women’s Open next week.

The European Solheim Cup Team, led by Captain Alison Nicholas, will be named August 29, 2011. Melissa Reid, Laura Davies, Suzann Pettersen and Solheim rookie Christel Boeljon have already secured spots on the team through the LET (Ladies European Tour) point standings.

The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim, and his family, the makers of PING golf equipment. The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women's professional golf. It is a biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the LET. The U.S. Team leads the competition, 8-3, and has never lost on home soil. The 2011 Solheim Cup will be played at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland. In 2013 the Solheim Cup will move back to U.S. soil and be contested at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo. In addition to founding sponsor PING, Global Partners of The Solheim Cup include Golf Ireland and Rolex. For more information, log on to www.SolheimCup.com.

Morgan Pressel

“It’s exciting. Every two years, there is nothing more exciting or fun than to play The Solheim Cup. We basically have the same team with a few new faces and we are ready to head across the pond and try to win for the fourth straight time.”

Stacy Lewis

“This is awesome. This was a goal coming into this year. I wanted to make it on points and not worry about being a pick. I am just really looking forward to the event.”

Paula Creamer

“The highlight of my golf career is playing on U.S. Solheim Cup Teams. This will be my fourth one, second overseas, and I’m looking forward to it. I just try to go out and win as many points as I can. We just go out there and play for our country.”

Michelle Wie

“I’m so excited to play. Anytime I can represent my country is an honor. I can’t wait to go abroad and experience Solheim overseas. I’m really looking forward to playing under Rosie, Juli and Sherri.”

Brittany Lincicome

“It’s pretty fantastic to make the team again. This was one of my goals entering the year and now that it’s finally here and our team is all together, it’s really cool.”

Brittany Lang

“This is just as special as 2009 and I feel more confident having already been on one team. Playing for your country is way more fun than playing for yourself.”

Christina Kim

“This has been a very difficult six months or so with a lot of things going on in my life. After 2007, I’m thrilled beyond belief to represent the United States in Europe for the first time. I have two Solheim Cups under my belt and I know this will be an incredible challenge.”

Vicky Hurst, captain’s pick:

“It feels so good to get picked and I’m ready for The Solheim Cup. This has always been a dream for me.”

“I wasn’t standing over putts thinking about making the team this week, but it was definitely on my mind. I wanted to win this week, but I’m happy with my finish and I’m really proud of myself.”

Ryann O’Toole, captain’s pick

“Rosie took a chance on me and that means more than I can explain. It means just as much as winning a tournament. To have someone go against what people might think and go out on a limb with a rookie. She can see what I’m made of. She said she can see my moxy.”

“When I played well at the U.S. Women’s Open, I thought of some new goals. Rosie told me I was on the radar and it’s been on my mind since. I wanted to do whatever it took to get on this team.”

“I’m looking forward to playing with these girls and to representing America. The fact that I get to be amongst these girls is an honor and I know I can partner up with any of them to make a 

great team.”

Broadhurst Feels the Celadna Heat

Englishman Paul Broadhurst had more reasons than most to celebrate making the cut at the Czech Open, having come close to withdrawing from the €1.5million event after collapsing on the street on Wednesday night. 

The six-time European Tour winner completed a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes on Saturday morning by birdieing the final hole of his second round at Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná, the Czech Republic, to squeeze under the cut line on two over par.

That scenario had looked unlikely when Broadhurst collapsed with a suspected case of heatstroke in the nearby town of Ostrava on the eve of the tournament, and had to be rushed to hospital. 

Once there, he was placed on a drip for three hours and assessed by medical staff, before being released and given clearance to tee up in the tournament. 

He said: “It was just a run-of-the-mill evening really. I’d only had a small glass of beer and was just waiting for my food to arrive, when all of a sudden I started feeling really unwell. I went outside to get some fresh air and ended up passing out for about 20 minutes, then when I came round I was in an ambulance on the way to hospital. So it wasn’t exactly ideal preparation for the tournament!

“I had a lot of tests done on my heart rate and blood pressure, and everything came back normal. So they thought it was probably sunstroke, because I’d be out in the blazing heat for around four hours on Wednesday afternoon. Obviously I was taking fluids on board, but I didn’t take enough on and got a bit dehydrated as well. 

“I didn’t get too much sleep on Wednesday night, but when I arrived at the course on Thursday morning I figured I might as well give it a go. I got off to a reasonable start and managed to keep it going, and although I threw a few bogeys and doubles in here and there – mainly due to a loss of concentration and feeling a bit tired – I managed to make the weekend, so it’s all been worthwhile. Now I’ve just got to start climbing up the leaderboard.”

McGinley Prospers Once Again

Ryder Cup Vice Captain Paul McGinley returned to form in spectacular style to set the clubhouse target midway through the second round of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort.

On a leaderboard overwhelmed by Irish green – they occupied four of the top five positions – it was McGinley who held the clubhouse lead following a one under par 71.

The 44 year old – whose last win came six years ago – registered three birdies in windy conditions but two bogeys in his last three holes prevented a more significant lead.

“Anything under par today is a pretty good score,” said McGinley, who shot to fame when he holed the winning put in The 2002 Ryder Cup.

“Some golf courses lend themselves to playing in the wind, but this one probably doesn’t. There’s lot of elevation changes and a lot of water, plus we didn’t really get any help from the wind, because it seemed to be blowing across us most of the time. 

“So it was a tough day, and to break par was good going. I’m disappointed with the two bogeys towards the end, especially on the eighth hole, because I hit a poor drive, made a good recovery, but then failed to get up and down from a relatively easy position.” 

Of those to have completed their rounds, Scotland’s David Drysdale and England’s Sam Walker were the nearest challengers – they both shot rounds of 72 to remain on three and two under par respectively.

Drysdale said: “It was a bit of a mixed bag, really. I played the front nine really well, but then made a daft three-putt on the ninth. Then on the back nine, I was a wee bit all over the place, to be honest. There are a few fairly demanding tee shots on that nine, and with the cross-winds it made life even tougher. It was obviously a disappointing finish, although I actually made a decent connection out of the rough with my approach, but it caught a branch and ran into the water.

“The back nine should be a bit easier, because it’s slightly shorter and you’re a bit more sheltered from the wind. But the tee shot on the 15th is terrifying. I thought the wind was coming in off the right, but it seemed to switch after I hit it, and the ball started drifting to the right. Luckily enough it pitched just on the front edge, but it messed with my head a bit.”

McGinley’s compatriot Peter Lawrie, who led overnight after a flawless six under par 66, bogeyed two of his first four to drop back to four under.

They were joined by Damien McGrane, who was one over after five, while Shane Lowry birdied the second to claim the outright lead on five under.

Lowry bogeyed the fourth to join the group on four under, with McGrane and Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli moving to the head of affairs on five under after seven and five holes respectively.

Play was suspended at 1434 local time due to a thunderstorm, with almost an hour and a half lost before play resumed.

McGrane moved to six under with birdies at the long tenth and par four 12th, and he was joined by Mikael Lundberg when the Swede birdied the 13th and 15th.

England’s Oliver Fisher, who only made one cut in his first 21 starts before finishing 35th in Sweden and 45th in Ireland last month, moved into a share of third with Lawrie, Lowry and Gagli.

Lawrie Prospers in Round One

There was no shortage of green splashed across the top of the leaderboard at the Czech Open today, as a trio of Irishmen staked an early claim for the title. Peter Lawrie holds the outright lead on six-under-par and is closely followed by Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley at the Prosper Golf Resort.

Lawrie, who did not drop a shot, credited a new putting technique with helping him to the fore in Celadna. Last year’s runner-up is now on course to go one better following a change to his putting style he first attempted in the Irish Open at the end of last month when he finished eighth.

“I played lovely golf,” said the 37-year-old from Dublin, whose only European Tour win was in the Open de Espana just over three years ago. “No bogeys, which always helps. A couple of nice up-and-downs when I really needed them — on two and three — my 11th and 12th.

“Every chance I gave myself from short range, I holed it, though I missed about a 10-footer at the last. But everything went according to plan. I’ve been playing quite steady all year, holing a few nice putts in Ireland. I did one or two things different in Ireland with my putting which seemed to work, and it’s working well out here as well.”

Starting at the 10th hole, Lawrie conjured birdies in three of the last five — the fifth, sixth and eighth on the course — to propel him into the lead.

Lawrie is followed on five under by McGrane, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, in only his second year as a pro on the European tour, and Spain’s Pedro Oriol.

McGrane, who dropped only one shot in his round, said: “The scoring conditions are perfect so it’s possible to create a lot of chances.

“But creating them is one thing, converting them quite another. So to make six birdies and just the one bogey was very pleasing. It’s probably going to be a low-scoring week because the greens are in fantastic condition, so I’ll have to keep making those birdies.”

Lowry stands at four under, with the highlight of his round being an eagle at the 576-yard, par-five fifth.

Lowry said: “Since I had a good finish at Wentworth I haven't really done too much, and that's purely down to my putting, because I've been playing quite nicely from tee to green. When you're not putting well, it tends to affect the rest of your game, because you tend to try to force the issue and attack the pins too much.

“So it was pleasing to roll a few putts in today, and I just hope it continues for the rest of the week now.

"I saw that Peter and Damien were right up there coming down the last, so it was a very nice surprise. Let's hope we're battling it out on the final day, although there's a long way to go.”

He was joined by Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg, who chalked up four birdies on the back nine to help make amends for a double-bogey six at the third.

At one stage another Swede in Fredrik Ohlsson was poised to be amongst the leaders when he made six birdies in seven holes, only to drop four shots in two holes late on and finish on one under.

Scottish trio Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale, along with McGinley, are amongst a host of players on three under.

The leading player in the field and course co-designer, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, was facing a fight to make the cut after a four-over-par round of 76.

Leaderboard

Walton and Dignam Share Tullamore

Philip Walton and John Dignam finished in semi-darkness at the Tullamore Dew PGA pro-am tournament last night to both post a three-under-par 67 and push long-time leader Ger Hall off the top of the leaderboard.

Former Ryder and Walker Cup player Walton covered holes four to 14 in a superb five-under-par to be four-under, having dropped a shot at the par four first hole.

He then bogeyed 15 and 16 but steadied the ship with birdie three at the last for his 67.

Despite the horrid conditions, Dignam was steady as a rock with birdies at 10, 12 and 13 and 15 pars on his card.

Hall carded an early day two-under-par 68 with the work done over the opening five holes which he covered in four-under to lay the basis of his winning round.

He didn't keep up the birdie blitz, however, and blew the chance of winning as he double-bogeyed the last hole to be one-over on the way back.

European Tour player Shane Lowry took time out to play at Tullamore and grabbed a share of second place, one stroke behind the winners.

The former Irish Open champion, from nearby Esker Hills, had trouble with the short holes on the way out and dropped strokes at the second and fourth before his first birdie, a three at the eighth.

He gave that shot back to the course at the par four 10th hole but finished strongly with birdie three at 13, a four at the long 14th and a finishing birdie three at the last green.

Lowry shared his one-under-70 with Darren McWilliams, John Dwyer, David Ryan and Mark Staunton while Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING leader David Higgins carded a 73.

David Keating's Tip Win's US PGA

Keegan Bradley said it felt like "a dream" after beating fellow American Jason Dufner in a play-off at the US PGA to win his first major. The 25-year-old triumphed by one shot in a three-hole shoot-out after the pair tied at eight under in Atlanta.

It was only six months ago that Killarney Golf & Fishing Club professional, David Keating, tipped the young American to be en route to PGA Tour victories this season. Although a Major win would have seemed a far fetched dream. 

 

Bradley had triple-bogeyed the 15th to hand Dufner a five-shot lead but kept his nerve as his rival faltered.

"It feels unbelievable, I can't believe this trophy is sitting next to me," said Bradley.

"It seems like a dream and I'm afraid I'm going to wake up here in the next five minutes and it's not going to be real."

In a tournament filled with unfamiliar names at the top of the leaderboard, Bradley delivered an unforgettable finish.

The rookie was five shots behind with only three holes to play after his chip raced across the 15th green and into the water, leading to a triple bogey, but he refused to let it throw him off his game.

"I just kept telling myself, 'Don't let that hole define this whole tournament,"' said Bradley.

He proceeded to make back-to-back birdies, including a 35-footer that rattled into the cup on the 17th, while leader Dufner saw his game fall apart.

Unflappable all afternoon, he hit his tee shot into the water on the 15th for the first of three straight bogeys that led to the three-hole play-off.

Bradley birdied the 16th hole in the play-off to take the outright lead and went on to win by one shot.

He is only the third player to win a major on his first try and his victory breaks the United States' longest drought at major championships, which had reached six since Phil Mickelson's win at the 2010 Masters.

"I don't want to be one of the guys that kind of disappears," said Bradley.

"I would love to be up in a category with the best players and be mentioned with Phil Mickelson, one of my idols. I hope I don't disappear. I don't plan to."

Bradley, nephew of LPGA great Pat Bradley, went into the tournament ranked 108th in the world but his win lifts him to 29th in the rankings.

KEEGAN BRADLEY FACTFILE

1986: Born 7 June, in Vermont, in same year that aunt Pat Bradley wins three of her six majors

2008: Turns pro, wins Southern Dunes title on Hooters Tour

2009: Wins Texas Honing Open on Hooters Tour, fails to win PGA Tour card

2010: Finishes 14th on Nationwide Tour, ends year 329th on world rankings

2011: Wins Byron Nelson in play-off; Wins US PGA - his first major - in play-off with Jason Dufner; Climbs to 29th in the world rankings