Wozzilroy Enjoying Life

Rory McIlroy was on the practice green on Thursday at Dove Mountain, taking strokes with a putter in his right hand as he talked on a mobile phone in his left.

Before McIlroy teed off in the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship, he checked in with his girlfriend, Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who was in Dubai for a tournament. McIlroy said he watched her match before arriving at the course for his 3 and 2 victory against Wozniacki’s compatriot Anders Hansen.

Three years ago, McIlroy made his professional debut in the United States at this event and reached the quarter-finals, impressing onlookers with his game and his grounded demeanour.

Ernie Els, a three-time Major champion, predicted at the time that McIlroy, a freckle-faced youngster with clown hair, would one day reach number one. After his 3 and 1 victory over Lee Westwood in yesterday’s semi-final, McIlroy was one victory away from realising that prophecy – although Hunter Mahan was to prove too great an obstacle.

“It’s a nice incentive,” McIlroy said. “It’s nice to have in the back of your mind. And if you are struggling in a match and find it hard to get yourself up or get any sort of momentum, you think about that and you think if you can really dig deep you still have a chance to become number one.”

Since winning last year’s US Open, McIlroy (22) has split from long-time manager Chubby Chandler over a reported disagreement on the best course to promote his personal brand, decided to move from Belfast to Florida, parted ways with his childhood sweetheart and begun a relationship with Wozniacki, who started this year the way McIlroy hopes to end it: at number one in the world.

Has the pride of the Co Down town of Holywood gone Hollywood?

Asked last week about the upheaval, McIlroy said: “Things change, and you know, people move on. I felt like I just needed a few fresh ideas and – yeah, I feel very content and very happy at the moment with everything that’s going on.

“And I feel like my golf game is in good shape. I think when things are in order off the golf course, it can allow you to play better on it.”

McIlroy’s celebrity, which was budding three years ago in the desert, has since bloomed. If any pruning is necessary, it was not evident on Wednesday when McIlroy was the last player to advance, sealing his two-up first-round victory against George Coetzee under the veil of dusk.

After meeting reporters, McIlroy stopped at the range, which he had to himself. For the next 25 minutes, he hit 47 balls. Between shots, he discussed with his caddie, JP Fitzgerald, swings he had made during the round, while Horizon’s Conor Ridge, who succeeded Chandler as McIlroy’s manager, watched.

A small crowd gathered behind the range and admired the flight of McIlroy’s shots. When he was done, he walked over to the fans straining against the security barrier and signed autographs. As he exited the range, Ridge asked about dinner, and McIlroy said he had to go to the gym first.

The spotlight casts a shadow on McIlroy’s work ethic. The strength of his game is his driving, but he dispatched Hansen with deft play on and around the greens.

“I’ve been working on that part of my game,” he said. “It’s something I felt I needed to improve, to be honest.”

In his next match, a 3 and 1 victory against Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, McIlroy missed two putts inside five feet and fluffed a couple of chips, but his iron play was crisp.

Jimenez, who at 48 is old enough to be McIlroy’s father, had a warm exchange with him afterward. “Miguel told me he hopes I go all the way and get number one,” he said.

Despite the outcome last night, McIlroy has been heartened by his early results, including a second and a fifth in his first two European Tour events.

“When I don’t have my best game I’m confident I can hang in there,” he said, adding: “I’m a more mature player and a more mature person.

“The more tournaments you play, the more experience you get. I’m learning from my mistakes.”

The final round of the 2011 Masters was a painful lesson.

McIlroy held a four-stroke lead after 54 holes but closed with an 80 to finish 10 shots behind the winner and then fellow ISM stablemate Charl Schwartzel, who learned a lot about McIlroy afterwards as they travelled by private jet to a tournament in Asia.

“He came up to me, congratulated me, wanted to take photos with me,” Schwartzel said. “He joked, ‘At least the green jacket is on the airplane’. It was a very unbelievable thing for him to do. It shows his character, what sort of person he is. That’s why he’s obviously having the success he has, because of the attitude he’s got.”

In interviews, there are still shades of the smiling, wide-eyed teenage McIlroy who came to Arizona in 2009 and expressed his esteem for Tiger Woods and his desire to crack the world top 10.

“I just feel like I’m a more experienced player and a better player,” McIlroy said. “But you know, still obviously loving every minute of it, being on tour and having a good time, taking in everything that comes my way.”

Mahan Ends McIlroy No. 1 Hunt

Rory McIlroy missed the chance to become world number one when he lost to Hunter Mahan in the final of the WGC Match Play in Arizona on Sunday.

The 22-year-old US Open champion from Northern Ireland fought back on the back nine before losing 2&1.

He could not repeat his heroics of earlier in the day when he recovered from three down after four holes to beat Lee Westwood in the semi-final.

"I played a great back nine but left too much work to do," said McIlroy.

"There was a little stretch around five, six, seven and eight where I lost the match."

“I'm happy with how I'm playing and hopefully it's only a matter of time before I win”Rory McIlroy

McIlroy recovered his composure on the back nine, pulled back two holes and had a great opportunity for an eagle on the 15th but he missed the putt and Mahan held his nerve to halve the hole in three.

"When I hit the tee shot on 15 I thought 'here we go' but Hunter made a good up and down and then I knew it would be tough after that," said McIlroy.

"I'm happy with how I'm playing and hopefully it's only a matter of time before I win."

Now he is looking forward to the Masters, which starts on 5 April. He said: "I can't wait. That's what I'm building up to. I've got two events before the Masters and it would be nice to get a couple of good results before that."

Mahan was delighted with the way he held off one of the world's best players.

"I felt great with my game coming in," he said. "Rory is a great player, the best in the world right now. I knew he was going to make a charge and I'm pretty pleased with the way I held on."

Defeat for McIlroy in Arizona means Englishman Luke Donald stays world number one.

The final was all-square after five holes but then Mahan took control by winning the next three holes.

Mahan birdied the sixth and then took advantage of McIlroy's double-bogey on the seventh and bogey on the eighth.

Match Play champions

2012: Hunter Mahan

2011: Luke Donald

2010: Ian Poulter

2009: Geoff Ogilvy

2008: Tiger Woods

2007: Henrik Stenson

2006: David Ogilvy

2005: David Toms

2004: Tiger Woods

2003: Tiger Woods

2002: Kevin Sutherland

The American birdied the 10th to go four up before McIlroy finally found some magic by chipping in on the par-five 11th for an eagle.

McIlroy then birdied the 13th, only to watch the Californian roll in an eight-foot putt, after chipping out of a bunker, to halve the hole.

The Northern Irishman birdied the 14th - this time Mahan could not match him - to reduce the deficit to two down.

The next three holes were halved and Mahan took the title on the 17th.

Earlier McIlroy had beaten Ryder Cup team-mate Westwood 3&1 with a superb exhibition of matchplay golf.

McIlroy went behind on the second, found a greenside bunker on the third and then the greenside rough on the driveable fourth, as Westwood went three up after four holes.

But the world number three missed a putt from 10 feet to save par on the fifth and McIlroy birdied the sixth to bring the deficit down to one.

The man from Hollywood, County Down, drew level at the par-five eighth with a birdie putt from 14 feet.

Then he birdied the ninth, 12th and 13th and, amazingly, after being three down through four holes, was three up after 13.

Westwood hit back with an eagle on the par-five 15th but McIlroy wrapped it up on the 17th.

Westwood then lost the third/fourth place play-off to Mark Wilson. He was three down after 13 but won the next two holes to set up a last-hole finish but could not hole a 20-foot putt and Wilson won 1 up.

Results (US unless stated, UK and Northern Ireland players in bold):

Semi-final

Hunter Mahan beat Mark Wilson 2&1

Rory McIlroy (NI) beat Lee Westwood (Eng) 3&1

Final

Mahan beat McIlroy 2&1

Third/fourth place play-off

Wilson beat Westwood 1 up

McIlroy in Final Desert Hunt

Rory McIlroy fought back from three down to beat Lee Westwood 3&1 in their semi-final clash at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.

And it means the the US Open champion can now go to world number one if he beats Hunter Mahan in the final later today.

Westwood made the early running, winning the second with a five foot birdie putt and the third after McIlroy couldn't save par from sand.

Another birdie putt at the fourth put Westwood three up but a bogey at five gave McIlroy his first gain and from that point on the Northern Irishman never looked back.

He won the next with a birdie putt from 28 feet, made the match all square with a 15 footer for birdie on the eighth and made it a third birdie in four holes at the ninth to turn turn one up.

After 10 and 11 were halved, McIlroy pressed the accelerator again and produced winning birdies at 12 and 13 to go three up.

Westwood won his first hole since the fourth with a birdie at 15 to cut the gap to two down but, after the 16th was halved, he handed McIlroy the match via a bogey at the long par four 17th.

Always in front

In the other semi-final, Mahan was always in front after winning the first via a bogey from fellow American Mark Wilson.

Mahan won the next to go two up but could never build a significant lead.

Wilson, a winner of the Humana Challenge earlier this year, three times reduced the lead to a single hole, once with a birdie at five and twice with par threes at three and 12.

But when Mahan won the 15th with a birdie three to go two up again, Wilson couldn't rally for a final time. Pars at the 16th and 17th were enough to give Mahan a 2&1 win and secure his place in the final.

McIlroy Still in Match Play Mix

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood are still on course for a semi-final clash at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.

McIlroy overcame Ryder Cup teammate Miguel Angel Jiménez 2 and 1 in the third round, while Westwood beat Tiger Woods' conqueror Nick Watney - the man who had knocked him out the last two years - by a 3 and 2 margin.

It was the first time in 12 attempts that the Englishman had made it into the last 16, but he looks in the mood to go much further.

He next plays Martin Laird, who defeated fellow Scot Paul Lawrie 3 and 1 in a game which could have big implications for the Ryder Cup qualifying race.

Victory on Sunday would put Westwood back as World Number One ahead of Luke Donald - McIlroy has the same target for the weekend - and so far he has repeated Donald's feat in winning 12 months ago, never trailing in any game and never being taken to the final hole either.

He has actually led for 48 of his 49 holes so far and said: "I feel in control of nearly every part of my game.

"I did some good work on my chipping last week and played some really nice ones. It was nice to get my own back. I didn't want to make it (losing to Watney) a habit."

He birdied the first two holes, went three up after the American missed the green at the ninth, then stretched the gap to four by almost holing his approach to the next.

Westwood was bunkered on the 12th and lost it to a par three, but he did wonderfully well to halve the 583 yard 13th in birdies after his chip hit the hole and rolled ten feet away. Halves at the next three finished things off.

Former Open Champion Lawrie had gone all 18 holes before beating Justin Rose and Ryo Ishikawa, but was in trouble from the moment he bogeyed the first and Laird birdied the long second.

Laird stretched his advantage to three "against the head" at the short 12th, holing from seven feet and seeing the 43 year old miss from five, but Lawrie's two-putt birdie on the next brought him back to two down.

It was all over, though, when Lawrie failed to get up and down from sand on the 17th.

McIlroy turned three up after some dazzling iron play. But for missing twice from under five feet and once from eight feet the 22 year old third seed would have been out of sight.

The gap twice came back to two early on the back nine, McIlroy twice fluffing chips, but he delivered the final nail in the coffin with another superb approach to the 17th.

Last year's runner-up Martin Kaymer found American Matt Kuchar too hot to handle despite two opening birdies, losing 4 and 3, while Hunter Mahan beat Steve Stricker by the same margin in a match between Ryder Cup colleagues.

Kuchar, a semi-finalist last year, was also at The Celtic Manor Resort and he is next for Mahan.

Another player from that match, Swede Peter Hanson, beat Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3 and will now face another American in Mark Wilson, a surprisingly easy winner over Dustin Johnson.

“I love match play,” said Hanson. “I think it's the best format ever. You only have to play one guy at a time. Here is so much fun and I think my attitude has been very good this week and I have been hitting this ball very well.”

McIlroy had to wait to discover his next opponent. Australian John Senden and Korean Bae Sang-moon were level with three to play.

McIlroy said: "I hit some really good irons and felt I hit a lot of quality shots, especially coming down the stretch when I needed to.

"I'm driving the ball really well and that's big positive.

"Miguel told me he hopes I go all the way and get number one."

Laird said after his win over Lawrie, who coached him as Open Champion over a decade ago: "It was surreal playing against him and a shame we were paired together.

"I really didn't play well the last two weeks, but my coach got me sorted out.

"I'm looking forward to playing Lee and if I keep playing like I am it will be a good game."

He lives in nearby Scottsdale and felt that knowledge of the desert conditions helped him, Lawrie more than once misjudging how far his ball was flying.

As he did against Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel, Bae sank a short but testing putt on the final green to beat Senden and earn the right to tackle McIlroy.

YE Yang Knocks out GMAC

Korea’s Y E Yang became the first player through to the second round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship with a 2 and 1 victory over Graeme McDowell.

The 2009 US PGA Championship took a topsy-turvy contest when he birdied the 17th from five feet.

It was a repeat of the pair’s third-round contest 12 months ago, when Yang beat the 2010 US Open Champion 3 and 2.

Yang’s win set up a second round contest with either Hunter Mahan or Zach Johnson, and Mahan was one up on his Ryder Cup teammate with three to play.

Also playing in the Ben Hogan bracket, Steve Stricker and Louis Oosthuizen were one up at the turn against Kevin Na and Aaron Baddeley respectively.

In the Sam Snead bracket, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño took the opening hole against Tiger Woods with a birdie, and doubled his lead with a 25 footer at the next.

Matteo Manassero was also two up, against another American in Webb Simpson as their match reached the turn, while Paul Lawrie also led by two against Justin Rose.

"I'm playing good - today is a big mountain over," said Yang, whose run to last-years quarter-finals represented his best performance in the event.

“I made six birdies today, I played decent golf but I ran into a man that played extremely well,” said McDowell.

“I felt like I had to follow him all day long, and I did most of the day, but he didn't put a foot wrong. 

“That's the beauty of this tournament. It's not the beauty - it could be the beast of this tournament, as well. You just run into the wrong guy on the wrong day, and you have got your work cut out. I had my work cut out today, and I didn't take care of business, so I’m disappointed.”

Bushmill Dunes Gets Approval

Proposals to build a £100 million golf complex on Northern Ireland's north coast have been given the green light.

More than 10 years after the first planning application was lodged, the developers have overcome National Trust resistance to begin work on the site close to the famous Giant's Causeway in County Antrim.

The new Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort & Spa will include a championship links, a five-star 120-bedroom hotel and 75 villas. The project is expected to create at least 360 jobs.

It is hoped the course and accommodation ready by the summer of 2014.

Announcing the decision earlier today, Northern Ireland Environment minister Alex Attwood said: "I have carefully considered both sides of the argument, but given the boost to tourism and the economy that the proposal will bring, I have decided to grant planning permission."

The investment is headed by a New York-based Northern Ireland management expert and scientist Dr Alistair Hanna, 67, originally from Holywood, Co Down - the home town of US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy.

British Open champion Darren Clarke lives a few miles from the proposed course, close to neighbouring Royal Portrush golf club where the Irish Open will take place this summer.

Graeme McDowell, a friend of both players and winner of the US Open in 2010, also comes from Portrush.

The first planning application was submitted in 2001 and then renewed six years later.

There was considerable opposition by the National Trust, owners of nearby Giant's Causeway, a Unesco world heritage site where a new visitors' centre is due to open this summer after another lengthy planning process.

A National Trust spokesperson said: "As a conservation charity the trust's over-riding focus is the protection of the environment and landscape within the distinctive setting of Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site.

"We believe this farmland and dune system is the wrong place for such a massive development.

"The National Trust will carefully review the details of the planning decision and consider its options."

Rankings Not McIlroy Worry

Rory McIlroy had admitted the world rankings are not in the forefront of his mind as he prepares for this week's WGC World Match Play.

The 22-year-old could become world number one for the first time this week if he wins the event in Tucson, Arizona and Luke Donald falls in the first or second round.

"The rankings are sort of a by-product of what you do," said McIlroy. "I'd rather just concentrate on trying to win tournaments and trying to improve as a player.

"If I happen to do that, then hopefully the ranking will take care of itself."

Donald is taking nothing for granted, coming up against former world number one Ernie Els in Wednesday's opening round, with his nine-month reign at the top of the rankings under threat.

Current number three Lee Westwood gets his campaign under way against Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, although the Englishman has a ghastly record in the event.

Westwood has never been beyond the second round in 11 attempts and admitted: "I just don't know why it is.

"Sometimes I have not played well enough or just run up against somebody who is playing hot, but it's very strange when you look at my record in the Ryder Cup and that I won the Match Play at Wentworth."

Tiger Woods and Darren Clarke could meet in the second round some 12 years after the Northern Irishman beat the American in the final when it was played in Dubai.

However, Clarke must first get past Nick Watney as he teams up with temporary caddie Phil Morbey for the first time.

Incident Filled Avantha Masters Sunday

Paul McGinley slipped out of contention for a top ten finish in New Delhi when a final round 73 pushing him to a share of 14th place. A double bogey on the par four 5th, the main cause of the problem on his card on Sunday.

However the news was rather worse for Peter Whiteford, who was disqualified from the final round of the Avantha Masters, over a ball-moving incident late in his third round. The Scot, one off the lead as he teed off for his fourth round, had asked those close to the scene for their opinions on whether the ball had moved.

But he signed his scorecard for a lower score without checking with officials.

Whiteford, 31, said: "I should have reviewed it. I'm not cheating. It's one of those things but disappointing."

Television replays of Whiteford's third shot to the 18th showed that his ball rolled a fraction before he played to the green.

Whiteford, still to win on the circuit, was leading the field after the first and second rounds and was still in front when he double-bogeyed the 17th hole on Saturday.

"I should have reviewed it. You can see it when you look at TV. John spoke to me before I went out, so to be honest my head wasn't in it from the first tee," he said.

Officials reviewed the matter as Whiteford began his final 18 holes and was given the bad news just after bogeying the short third.

European Tour chief referee John Paramor said: "Peter felt his ball may have moved and for confirmation asked his caddie, a fellow competitor and a TV cameraman, who said they didn't think it had and so he continued on to finish the hole and sign his scorecard for 72.

"Overnight, several viewers contacted the Tour website. This was reviewed by the rules committee, who were able to determine that the ball had in fact moved.

"He should have incurred a penalty of one stroke and replaced the ball.

"As he did not do so, he was disqualified for signing for a score lower than taken for failing to include the penalty he had incurred.

"If he had contacted a member of the rules team before signing his scorecard, the footage would have been reviewed at the time and he would have averted the disqualification penalty."

It was a happier tournament, however, for South Africa's Jbe Kruger, whose final-round 69 was enough to finish 14 under and secure a two-stroke victory.

Spain's Jorge Campillo signed for 67 - the joint best of the day - to finish tied for second with Germany's Marcel Siem.

Marcus Fraser, of Austria, and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara finished three off the lead.

Final results

McGinley Cards Moving Day 68

Former Ryder Cup Vice Captain Paul McGinley has been plagued by knee problems over the years, but was delighted to show signs of his vintage form in a round of 68 on day three of the Avantha Masters in Delhi.

“This is only my second tournament this year because I had a knee injury at the end of last season which I’m still coming back from,” said Europe’s hero from the 2002 Ryder Cup victory at The Belfry. 

“I haven’t been able to play a full schedule this year so far because of the rehabilitation, but hopefully as the season goes on I’ll be able to play more and more.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to be in contention because I’ve played so little golf. It was nice to finish birdie-birdie, and I nearly eagled the last – I hit a four iron to about 20 feet but just missed the putt. I played nicely and 68 is a good score.” 

But it is Jbe Kruger who will take a one shot lead into the final round, with a host of players who will fancy their chances at DLF Golf & Country Club - where just three shots separate the top 15.

The South African had two eagles and two birdies in a round of 66 which left him 11 under, one stroke ahead of halfway leader Peter Whiteford, Germany’s Marcel Siem and France’s Jean Baptiste Gonnet.

On a day of fluctuating fortunes, Kruger’s consistency over the third round eventually proved the decisive factor as the 25 year old kept his card bogey free.

In contrast, Siem fought back brilliantly after double bogeys at the first two holes, Whiteford double bogeyed the sixth and 17th – the latter costing him the outright lead – and Gonnet did well to recover from four bogeys in his first 12 holes with a run of five birdies in the last six holes.

Kruger’s first eagle came at the par five sixth when he holed a 20 foot putt, and he was even more impressive at the driveable 15th, holing a putt from off the green after his five wood finished short of the putting surface.

Allied with birdies at the fourth and 18th, the former amateur star has a tremendous opportunity to collect his maiden European Tour title on Sunday.

“I’m going to try to play how I played today,” he said. “If it’s meant to be my week, it’ll be mine, so I don’t want to think too far ahead yet. 

“The putts need to go in and I think that’s what defines the winner. I’ve been reading the greens a little better as I’ve been struggling with it during the week. 

“My putting has been good and if I can see the line, I’m confident my putts will go in. I’m improving and I’m a lot more experienced, and I think that will give me the edge.” 

Asked about his eagles, Kruger added: “I got a little bit lucky on the sixth. I used a six iron and it landed about 20 feet away, and I managed to sink it. That was the longest putt I made today and I was lucky it went in.

“On the 15th, I just drove it a little short of the green and I made a pretty simple putt from about 12 metres. I managed to judge it to perfection and sink it.”

Scot Whiteford led by three when he birdied the first from 15 feet, but he needed four shots to find the green at the 486 yard fifth, then missed his bogey putt after chipping to three feet.

At that stage the 31 year old was locked in battle with compatriot Marc Warren, and birdies at the sixth and ninth looked to have restored Whiteford’s momentum.

Two bogeys and three birdies followed over the next six holes and a comfortable lead looked likely for the former Challenge Tour star, but his approach to the short 17th came up short and found the water.

“I’m raging, I’ve let everyone back in it with that score,” said Whiteford. “If I’d managed a three or four under, I would have had a good lead, and I gave myself enough chances to shoot a lower score. 

“It could’ve been a two or three horse race, but now everyone’s in it. It was disappointing on the 17th because my tee shot landed in a divot and I came up short with a nine iron. I had enough birdies to keep positive, but overall it’s disappointing.”

Siem’s nightmare start was followed by seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at the last after a magnificent four iron approach.

“It was a crazy day,” said the 31 year old, who finished fourth in Dubai last week. “The first hole I hit it left and tried to hit my second shot over the trees, but it hit a trunk and went into the trap on the 18th. 

“It was plugged and I ended up taking double bogey, then the next hole I hit another tree, didn’t get on in three and had a chip and two-putt for another double. So all of a sudden I was four over, but luckily I kept my head and came back with eight birdies and an eagle. It was pretty cool today. It showed a lot of heart to come back from a start like that and keep going.”

José Manuel Lara matched the best-of-the-week 64 to leap 38 places into a tie for fifth on nine under, alongside Warren (68), Italy’s Andrea Pavan (67), Australian Marcus Fraser (69), Thai Prom Meesawat – who chipped in at the last for a 71 – and Paul McGinley.

McGinley Moves in Avantha Masters

Paul McGinley swept to within reach of his first European Tour victory in seven years at the Avantha Masters yesterday as John Daly headed back to the US with his injured right elbow in plaster.

Daly withdrew overnight with a ligament injury sustained when he struck a tree root on the ninth hole of a disheartening first-round 79 at New Delhi's DLF Golf Club.

"No bones are broken, possible torn ligaments according to European Tour docs," he tweeted. "Getting home for X-rays!"

Boosted by his second eagle three on consecutive days, this time at the 537-yard 18th hole (his ninth), McGinley looked comfortable on hard and fast-running fairways and challenging greens as he compiled a three-under-par 69 in his second round.

Five-under for his opening 36 holes, the Dubliner went into the weekend just five shy of leader Peter Whiteford (29), who boosted his hopes of a first European Tour victory in New Delhi with a second-round 68.

The highlight of the Scot's round was an eagle three at the 538-yard sixth. Whiteford finished the day two ahead of Prom Meesawat (24). Known in Thailand as 'Big Dolphin', Meesawat barely came up for air as he birdied five of the last six holes for a stunning 64.

Gareth Maybin recovered from bogeys at the second and third to shoot a 69, leaving him in a tie for 30th on three-under.

Irish Open Benefits Clarke Input

Darren Clarke’s local knowledge will be put to good use with the aim of making one of the world’s greatest links golf courses even better as he held the first of a number of meetings with European Tour officials at Royal Portrush Golf Club this week in preparation for the 2012 Irish Open.

Portrush will host the prestigious tournament for the first time since 1947 when the 2012 edition takes place from June 28-July 1. Early preparations have begun as a European Tour delegation travelled to Northern Ireland this week.

Reigning Open Champion Clarke is a Member at the stunning links course and, before travelling to the USA for next week’s WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship, he met with officials to give his own views as to how the course can be set up to its full potential.

“The Tour came over and they wanted somebody’s opinion for the golf course and I’m at home at the moment,” the 14 time European Tour winner told BBC Northern Ireland. “They wanted somebody that plays the course all the time to show them where all the shortcuts are; out on Tour we try and cut corners whenever we can and so they’re making sure they grow the rough in areas that they need to.

“I want it to be set up to play fair, where you get rewarded for hitting fairways. That’s what links golf is all about. The golf course itself doesn’t need much tweaking - it just needs thick rough in a few areas where the guys take things on. If they succeed, well and good, but if they get it wrong they’re going to struggle to hit the greens from those places.”

European Tour Tournament Director Miguel Vidaor, meanwhile, praised Royal Portrush Golf Club as “one of the best courses in the world”.

The Dunluce Course has long been regarded as one of the world’s best links courses and last hosted the Irish Open Championship 65 years ago, when Harry Bradshaw emerged victorious.

It has once staged The Open Championship, in 1951, when Englishman Max Faulkner’s lifted the Claret Jug thanks to a two shot victory over Argentina’s Antonio Cerdá, while the last Major Championship action at the venue came in 2004 when American Pete Oakley won the Senior Open Championship.

Vidaor, the Tournament Director for the Irish Open, was wholesome in his praise of the course and stated his delight that The European Tour is returning to the Northern Irish coast.

“This is one of the best courses in the world,” he said. “It’s fabulous, it’s an amazing piece of land. They’ve built new tees and it brings a lot of the fairway bunkers back into play.

“We’re over the moon (to be hosting the Irish Open at Portrush), we’re coming to one of the ‘hidden gems’. It’s one of the greatest golf courses in the world and it is links golf, which is great leading up to the Open Championship – it is fantastic practice for the players. For those who know the golf course, they’re going to love it and for those who haven’t, they’re going to be amazed.”

Speaking of Clarke’s input in the setting up of the course for the Irish Open, he said: "Darren knows the course better than anybody and to get his views on how to set it up, it’s extremely valuable and we really appreciate that he’s given his time to go around the golf course."

The new venue for the 2012 Irish Open will continue to focus the attention of the golfing world on Northern Ireland which has enjoyed a glorious spell at the pinnacle of the game over the last two years.

Graeme McDowell set the ball rolling in June 2010 with his memorable victory in the US Open Championship at Pebble Beach before handing the trophy over 12 months later to Holywood’s Rory McIlroy, following his astonishing eight shot victory at Congressional Country Club in June 2011.

The Major Championship baton was then passed to another Portrush man, Darren Clarke, who provided an emotional and memorable Open Championship victory at Royal St George’s in July 2011 before Ballymoney’s Michael Hoey captured the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October 2011.

That all came in the wake of the ground-breaking achievement of Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in 2007/2008, when he won three Major Championship victories in 13 months.

The Dubliner has already won the Irish Open, when he beat Bradley Dredge in a tense play-off in 2007, but Clarke, McDowell and McIlroy are still seeking a first win in their home Championship.

St Andrews Trophy 2012 Squad

A preliminary 12 player Great Britain & Ireland squad has been selected for this year’s St Andrews Trophy Match which will be played at Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland, on 31 August and 1 September. 

It is a largely new look squad for the match against the Continent of Europe with only Ireland’s Alan Dunbar and Rhys Pugh (pictured) of Wales able to boast previous Walker Cup experience. 

The group features players who have enjoyed success across the globe, including Neil Raymond, winner of the 2012 New South Wales Stroke Play, Paul Shields, who shot a 61 at the recent 2012 Gauteng North Open in South Africa and the University of Alabama’s Jason Shufflebotham who won last year’s prestigious Sam Hall Intercollegiate. 

Among those also showing good form on the US college scene are Ben Taylor, of Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and the University of North Florida’s Kevin Phelan, who finished third and fourth respectively at last week’s Jones Cup Invitational. 

The squad will meet for the first time at Portmarnock from 4-6 July in a match play team environment consisting of two series of foursomes and singles matches. 

Victorious 2011 Walker Cup Captain Nigel Edwards, back to lead a St Andrews Trophy side for a second time, is delighted with the talent at his disposal. 

“We have based our preliminary selection on performances throughout 2011 and will look to add to this squad following the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon in June,” said Edwards, who played on winning St Andrews Trophy teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006. 

“A number of players have started the season well in Australia, South Africa and on the US college circuit. 

“My message to the squad, and those players who narrowly missed out, is to keep playing well through the spring and summer and prove that you should be in the final nine.” 

The selectors, who will attend events throughout the summer, fully expect several players not included in the initial 12-man squad to be in contention for a place in the final nine-man team. 

GB&I Squad

Alan Dunbar - Rathmore 

Rhys Enoch - Truro 

Ben Loughrey - Wrag Barn

Dermot McElroy - Ballymena

Kevin Phelan - Waterford Castle 

Garrick Porteous - Bamburgh Castle 

Rhys Pugh - Vale of Glamorgan

Neil Raymond - Corhampton

Paul Shields - Kirkhill 

Jason Shufflebotham - Prestatyn

Ben Taylor - Walton Heath 

James White - Lundin 

GB&I Selectors

Nigel Edwards, Captain

Jonathan Plaxton, Chairman

Allan Brodie

Michael Burns

Darren Wobbly for MatchPlay

Darren Clarke has enlisted caddie Phil "Wobbly" Morbey as he looks to halt a run of poor form when they team up for the WGC Accenture World Matchplay in Arizona next week, in what is currently termed a temporary arrangement.

The pair have worked together in the past, with the combination in action at the 2008 Irish Open in Adare Manor, the Johnnie Walker at Glenaeagles and the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Club in the Algarve.

The Ulsterman reached the pinnacle of his career last summer with victory in the Open Championship at Sandwich. But he has failed to register a single top-10 finish since then, slumping to 54 in the world rankings.

He finished in a tie for 20th at the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in South Africa last month but subsequently missed the cut in Abu Dhabi before parting company with John Mulrooney, who was on the bag at Sandwich.

Morbey, who enjoyed huge success with former Masters champion Ian Woosnam, will team up with Clarke on a temporary basis starting with next week's Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Wobbly was also on the bag of Ross Fisher in Killarney when the Englihsman won the 3 Irish Open in 2010. 

"Darren and I go back a long way so I've known him for ages and I'm looking forward to the three-week spell," said Morbey, who now caddies for young Englishman Danny Willett.

Morbey is one of the most experienced caddies on tour and is affectionately known as ‘Wobbly’ because of the way he walks.  He has caddied for many players during his career including Jose Maria Olazabal and Thomas Bjorn, to name a few. Danny Willett and Wobbly began working together at the Portugal Masters in October 2011. 

Rafferty Brings Roxburghe to Q-School

The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course will join The European Tour Qualifying School Schedule for the first time when it hosts the First Stage from September 11-14.

The 7,111 yards, par 72 Championship Course, located in the town of Kelso in Roxburghshire, Scotland, hosted the Scottish Senior Open on the European Senior Tour from 2001-2005.

Three years after it was opened by Colin Montgomerie and Sir Nick Faldo in 1997, the venue hosted the Roxburghe Challenge, an exhibition match featuring Paul Lawrie and Sergio Garcia, whose round of 66 remains the course record.

The Championship Course was designed by Dave Thomas, whose other creations include The Belfry, which staged The Ryder Cup four times, and San Roque Club, the host venue of the Qualifying School Final Stage on 11 occasions.

The signature hole is the 14th, a 585-yard par five known as ‘The Viaduct’ and described by Sam Torrance as “a beautiful hole in a glorious setting”.

The Roxburghe’s Tour Ambassador is Ronan Rafferty, a seven-time European Tour champion who in 1989 topped the Money List ahead of José María Olazábal. 

Rafferty said: “Bringing the Qualifying School to The Roxburghe is the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Our long-term aim is to stage a full-fledged European Tour event here, and hosting the First Stage is a big step in the right direction.

“The course is a formidable test of golf, measuring more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. Many of the holes, and especially the signature 14th, will give real food for thought to the players, who should also appreciate the spectacular surroundings.”

The Duke of Roxburghe, who first conceived the idea of constructing a course on the Roxburghe Estate, said: “We welcome the opportunity to showcase our beautiful course to the professionals striving to make it onto The European Tour. We all have great pride in the course, and I have no doubt it will prove a worthy addition to the Qualifying School. We look forward to welcoming the players and Tour officials to the Scottish borders in September.”

Mike Stewart, Director of the Qualifying School, said: “Having recently visited the course, I can safely say that The Roxburghe is precisely the sort of venue we are looking to add to the Qualifying School Schedule. The immaculate condition of the course, the superb facilities and the stunning location all combine to provide the complete package.”