McIlroy Confirms 2012 Irish Open

ory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in the 2012 Irish Open from June 28 – July 1.

The US Open Champion revealed his intention to play in his national open at the UBS Hong Kong Open on Wednesday.

“There has been a lot of speculation on whether or not I will play the Irish Open next year, so I am happy to announce that I will definitely play the tournament next season."

“For me, the Irish Open has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most important events on the global golf calendar. It’s our national open and it’s obviously a title that I would love to win at some stage in my career.

"With Irish golf on such a high in recent years, it is important that we put on a good show not only for the home fans, but also for the global golf audience who will be watching the event on TV next summer.

“A lot has been made of me joining the PGA Tour again next year, but in reality, it's not a drastic change to the schedule I have played in recent seasons. It just means that I will be adding a few more events to my schedule in America in 2012.

“Taking my PGA Tour card again does not mean that I'm going to neglect my European Tour status. I'll continue to play a similar schedule of events in Europe and will obviously fulfil my commitment to the European Tour.”

Looking ahead to this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open, the World Number Two is hoping to finally lift the trophy on Sunday night having finished second twice at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the past three years.

Victory, or possibly a second place finish, at Fanling will mean that McIlory will retain an outside chance of winning The European Tour’s Race to Dubai by also lifting the season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World next week.

The 22 year old would be relying on current Race to Dubai and World Number One Luke Donald finishing well down the 60-man field in Dubai in order to top The Race to Dubai, but he is confident that he can keep his side of the bargain.

“Of course winning the next two events is achievable,” said McIlroy, “but I probably need to win here in Hong Kong first to even think about it. So all I can concentrate on is trying to play the best I can here, and if I get myself into a position to win and end up winning, it gives me the chance of going to Dubai next week and trying to win The Race to Dubai.

“But even still, I'll have to win there and Luke will have to finish quite a way below me. It doesn't look like he's done that at all this year, so I don't expect him to do it to be honest, but you never know in this game. All I can do is try and win this week and see what happens after that.”

Connacht Golf Industry Conference

Connacht Golf Industry Conference 2012

Sunday 29th January

"Highlighting the Unique Golfing Experience in the West of Ireland."

Topics

What topics might be discussed at the Conference?

Cost cutting & revenue generation.

Golf Club Marketing & Social Media.

Retention of Members.

Junior Golf Developement.

Clubs role in the local community.

Bulk purchasing & machine sharing.

Bar & Catering.

Contact

Conference Chairman: Paul O'Neill, Marketing Manager, Westport Golf Club, E-mail: pauloneill@live.ie; Mobile: 0876139112; Phone: 098/28600; Web: www.khh.ie

Itinerary

Trade only

9.30am - 9.45am: Registration.

10.am - 11.am: Tourism & Marketing

11.15am - 12.15pm: Golf Sales & Service

GOLF SHOW (Open to the Public)

12.noon - 5.pm: 

Golf Club Green Fee Offers, Membership Rates & Trade Demonstrations

Objective

"The delegates at the conference will attempt to build on the hard work that has being maintained over many years by their fellow members, to agree on measures that will continue to develop the game during these difficult economic times and to ensure that the industry is on a solid footing for generations of golfers to come." 

Venue

Knockranny House Hotel,

Westport, 

Co. Mayo.

Level Irish Unable to Halt US Charge

Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland combined for six birdies as the United States won the World Cup by two shots.

The Americans eroded the overnight two-stroke lead held by Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in China, with birdies on the first two holes.

Four more birdies lifted them to 24 under as the Irish faded with a 72 that included four bogeys to stay 21 under.

England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose carded a nine-under-par 63 to finish second alongside Germany on 22 under.

Poulter and Rose sank four birdies on the front nine and finished with two birdies and an eagle in their last four holes as they recorded the lowest score of the final round.

But although they caught and passed McIlroy and McDowell, who had held an eight-shot advantage over the Englishmen going into the final round, they were unable to match the Americans.

Kuchar and Woodland played solid, rather than spectacular golf in the alternate shot foursomes format as they finished with a five-under-par 67.

Their only blip was a bogey on the par-three 11th but that dropped shot was clawed back on the 12th with a sixth birdie of the round coming on the 13th.

In contrast, McIlroy and McDowell, who led by three on the back nine two years but were beaten to the title ago by Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, again struggled on the final day.

They mixed two bogies with two birdies on the front nine to fall two behind the Americans.

A birdie on the 10th brought them within one shot of the lead but a bogey on 12 checked their progress and another shot went on the par-three 15th after McDowell's tee shot plugged under the lip of a greenside bunker.

McIlroy could only blast the ball a few feet out of the sand but when his playing partner missed the 25-foot par putt, their challenge was effectively ended.

They finished joint fourth with Australia, Netherlands and Scottish pair Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher who closed with eight birdies in a six-under-par 66.

German duo Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka did not drop a shot over the last two rounds and played the final 18 holes in a three-under 69, sinking a lengthy par putt at the last to ensure they finished joint second.

Ireland Take Omega World Cup Lead

Ireland lead the Omega Mission Hills World Cup by two shots going into the final round at Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island after Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy combined for a bogey-free 64 in the third round fourballs.

At 21 under par, the two Major winners edged ahead of Germany and South Africa, who produced best-of-the-day rounds of 61 to join the United States (63) in second on 19 under.

While pre-tournament favourites Ireland look to be in a strong position after carding eight birdies, the last two winners of the US Open Championship are well aware of the big names hot on their heels.

While pre-tournament favourites Ireland look to be in a strong position after combining for eight birdies, the last two winners of the US Open Championship are well aware of the big names hot on their heels.

“We are right where we want to be going into tomorrow,” said McDowell. “The leaderboard was not really going to mean anything until tonight, and we are two shots ahead going into tomorrow, but there are some great teams up there, some great players.

“We are going to have to go and play well tomorrow, but this is where we want to be. We are both playing lovely. I managed to heat my putter up today and make a few, and we are very excited and looking forward to tomorrow.

“When we saw the scoreboard - I think we were on sixth green - we saw Germany were off to a flyer. We actually expected that today - I think there were 18 teams within five shots of the lead.

“We knew someone was going to go low today, and the leaderboard was going to be fairly bunched going into tomorrow.”

Former US PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer was in sensational form for Germany, holing a 40 foot putt at the ninth as he and Alex Cejka played the front nine in 30.

Cejka then holed a five foot birdie putt at the 11th before Kaymer produced some stunning approaches to leave tap-in birdies at the 12th, 14th and 16th.

Four-time European Tour winner Cejka then chipped in at the 17th to card the pair’s 11th birdie of the day.

“That was kind of a bonus because I was short of the green,” said Cejka. “It was a pretty tough chip and Martin was on the other plateau on the right, so it was a tough putt. It was a bonus for us to make birdie from there, but every birdie counts and is important.”

Kaymer added: “We played very well together. We made lots of birdies and always on different holes.

“We had a slow start on Thursday. We didn't make any birdies the first six, seven holes and then we started making some birdies and even though we missed some greens, I was always pretty sure that Alex would make his up and downs so I could always be fairly aggressive.

“I played very well today, but obviously you can only play well and be aggressive if you have a partner who is playing very consistent and is always there for you.”

Major winners Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen matched the Germans’ efforts, thanks largely to a run of four consecutive birdies from the 14th.

Former Open Champion Oosthuizen put their success down to their close friendship. “We know each other really well and we travel most weeks together,” he said. “We are good friends and I think it definitely is a big thing in this format, in any team sport.

“The more you know each other, the better you're going to do, and I think we are very comfortable around each other. We do our own thing and whenever someone needs help, you ask him.

“It makes it a lot easier that we are so comfortable around each other.”

Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland dropped a shot at the par five second for the USA, before a run of five straight birdies from the fourth put them back on track.

There were three further gains coming in before Woodland rolled in a five footer at the 17th to leave them well placed going into the final round.

“Matt really got us going early,” said Woodland. “I was kind of all over the place, but he made a birdie on the first hole and then made three or four in a row.

“It was nice when I was struggling that he picked me up and fortunately I made some putts on the back nine. He had a huge up and down on the last hole that really kept the momentum going and hopefully gives us a lot more momentum going into tomorrow.”

Overnight joint leaders Australia had a 67, which was not helped by the fact Brendan Jones produced only one birdie all day.

They sit fifth on 18 under, one ahead of The Netherlands after last week’s Iskandar Johor Open winner Joost Luiten birdied the last from eight feet for a 64.

Clarke Slips Back as Fraser Leads

Victorian Marcus Fraser will head into the third round of the Australian PGA Championship with a two-stroke lead thanks to his Friday 65 at Coolum, but there are a host of big names, including Bubba Watson, Robert Allenby and Adam Scott, lurking in the chasing pack.

With seven birdies in a flawless round, Fraser capitalised on favourable conditions to move to 11 under and top billing ahead of American Presidents Cup star Watson, who led by two shots himself when he reached the turn before stumbling on the back nine, leaving him to be content with a four-under 68.

Three strokes adrift of Fraser is another player who impressed last week at Royal Melbourne, South Korean KT Kim (67), while his compatriot and 2009 US PGA champion YE Yang (68), who led before being overtaken in the afternoon, shares fourth on seven under with triple PGA winner Allenby (68), Scott (67) and John Senden.

Fraser's 65 didn't earn him the low round of the day though, with Senden taking those honours by recovering from his opening-round 73 with a superb 64 that for a long time looked like being several shots lower.

Senden looked on track to surpass the course record of nine under set by Min-kyu Han, who shot 62 two years ago when Coolum was a par-71 layout, but after briefly entertaining thoughts of what could have been possible, he ran out of steam.

After his early heroics on day one, Jason Day had a steadier round as he grabbed three birdies in a 69 to move to six under, leaving him alongside Stuart Appleby (68), Leigh McKechnie (70), Kieran Pratt (70), Anthony Summers (68), Kurt Barnes (69), Josh Geary (70), Aaron Townsend (71) and Shih-chang Chan (69).

Appleby's round could have been just about anything too after he birdied his first five holes of the day but a double bogey at 16 and bogey at 18 threatened to derail his momentum before he steadied coming home on the front nine with two further birdies.

Joint overnight leader Steven Bowditch, who led by three strokes midway through the morning, gave back four shots on the front nine as he slumped to a 73 and five under, where he is level with Aaron Baddeley (72), Doug Holloway (69), Marc Leishman (69) and Joon-woo Choi (73).

Like Bowditch before him, Choi improved his overnight score from six to nine under with a hat-trick of birdies through his first seven holes but he also dropped four shots overall from there as he battled, none more so than at the last where he had a triple-bogey seven.

Peter Fowler and Australian Open champion Greg Chalmers both shot 69 to be among those tied for 22nd at four under, and Geoff Ogilvy, Greg Norman and Nick O'Hern also signed for that score to be equal 28th at minus three with Alistair Presnell (68) and Aron Price (72).

British Open champion Darren Clarke (73) will start his third round nine off the pace and defending champ Peter Senior (73) from 10 back while Andre Stolz (77) and Mathew Goggin (73) will just make the cut at even par but Craig Parry (83) will have the weekend off.

Two back overnight, Fraser grabbed his initial birdie at the 5th, sparking a run of three in four holes, and after adding another at 11 repeated the effort from the 13th to overtake a faltering Watson, whose final five holes read bogey, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie.

Senden picked up seven shots in as many holes with five birdies and a hole in one at the par-three 2nd, remarkably the same hole playing partner Chalmers also aced on Thursday.

Like Scott 24 hours earlier, Baddeley had an up and down round.

After slumping to even par with two double bogeys and a bogey in his first seven holes as Appleby was shooting the lights out, Baddeley then birdied six of his next eight holes to close within one of the lead only to give one of the shots back at the 8th.

Ireland Share World Cup Lead

A four under par 68 helped Irish pairing Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy catch Australians Richard Green and Brendan Jones as the two nations claimed a share of the halfway lead at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup after an enthralling second day foursomes session.

Australia were two clear overnight after a blistering 61 in the fourballs, but had to scrap hard for a 70 in the more demanding foursomes format. 

Having birdied the second and bogeyed the fourth, the duo from Down Under had a slice of good fortune when Green chipped in from a bunker at the fifth - turning a likely bogey into a birdie in the process. 

There was no luck involved at the sixth, however, as Jones sent a brilliant second shot to 15 feet and left-hander Green sunk the resulting eagle putt. 

The three-time European Tour winner holed from a similar distance at the 13th but two bogeys over the closing stretch left the event wide open. 

“The important thing for us is that we are still at the top, and everybody is chasing us and we are chasing Ireland now,” said Jones. “We can't win the tournament today, but we sure could have fallen back in the field. 

“So just to be in the position we're in, we've got to take the positives out of that, and I think tomorrow we'll get out and both of us get some rhythm back in our game and play a more attacking game. 

“It's all about limiting your errors in this game, and I think we pretty much did that. A couple of times we slipped up, but that's just the way it is.” 

Green added: “We spoke about our strategy last night, and in foursomes especially we decided that anything under par is going to do all right. So a 70 today achieved that goal I guess. 

“A little bit of a shame to have finished with a bogey, but it's a very difficult finish to this golf course and a very demanding hole, 18. Hopefully we can work that out for the weekend and not do that on Sunday.” 

It was Ireland’s past and present US Open Champions who took advantage, the pair responding to three-putt bogeys on the 11th and 13th with six birdies, the last of which came at the driveable 16th when McDowell splashed out to two feet. 

“I think both of us are very pleased about the score that we ended up shooting today,” Said World Number Two McIlroy. “I think anything in the 60s in the foursomes format is a very reasonable score out there. 

“There is still a lot of golf to be played this week, so it will be nice to get out there tomorrow again and enjoy the fourballs and be aggressive and make a few more birdies. I think we are very pleased with how today went and looking forward to the weekend.” 

Ireland started the week as the bookies’ favourites, and 32 year old McDowell insists there is more to come over the weekend. 

“Alternate shot is a very difficult format,” he said. “We struggled to find our rhythm a little bit on the front nine. Rory really putted well today, which kept things together. 

“I've struggled a little bit on the greens the last couple of days, but I was happy the way I swung the club in general today again and Rory is playing lovely. 

“Looking forward to getting back out there into better balls tomorrow where we can both play a little bit more aggressively and get in our rhythm better. But very, very happy with that performance today - four under par in this format is a pretty good effort.” 

Only six shots separate the top 20 teams, with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird in third on 12 under - Laird’s missed five foot par putt at the last producing their only bogey and denying them a share of the lead. 

Spain, New Zealand and the United States are fourth on ten under, Alvaro Quiros and Miguel Angel Jiménez combining for a bogey-free 69 that included an eagle at the 16th after big-hitting Quiros drove to within 20 feet. 

England, The Netherlands and surprise package Mexico are nine under, with hosts China amongst a group of nine teams one further back.

Clarke Three Off Pace Down Under

Australia's Steven Bowditch matched Choi Joon-woo's six under par 66 to share the lead with the South Korean after the opening round of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

On a day when a host of players, including Jason Day, threatened record scores and fellow Australian Adam Scott staged a remarkable recovery to stay in the hunt, it was firstly Choi and then Bowditch who capitalised most on the favourable conditions.

One shot adrift are Australians Aaron Baddeley, Andre Stolz and Aaron Townsend, as well as American Bubba Watson, while Steve Conran and Marcus Fraser are among those tied for seventh two shots back.

Open Champion Darren Clarke, Day, Robert Allenby, American Rickie Fowler and South Korean Y E Yang all lie at three under par, while Scott, Stuart Appleby and defending champion Peter Senior all finished with 70s.

Day began in blistering fashion with birdies at five of his first seven holes and after grabbing a sixth at the ninth, was still at five under at the turn having also bogeyed the eighth.

However, he lost momentum over the second half of his round to finish three under par.

After a terrible back nine that featured a triple bogey, a double bogey and a pair of bogeys that left him five over, Scott blitzed the front nine in 30 shots with six birdies to lie two under.

Scott's woes stemmed largely from three visits to the water in four holes from the 11th.

Clarke reached four under at one point only to make back-to-back bogeys at the fourth and fifth, but a birdie at the sixth left him in touch with the leaders.

GMAC and Rory Face World Cup Test

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will see their partnership put to the test once again this week at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup in China.

Two years ago the pair were denied glory by the Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari.

This time around, the Irish duo have been installed as favourites to go one better and win the title.

McIlroy, who at number two in the world is the highest ranked player in the field said: “Graeme and I really enjoyed the experience at Mission Hills two years ago, when we came close to winning the title.

“We only missed out by a shot, and are looking forward to forming the Irish team again and trying to go one better this time.”

The 22-year-old reigning US Open champion hasn’t played competitively since finishing fourth at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai two weeks ago.

In contrast, McDowell will be making his fifth competitive start in a row at the high class Mission Hills Resort, Hainan Island.

McDowell added: “I was delighted when Rory selected me to be his partner again.

“There is nothing quite like representing Europe in The Ryder Cup or Ireland in the World Cup – It’s a real buzz.

“We worked well as a partnership two years ago, and we can’t wait to try to claim the title.”

The 32-year-old finished a lowly 38th in his latest outing at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan on Sunday, an event reduced to 54-holes by heavy rain.

“Disappointing week on the greens this week,” McDowell tweeted.

“Struggled with my speed. Ball striking and short game are right there.

“Bring on the World Cup.”

Rory and Graeme are close friends off the course and following McIlroy’s much publicised switch from ISM, they are now part of the same management team at Horizon.

On-course the two Ulster golfers have developed into a highly effective partnership.

In 2009 they played together at the Seve Trophy winning three points out of four as GB&I crushed Europe.

And then last year they came together again in the cauldron of the Ryder Cup to win one and half points out of three.

They are a proven combination but they will have to see off some other high quality pairings if they are to become the first Irish team to win since Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in 1997.

The Molinari brothers are back to defend their title and they will be joined in the 28 team field by Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.

The United States will be represented by Matt Kuchar and his partner Gary Woodland.

Both men recognise the honour and privilege of representing the Stars and Stripes.

Kuchar, who was part of the Presidents Cup side that beat the International team in Australia on Sunday said:. “It’s exciting to think about the World Cup and representing the United States.

Woodland said: “Matt is a very consistent player, always in play.

“Hopefully it pans out pretty well.

“I have a little length to add to it, so hopefully I can drive it out there.

“He can knock it close and we both get our putters going and we can make a lot of birdies.”

“That is what we are looking for and hopefully we can play well and get the job done.

“Our form at the minute is quite good and hopefullyb that will continue in this event.”

England’s Ian Poulter has named his close friend Justin Rose to fly the flag for England.

This comes four years after they finished fourth on their only appearance as a double act at the original Mission Hills Resort in Shenzen.

Harrington Shares Third in Malaysia

Dutchman Joost Luiten claimed a maiden European Tour title with a one shot victory from Daniel Chopra at the Iskandar Johor Open.

Trailing overnight leader Chopra by four shots at the start of the day, Luiten compiled a six under par 65 to fend off the Swede with a winning score of 15 under par.

After the tournament had been reduced to 54 holes due to three days of storm interruptions at Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club, Chopra could only produce a final round of 70 and needed a birdie at the last to ensure he finished alone in second on 14 under.

Padraig Harrington, James Morrison and Rhys Davies ended in a tie for third on 13 under. Harrington and Morrison both signed for closing 69s while Davies carded an impressive 65 to climb the leaderboard.

“I don’t believe it yet,” said Luiten. “I think when you’re in position to win you always have some nerves, but I think that’s normal. 

“My caddie [Martin Gray] said to me when we had four holes left to play, ‘the only guy you’re going to lose to is yourself’, and I think he was right. I just had to play my game and let the other guys chase me. If they do chase me, well done, we come back. But it was good enough so I’m really happy.”

After a stunning 63 gave him the first round lead, the 25 year old had slipped down the leaderboard with a second round 70.

But it could have been worse – and three closing birdies at least gave him a platform to launch a challenge.And he took full advantage with a brilliant bogey-free effort, with five of his birdies on the front nine.

“I played really well in the first round, and then I started off pretty well and was one up after six holes. But then the delay came in, and I had a really, really terrible start on the third day,” added Luiten. “I started off with a bogey, and then a double, and I was suddenly three over for the round. 

“But I tried to fight back on the back nine with five birdies, and got myself right in there. And today I think I had a dream start. I made some really nice par putts, I had the pace with the greens and just left a few birdie putts short, but I managed to roll in the par putts when I had to, which was really important for my momentum. “

Luiten’s first victory comes on the back of some impressive form – he had been in the top 15 in eight of his last 14 European Tour events.It also puts to bed the wrist injury which plagued him throughout the start of his career, and takes him to just outside the top 15 that will split the $7,500,000 bonus pool in The Race to Dubai.

“I have been close a few times this year, and to finally win one and get close to the top 15 is unbelievable. And hopefully I can play well in Dubai and push along a little bit,” he added.

The 37 year old Chopra saw his hopes fade with a double bogey at the seventh, but the Swede was still pleased with his week’s work.

“I’m learning to stay patient, which is good,” said Chopra, whose wait for a maiden European Tour title goes on.

“My putting was fantastic. I’m happy with being able to manage my game, even though I didn’t have much control in my long game. I was able to play and work around that with my experience. 

“It is a great way to finish the year. It has been a long hard working year, and it is nice to have this good finish at the end of the year. It gives you some encouragement for the next year.”

Davies collected six birdies in his strong closing effort to join Harrington and Morrison on 13 under par.

"I played well. I was really happy with that. I hadn't had a great deal of form of late, but felt my game was coming along all the time," he said.

"I actually hit the ball really well today, hit just about every shot where I was looking, and that's super encouraging. I holed some good putts as well. I feel like I'm rolling the putter a lot better, and my ball-striking was really on, so that's nice."

Harrington, winner last year when the event was on the Asian Tour, reached the turn two under after birdies on the eighth and ninth.

However, consecutive bogeys at the 11th and 12th halted his progress and, although he picked up two more shots at the next two holes, he ultimately fell short.

Morrison built on his eighth place at the Barclays Singapore Open with another strong finish as three birdies and a bogey secured a tie for third, and cements his place in the top 60 ahead of the Dubai World Championship.

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy was sixth on 12 under following a 70 and Dane Søren Kjeldsen ended a shot further back in seventh after a 67.

Harrington was content with his week's work, if not the final result.

"I was happy with a lot of things this week," said the Irishman.

"I'm happy with my form, I'm happy with the way I'm playing, and most of all I'm happy with where my head was at. I'm just a little disappointed with the finished result, but you can't win them all.

"When you get that close, put yourself in contention, you want to pull it off.

"But it's not always possible, and Joost obviously played very well today. At least it gives me a lot of confidence for the last couple of events."

Harrington Cuts Chopra Johor Lead

Padraig Harrington battled to a four-under-par 67 despite struggling with a stomach discomfort to trail second round leader Daniel Chopra of Sweden by two shots on Saturday.

Harrington returned Saturday morning to complete nine holes for an 11-under-par 131 total that was matched by James Morrison of England and Gregory Bourdy of France at the US$2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

A total of 70 players returned Saturday morning to complete the second round of the Iskandar Johor Open after play was suspended at 6.40pm on Friday.

Chopra, who finished the second round on Friday, aims to recapture the title he won way back in 1993 but will have to fend off the strong challenge from three-time Major champion Harrington at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.

“I’ve actually been feeling a bit under the weather for the last 48 hours, so that break yesterday actually did me the world of good, because I was able to sleep for three hours. I’m not sure if it was something I ate, but I’ve been really struggling to sleep and I lost my appetite,” said Harrington.

“But I felt better after my sleep yesterday afternoon, and I felt better again this morning. I’ve been surviving on toast for the last two days, but hopefully I can get something down me now and maybe go for a little nap before the third round starts,” he added.

Harrington played nine holes on Friday before play was suspended due to darkness. He returned this morning with a pair of birdies from 11 and added two more birdies on holes 16 and 18 to stay within touching distance of Chopra.

“It was important to get as close to Daniel (Chopra) as I could, because we don’t know if there are 18 or 36 holes left to play. I was very aware of that coming down the last nine holes, and even on the last hole. The pin is very tight to the water but I decided to attack the flag with my pitch anyway, which maybe I wouldn’t have done if I knew for definite there was still 36 holes left to play,” he said.

Sddikur of Bangladesh, winner of the 2010 Brunei Open, is the highest ranked Asian in tied sixth place after posting a 67 on Friday for a 134 total to lie five shots off the lead.

The halfway cut was set at two-under-par 140 with a total of 72 players making the cut. Round three will start no later than 12.45pm local time.

Scores after round 2 

129 - Daniel CHOPRA (SWE) 64-65.

131 - Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL) 64-67, James MORRISON (ENG) 66-65, Gregory BOURDY (FRA) 64-67.

133 - Joost LUITEN (NED) 63-70.

134 - SIDDIKUR (BAN) 67-67, Christian NILSSON (SWE) 67-67, Michael JONZON (SWE) 69-65, Jose Manuel LARA (ESP) 67-67, Marcus FRASER (AUS) 64-70.

135 - Soren HANSEN (DEN) 68-67, Rhys DAVIES (WAL) 70-65, Soren KJELDSEN (DEN) 71-64, Darren BECK (AUS) 70-65, Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 71-64, Manny VILLEGAS (COL) 72-63, Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE) 68-67.

136 - Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) 70-66, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 65-71, Peter KARMIS (RSA) 70-66, Jamie MCLEARY (SCO) 66-70, Marcel SIEM (GER) 69-67, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 69-67, Michael HOEY (NIR) 69-67.

137 - Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 69-68, Steve WEBSTER (ENG) 69-68, Sam WALKER (ENG) 70-67, Anthony KIM (USA) 68-69, Guido VAN DER VALK (NED) 69-68, Danny WILLETT (ENG) 69-68, Richie RAMSAY (SCO) 68-69.

Harrington Defends Johor Open Title

Padraig Harrington feels he will have to produce some of his very best golf to defend his Iskandar Johor Open title in Malaysia this week.

Harrington ended a two-year wait for a title 12 months ago with a three-shot victory at Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Johor Bahru when the tournament was part of the Asian Tour. Now co-sanctioned for the first time with the European Tour, Harrington will have to fend off competition from Henrik Stenson, Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim and Louis Oosthuizen among others.

"There are 156 guys here this week, and most - if not all - of them are very good players. So you're going to have to play very well and hole a lot of putts to win the tournament," the three-time major winner told the European Tour website.

"It's very hard to predict who's going to win a golf tournament these days because pretty much every player in the field is quite capable on their day.

"So it's always better to focus on your own game rather than on anyone else. All you can do is just give it your best shot and see where it takes you."

Harrington, though, expects to take on a much different Horizon Hills course from a year ago, where he triumphed with a winning score of 20-under-par.

"It's always nice to come back to a golf course where you've won before. It obviously comes with certain expectations, and hopefully I can live up to them this week," he added.

"The course is very different to the one we played last year. A few of the holes have been lengthened, the rough's much heavier and the fairways are very soft, whereas they were pretty firm last year.

"So whilst we were getting 30 to 40 yards of run here last year, you probably won't be getting any this year. So it'll be interesting to see how it affects the scoring - I certainly don't think the winning score will be as low as last year's."

The Iskandar Johor Open is one of the fastest growing tournaments on the Asian Tour and has attracted some of the best golfers in the world. The event was successfully staged at the Royal Johor Country Club for the first three years and at Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in 2010. 

It returns to Johor for the fifth time where once again at Horizon Hills, golf fans will be able to witness yet another exciting golf tournament which is staking its claim as one of the top events on the Asian Tour calendar. It reaches a new level on the international golf schedule with its elevation to a jointly sanctioned tournament with the Asian and European Tours starting 2011. 

Since the inaugural event in 2007, the prize money for the tournament has increased by more than four-fold from US$300,000 in 2007 to US$1.25 million in 2010. In 2011, the prize money will grow to a minimum of US$2 million. 

Past winners include Artemio Murakami of Philippines who won the inaugural event in 2007 and South African Retief Goosen who took home the prestigious prize in 2008. Korean superstar KJ Choi lifted the coveted trophy in 2009 and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington ended a two-year winless run in 2010 with a very popular win. 

2010 also saw the best field in Johor yet, with the finest players on the Asian Tour and 2010 European Ryder Cup Winning Team Captain Colin Montgomerie. 

2011 looks set to be the championship’s most exciting edition yet, with a field of the European Tours’ finest players facing off against the best that Asian golf has to offer. 

A total of 156 international golfers are expected to compete in this prestigious global event this year.

Carton House to Host 2012 Event

The leading amateur stroke play championship is heading for Ireland next year, with the Golfing Union of Ireland announcing it will host the International European Amateur Championship in 2012.

The Montgomerie Course at Carton House will await the best amateur players from across the world on August 8-11 – and if past experience is anything to go by, the competition will be a memorable one.

Some of the biggest names in the world of professional golf have captured the European Individual title on their way to global success – including current US Open Champion and current World No.2 Rory McIlroy.

It is the first time in the 25-year history of the event that Ireland will host – the championship having previously been held in Denmark, France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Finland, Scotland, Belgium, Portugal, Wales, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, England and The Netherlands.

Additionally, the championship is one of only four on the World Amateur Golf Rankings points system with “elite” status – the other three being the Asian Amateur, British Amateur and US Amateur Championships.

Irish players have been particularly successful at the event. McIlroy’s victory in 2006 earned him a place in the 2007 Open Championship, in which he announced his talent to the world with a fine opening round of three-under 68 on the Carnoustie Links. He went on to win the Silver Medal as the leading amateur player that week.

But his was not the first – but fourth – Irish victory at the championship, with Brian McElhinney capturing the title in 2003, Stephen Browne in 2001 and Paddy Gribben in 1998.

Prominent past winners also include five-time Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia, France’s European Tour stalwart Gregory Havret – who finished runner-up at the US Open in 2010 – and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, a four-time victor on the USPGA Tour.

The Honorary Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland, Albert Lee, said “We are delighted to be selected to host the European Individual Championship and look forward to welcoming the cream of world amateur golf to Ireland next August.

“We are also thrilled that the championship will be played on the Montgomerie Course at Carton House, as I’m sure it will be both an enjoyable experience and a stern test for such an elite field.”

Gonzo Storms Top in Singapore Open

The Singapore Open has been reduced to 54 holes after play was called off for the day due to lightning at Sentosa Golf Club with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leading the way on 15 under par.

Play was suspended for almost three hours on Friday due to thunderstorms, meaning a number of the field had to return this morning to finish their second rounds.

However, the third round was also halted on account of lightning before eventually being suspended with play to resume early Sunday morning.

With the event now reduced to 54 holes, it leaves Fernandez-Castano firm favourite to claim the title as the Spaniard took a three-shot lead after posting a second round of 61 this morning.

Fernandez-Castano carded five birdies coming home on the Tanjong Course as he completed his second round in style to move clear of Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison.

'I am thrilled, you don't shoot 10-under very often,' he said. 'You don't really know how the suspensions are going to affect you. I was lucky because yesterday I didn't tee off before the thunder storm. I took my time. I took it easy and started well with three birdies. 

'It was great and then I had a good start again this morning. I played well of course. To play well you need to hole putts and that is what I did.

'I found something with my swing. I have been injured for six months at the beginning of the year and it took me a while to find my swing and what I want to do with the ball.

'I finally did and of course the big thing was the putting. I changed my putting method at the Czech Open in mid August. Since then my putting has improved a lot. It's the claw grip. I am just imitating Sergio Garcia to see if I can win as many tournaments as he does.'

He added: 'It's a shame that the tournament has to be reduced to 54 holes. It's good for me to be leading after 36 but I don't think that's what anyone wants, players, sponsors, officials, spectators, Sentosa - everyone would rather be playing 72 holes.

'There is a long way to go with 18 holes tomorrow and there are some great players just behind me on the leaderboard. It's going to be a tough day so I have to go out there and play my own game and see what happens.

'I mean, six months ago I didn't know what was going on with my back injury and to be honest I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to play again. So after spending six months on the bench I am very proud of the way I have been able to come back.'

Molinari was unable to make much headway into Fernandez-Castano's lead, picking up a birdie at the 12th as the Italian resumed on the Serapong Course before eventually signing for a 68 to join Morrison on 12 under while Juvic Pagunsan is in third spot two shots further back after firing his second successive 66.

New Zealander Danny Lee climbed into the group on nine-under following a 65, alongside Anders Hansen and Michael Hoey, while Scot Richie Ramsay also carded a 65 to move to eight-under alongside Justin Rose and YE Yang, who could only manage a 71.

Colin Montgomerie returned a 71 to make the cut and a birdie at the 11th moved the veteran to five-under before his third round was halted just two holes in.

Simon Dyson, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell also made the cut but Padraig Harrington missed out as a 77 left the Irishman four over par.