Clarke in Masters Fitness Test

Darren Clarke is facing a race against time to be fit to play in the Masters.

The Open champion limped off the course at the Houston Open on Friday, having strained a groin muscle during his second round of 71.

Clarke felt the injury while completing his rain-delayed first round on Friday morning but played on through the pain barrier to complete his second round.

"I wanted to keep going as I need to play all four rounds before the Masters," said Clarke.

Clarke's second round of 71 put him one under for the tournament and he looked certain to miss the cut by one.

Graeme McDowell completed his second round on Saturday and his 69 left him on five under and seven behind leader Jeff Maggert.

Padraig Harrington was on the projected cut mark of two under after a 73.

“I've had these type of injuries in the past and there's not much you can do but rest”

Clarke earned a five-year Augusta National exemption in winning last year's Open championship and he will be competing in the event for the first time since 2007, when he missed the cut.

On completion of his second round in Houston, it was suggested by Clarke's personal trainer that he attend a local doctor to assess the full extent of his injury, but he declined.

"I've had these type of injuries in the past and there's not much you can do but rest," Clarke insisted.

"It's a really long walk around this golf course and I could have come in after three to four holes this morning. It seemed okay when I finished my first round today but it just got progressively worse in the second round," he said.

Irish Trio Miss Kenyan Cut

The Irish interest in the Kenya Open ended on Friday when all three players - David Higgins, Niall Kearney and Cian McNamara - missed the cut .

A second round 72 was not enough for Higgins of Waterville, missing out by one stroke.

Cian McNamara signed for a 78 on day two and at nine over was unable to progress.

Niall Kearney ended twelve over par on Friday and well outside the cut.

It was Morten Orum Madsen who maintained his position at the top of the leader board after the second round of the Barclays Kenya Open as a battling one over par 72 left him one shot clear.

The Dane reached six under par, just ahead of England’s Seve Benson and local favourite Dismas Indiza, who was the only player from the top three to shoot under par in tougher conditions at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.

Madsen opened brightly with a superb birdie on the par five tenth, his first, after finding heavy rough from the tee, but found the second day a much more challenging test.

“It was a struggle today,” he admitted. “The wind was up a little more than yesterday and I didn’t play well. I was out of bounds on the 18th which was a silly mistake, and I made a bad bogey on the ninth – my last – which leaves a bad a taste in the mouth. I had a bad lie in the rough from my tee shot and could only hit it 20 yards forward.

“I hung in there, so I’m not too unhappy with one over. The greens are tricky and it’s tough to pick the right club because of the altitude, so there are a lot of factors making it quite a challenge. I’m not surprised there weren’t many low scores out there today, and I’m happy to still be in a good position heading into the weekend.”

Madsen, who was runner-up in the last Challenge Tour event, the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic, added: “I can now regroup and get ready for tomorrow – I’m looking forward to hopefully challenging for the title like I did in Colombia.”

While Madsen stayed out in front for the majority of the day, Kenyan Indiza was drawing the most attention, with the local crowds out in force in support of the 44 year old.

He duly impressed, posting birdies at the 15th, 18th and fifth holes for a one under par 70.

“I’m very happy to be in this position,” he said. “I was very nervous today so to shoot one under par is very satisfying. The course is great, but it’s very different from the one I played last week, which was wet with soft greens. Here it’s difficult to stop the ball on the greens because they are so hard.”

One of the highlights of the day came at the par five 18th, Indiza’s ninth, where his second shot came within millimetres of dropping into the hole for an albatross, drawing huge cheers from the galleries.

“I hit a great shot in and all the people watching went crazy – that was fantastic,” he said. “But I missed the short eagle putt, which was very frustrating.

“I missed a short one on the 17th and then another on the first, so I was shaking and thinking I was throwing away the tournament with bad putts. But luckily I held it together for the last few holes and I’m delighted to be up there near the top of the leaderboard going into the weekend.”

Benson also found it tougher going after an opening round of 66 and, while he could not overtake Madsen, his four birdies and four bogeys meant he signed for a level par 71 to close the gap from two shots to one.

“It was a mixed round - some good and some bad,” said Benson, a two time Challenge Tour winner. “I really didn’t sleep well last night and probably only got about four hours, so I was shattered this morning when I teed off.

“I made a shocking start with bogeys at the first, sixth and seventh, but I managed to make up for it a bit on the back nine and get back to level par.

“It was just a question of hanging in there, and I managed to hole some nice putts. It felt like the course was playing longer today because it was colder and there was no wind, so it was tricky. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone goes low this afternoon. I’m in a decent position and overall I’m pretty happy with the start I’ve made.”

Lawrie Shares Lead Day Two

Peter Lawrie turned in a one over par 37 to leave six players tied for the lead during the second round of the Sicilian Open.

Lawrie led overnight after an opening course record 64 at Verdura Golf Resort & Spa, but mixed two bogeys with a single birdie after starting his second round on the back nine.The former Open de España winner then bogeyed the first, but a birdie at the third brought him back into a share of the lead with Wales’ Jamie Donaldson, England’s David Lynn, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Dane Søren Kjeldsen.

Donaldson, seeking a first European Tour title in his 249th appearance, carded three birdies and three bogeys over his first 13 holes, Lynn was two under with three to play, Wiesberger two under through 12, Lafeber three under for the day after ten, and Kjeldsen was amongst the afternoon starters.

On a very congested leaderboard nine players were tied for seventh just one off the pace, and an incredible 31 players were within two shots of the lead.

At the end of the day Ducthman Maarten Lafeber was delighted to return to form as the Dutchman claimed a share of the halfway lead at the Sicilian Open. The 37 year old, a former winner of the KLM Open, had to return to the Qualifying School last season after finishing 149th in The Race to Dubai.

On a fascinating day at Verdura Golf Resort & Spa near Sciacca, Sicily, Lafeber’s second straight round of 68 was enough for a share of a six-way tie for the halfway lead on eight under par, with Jamie Donaldson, David Lynn, Pelle Edberg, Simon Wakefield and first-round leader Peter Lawrie also sitting at the top of a congested leaderboard.

“Yesterday I probably played my best round for a couple of years, and today again I was very solid,” said Lafeber.

“I’ve been disappointed with my putting, because I’ve created so many chances. Yesterday I hit 18 greens in regulation, and today was much the same. But I’m struggling to find the right line on the greens, so to shoot five under today was very good.

“Last year my long game was horrible – I was hitting it all over the place. I haven’t played well enough for the last two years, and to go to Tour School for the first time since 1997 was a bit of a shock. So I’m happy to be back playing well again.”

It could have been even better for Lafeber, who took the outright lead with his seventh birdie of the day at the 17th hole, only to then bogey the last.

“The bogey on the last was disappointing, but I made a bad swing and if you do that then you get punished,” he added.

“It’s looking pretty bunched at the moment. Jamie Donaldson is playing very well, and there’s some good players up there so it won’t be easy. It’s important for me to get off to a good start, and hopefully I can take more of the chances which come my way over the weekend.”

The leading six have three European Tour titles between them, with Lawrie’s win at the 2008 Open de España the most recent, while Lynn and Lafeber’s only victories came in 2004 and 2003 respectively.

Donaldson, who signed off with a round of 61 in Morocco last week, boosted his hopes of a first win at the 249th time of asking. The 36 year old, whose third-place finish last week was his 32nd top ten on The European Tour, added a 71 to his opening 65.

Like Lafeber, Donaldson could have led on his own but bogeyed the ninth, his last hole.

That came after he mixed three bogeys with three birdies on his outward nine, birdied the sixth from ten feet and had a second straight birdie at the par five seventh.

Edberg had six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at the par five 11th as the Challenge Tour graduate seeks a first win on The European Tour.

“I played pretty well all day,” said the 32 year old. “It was quite cold first thing this morning, but I’m used to that! Then when it warmed up a bit the ball started flying a bit further, and I was able to make a few birdies.

“I’ve felt my form was close for a while now, but you never know in this game. Just when you think you’ve got it cracked, it all goes wrong. But I’ve been practising well out in Thailand for the past three months, and hopefully the work’s going to pay off.”

Lynn holed a 50-footer at the ninth for one of four birdies in a 69, while his compatriot Wakefield, who had the fourth runner-up finish of his career in Austria last season, signed for a bogey-free 67.

“It was just one those days when everything went right,” said Wakefield. “I hit every shot I wanted to hit, and managed to hole my fair share of putts, so I’m delighted.

“The company’s been great, the weather’s perfect and there aren’t many more scenic places like this to play golf, so I’ve really enjoyed myself. It makes you feel a bit more relaxed, and I play my best golf when I am relaxed.”

Lawrie was unable to build on his course record 64 in the first round, mixing three birdies with three bogeys in a level par 72.

No fewer than 25 players ended the day within two shots of the lead, amongst them American Major winners John Daly and Rich Beem.

Former US PGA Championship winner Beem had a second straight 69 for a six under halfway total, while Daly charged into a share of the lead before dropping two shots in his last three holes.

“Anybody can win this tournament, because there are so many players close to the lead,” said Daly. “So that makes it really exciting.”

With just five shots between the leading group on eight under par and the cut line on three under, the tournament equalled the European Tour record for the fewest number of strokes between the two marks.

The first and only time this happened previously was the 2004 Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dpolphin Energy, where the 36 hole lead was six under par and the cut mark was one under.

Padraig Hopes for Adare Moment

Padraig Harrington is hoping the move to his “favourite course” will inspire him to capture his second Irish Open title. 

Two months before sealing his maiden Major victory at The 136th Open Championship, Harrington prevailed in a play-off with Bradley Dredge to win the 2007 Irish Open and spark jubilant scenes at Adare Manor, in Co. Limerick.

Five years on, Harrington is a three-time Major Champion and, for the first time since 1953, Ireland’s National Open is being held north of the border, at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Co. Antrim.

Harrington believes the 6,843 yards, par 72 course is the ideal venue to host the 57th edition of the historic event, which takes place from June 28-July 1.

He said: “There are a lot of things which make Portrush so special. It’s a very fair test of golf – if you hit good shots you’ll be rewarded with birdies, but hit bad ones and you’ll run up bogeys or double bogeys. You always feel like you can make a score round there, but it’s not as easy as you think, so you’ve just got to try to be fearless.

“It’s also a very scenic place to play golf, with some stunning views. Over the years I played a lot of amateur tournaments there, and the atmosphere was always second to none. The course is right in the town which is usually buzzing, so as a venue it’s got everything going for it.”

With Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and World Number One Rory McIlroy also confirmed there will be four Major Champions from the host nation in attendance at Royal Portrush Golf Club, and Harrington is expecting the Irish golfing public to stage their traditional show of support.

He said: “The people of Northern Ireland have always loved their golf. They always turned up in great numbers to support amateur events, so in some ways taking the Irish Open to Portrush is a reward for their support and loyalty. I can guarantee this year’s Irish Open will be as well-attended as any in the past, which should guarantee a great atmosphere.

“I understand that most of the tickets have been sold already and you can’t get a hotel room in the town, which tells you everything you need to know about how well-received it’s been. It’s also easily accessible from Belfast, so I’m expecting very big crowds during the tournament week.”

Harrington will be one of the favourites to succeed Simon Dyson as champion, and the 40 year old is hopeful of delivering Ireland’s first home winner since then-amateur Shane Lowry’s triumph in 2009.

He said: “I came close to winning the North of Ireland Amateur Open a fair few times but never quite managed it, so to win the first Irish Open to be held in Northern Ireland in my lifetime would be very special.

“But with the quality of the field, winning certainly won’t be easy. The Irish Open is in the middle of a really big run of events, with the BMW International Open the week before and the French Open the week after. I’m expecting a very strong turn-out from the European players, especially with The Open Championship being played three weeks later. The opportunity to test yourself on a links golf course in the run-up to The Open is a definite advantage, and I’m sure you’ll see many of the big guns from Europe heading over to Portrush.”

Tickets for 2012 THE IRISH OPEN

Lawrie 64 Claims Verdura Record

Peter Lawrie carded a course-record 64 to claim the lead after the first round of the Sicilian Open.

Lawrie recorded nine birdies and just one bogey at Verdura Golf and Spa Resort to finish eight under par, one ahead of Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Argentina's Tano Goya.

The 38-year-old Dubliner missed the cut in last week's Hassan Trophy after rounds of 69 and 76, but bounced back in style as he looks to add to his sole European Tour title at the Spanish Open in 2008.

"I'm delighted after last week," Lawrie told Sky Sports. "I got it to four or five under and unfortunately played 12 holes in five over on Saturday and walked off the golf course devastated.

"But I came here and really practised hard over the last couple of days and I'm delighted that I actually holed a few putts today.

"It's forgiving off the tee here I have to admit, but the design is very good and the ball is running on the fairways so it makes us short hitters have some good chances.

"The closing holes you can make a few birdies but you just have to watch that 18th hole, it's a daunting tee shot. The water is certainly in your mind when you tee off."

Approach

Lawrie saved par from 10 feet on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach to the 475-yard par four, with his only bogey of the day coming on the 13th.

And asked about his approach for the rest of the tournament, he added: "Just keep on plodding away.

"You can't win a tournament on Thursday as they always say but you can lose it. I'm not going to get ahead of myself.

"I'm out early tomorrow, which is good for me, I'll try to post a number and let everyone shoot at it tomorrow afternoon."

Kjeldsen had earlier set the clubhouse target with a 65 containing an eagle, six birdies and one bogey, while Donaldson - aiming for his first European Tour success at the 249th attempt - matched it with a flawless effort featuring five birdies and an eagle.

The 36-year-old is certainly in low-scoring form after firing three eagles in a closing 61 to finish third in the Hassan Trophy on Sunday.

There were contrasting fortunes for John Daly and Costantino Rocca, with the duo who fought out a play-off for the 1995 Open title paired together here.

The American enjoyed the better day with a one-under round of 71, while Rocca shot a five-over-par 77.

Eighteen-year-old Matteo Manassero, at 61 the highest-ranked player in the field, carded a 72.

Leaderboard

McDowell Suffers Slow Shell Start

Graeme McDowell was left to rue a poor start and finish to an opening round, two under par, 70 in the Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club in Texas. 

In the final event before next week’s US Masters at Augusta National GC, McDowell was looking to build on his excellent form of late.

Having started on the 10th tee he suffered a double bogey at the par four, 12th but demonstrated his mettle with birdies on the 15th and 18th to turn in level par, 36. He continued that momentum with a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth to the six holes to move to three under for the tournament, holing from 16 feet, 11 feet and six feet. 

However the par five eighth, his 17th hole was to prove something of a card wrecker. He hit a relatively short tee shot, and then pushed his second, short right into a bunker. From there he thinned it across the green and into the water on the far side. Having taken a penalty drop, he chipped to six and a half feet, holing well to drop just the one shot. 

On his final hole, the 209 yard, par three, ninth, he found the middle of the green with his tee shot, 34 feet from the pin. His first putt finished about two and a half feet short of the cup and he tidied up to complete his round with possibly, mixed feelings. 

He trailed the early leader Carl Pettersson, who was seven under with one hole to play. 

Three Kenyan Musketeers

David Higgins, Niall Kearney and Cian McNamara are the three entries in the European Challenge Tour Barclays Kenya Open which starts on Thursday on the outskirts of Nairobi at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

They join a number of players chasing the dream on the European Tour, none more so than South African Michiel Bothma, who will be taking inspiration from his cousin Branden Grace.

Bothma claimed the title at Muthaiga Golf Club on the outskirts of Nairobi 12 months ago, edging out his younger cousin into tied third place, but it was Grace who went on to secure promotion to The European Tour at the end of the season – via the Qualifying School – and has taken it by storm, winning back-to-back titles in January.

A tied third place finish at the Joburg Open, the scene of 23 year old Grace’s first victory, gave Bothma a fine start to the year, so he returns to Kenya for his first Challenge Tour appearance of 2012 armed with confidence as well as great memories.

“I was ecstatic that week,” said the 39 year old, who finished 45th in the 2011 Challenge Tour Rankings. “It was a nice win. Kenya almost feels like home to me. I have friends there and there are normally a lot of South Africans, so it felt very comfortable.

“You never know when your first win on any tour will come, and leading up to the event I really started playing well. I also worked very hard prior to it. Instead of taking a break, I didn’t stop from the year before.

“After the second day I really felt like I was hitting it well and I was going to win. It just felt like it was going to happen. After that week I thought it would be a great year, but it just didn’t happen.

“I’m thrilled for Branden. I’ve been telling him for almost a year that he’s way better than the Challenge Tour. He hits it better than most guys I see on The European Tour. I’m definitely expecting much bigger things from him in years to come.

“I’d love to join him on The European Tour next year. I feel I’ve got a good enough game to be there. For some people it happens later in life, and for others it happens early, so I’m going to keep plugging away and hopefully my day will come. If you push too hard, sometimes it doesn’t happen, so I just need to relax and enjoy it. As long as you work hard on it, the wheel will turn.”

Bothma believes his game is ideally suited to the par-71, 7,236-yards course at Muthaiga Golf Club, adding: “I like hitting wedges to greens, and the greens are pretty receptive. It’s a putting course. It’s not easy making putts, but somehow I just read the greens very well.

“I think that’s why it suits me because once you read the greens and make a lot of putts, the ball-striking doesn’t have to be all that great to make a good score. I see a lot of people struggling on the greens and not making putts, but they come easily to me.”

The Barclays Kenya Open is the third tournament – and third continent visited – of the 2012 Challenge Tour season, following the Gujurat Kensville Challenge in India and the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic.

The year’s first two champions, Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer and Englishman Phil Archer, will be in the field to contest the €190,000 prize fund, as will Chris Lloyd, who finished in the top ten in both events.

England’s Nick Dougherty will hope to continue his renaissance after finishing tied fourth on his Challenge Tour debut in Colombia, while Danish duo Morten Ørum Madsen and Andreas Hartø, who are fourth and fifth respectively in the Rankings, will be looking to build on their fine starts to the campaign.

Sicilian Open Pairs Daly and Rocca

At the Sicilian Open this week the Irish interest includes Gary Murphy, Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Paul McGinley and Simon Thornton. 

For McGinley it should prove a better opportunity than last week in Agadir, where after jet lag and lack of sleep - following his appearance at the Tavistock Cup in lake Nona - forced his retirement.

But another interest for the first two days is the pairing of John Daly and Costantino Rocca, seventeen years after their epic battle at The Open Championship at St Andrews.

Rocca is now 55 and plays nearly all his golf on the Seniors Tour, but 45-year-old Daly is still striving to get back into the big time. No longer a full member of the PGA Tour, he has been travelling the world to try to do it.

After the promise of fourth place at the Qatar Masters early last month, the American then injured his elbow in India.

He was 51st on his return to action at the Transitions Championship in Florida two weeks ago, but last Friday missed the halfway cut at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco. “Seems like yesterday,” he said of his clash with Rocca at St Andrews in 1995.

Rocca made a dramatic 60ft par putt from the Valley of Sin to force the play-off, but Daly won it to add the Claret Jug to his 1991 USPGA Championship victory.

He should have happy memories as well of the last time he and Rocca were at the same tournament. That was the 2009 Italian Open in Turin, and Daly finished joint runner-up behind Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik.

Highest-ranked player in this week’s field is 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, who despite finishes of second and sixth in the past fortnight could not force his way back into the world’s top 50 in time for next week’s Masters.

“I’ve played great in my last two tournaments so the confidence is there and I am really looking forward to Sicily now,” he told the European Tour’s website.

“The Masters would have been an amazing bonus if I had won last week, but I have a great chance to win this week, and that would be a great achievement. I think everybody would love to win in their home country.”

France’s Raphael Jacquelin won at Donnafugata last year, but the tournament switches to the Verdura Golf and Spa Resort.

There is one player in the field who is Augusta-bound, but Thomas Levet is going there to commentate for French television again rather than play. He partners Daly and Rocca and has something in common with them. He was in a play-off for the Open at Muirfield 10 years ago, but lost at the fifth extra hole to Ernie Els.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, meanwhile, will hope his three-eagle 61 on Sunday is a sign of things to come. This is his 249th Tour start and he has yet to win. England’s 51-year-old Barry Lane plays his 681st event, only 25 fewer than record holder Sam Torrance.

Happy Birthday Waltz

Philip Walton comes of age on Wednesday becoming eligible to play on the European Senior Tour as he celebrates his fiftieth birthday, having been a three time winner on the main Tour.

At the 1995 Ryder Cup in Oak Hill, New York, playing Jay Haas of the USA in the penultimate singles, Walton held his nerve to two putt the final green and secure a historic win for Europe - much to the delight of his team Captain Bernard Gallacher, who nearly squeezed the life out of the Dubliner during the celebration on that final green.

All that week Walton played a Rookie's role alongside Ryder Cup greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Howard Clark, Mark James, Ian Woosnam, Constantino Rocca, David Gilford, Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo and Per Ulrik Johansson - only to find himself battling for that vital point on Sunday afternoon to win the trophy. 

Over the years Walton come to share the distinction of winning a Ryder Cup with fellow Irishmen Paul McGinley, Eamon Darcy, Christy O’Connor Jnr and Graeme McDowell. Although for many Philip will always be remembered for securing that all important point in Rochester back in 1995.

But his career was more than that having spent three years at Oklahoma University on a scholarship, where for a period he was the number one ranking amateur in the world. It was a time that he also played Walker Cup on two occasions, winning three points out of four in 1981 and 1983.

After turning professional in 1983 Walton went on to win the Irish PGA Championship four times winner and joined an illustrious cast of previous winners that include Padraig Harrington [6]; Paul McGinley [4], Darren Clarke and Christy O’Connor Snr [10]. 

In 1995 Philip Walton, Ronan Rafferty and David Feherty won the Alfred Dunhill Cup, a team golf tournament which ran from 1985 to 2000 with three man teams representing each country and promoted as the "World Team Championship" - hosted at St Andrews in Scotland. 

On the European Tour Walton was a winner three times with victories at the Open de Catalonia, Peugeot Open de France and Murphy's English Open. 

In 2004 he returned to The European Tour after losing his card in 1999, after enduring five unsuccessful visits to the Qualifying School Finals in the preceding years.  In 2008 Walton qualified for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. 

In 2010 Walton played the 3 Irish Open in Killarney and finished 12th in the Irish PGA Lexus Race to Mount Juliet in association with PING and Failte Ireland. During 2011 he continued playing the Irish PGA circuit, also making a trip to the Champions Tour Q School in September, seeking playing rights in the USA

Away from competition Walton has also been involved golf club design and counts The County Tipperary Golf Club at Dundrum House amongst those projects, a 150 acre golf course specifically designed to use the natural features of woodland, parkland and Multeen River. It is a course where Walton combined the natural elements to create a very challenging par 72 course. 

At St. Helen’s Bay Golf Cub in Rosslare, Walton designed a championship course that overlooks a beautiful beaches and forges a stern golfing test with a mixture of parkland and links. The 17th and 18th holes in particularly  enjoy a spectacular  view of beach.

As of March 28th 2012, Walton embarks on the next stage of a lengthy golfing career - full of its bumps and runs - and officially joins the European Senior Tour circuit. But he do so with ambition to make an impact and also try his luck on the Champions Tour  when later this year he will return to Q-School.

In the short term though he follows in the footsteps of Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy, Christy  O'Connor Jnr, Jimmy Heggarty, Liam Higgins, Denis O'Sullivan and other Irish players who have forged success in the Senior Ranks.

In the mix on the Senior Tour will also be some of his old adversaries, including Ian Woosnam, to whom he lost that infamous Carroll's Irish Open play-off at Portmarnock in 1988.

Walton was born in Malahide and still lives near the golf club fifty years on.

Happy Birthday Waltz!

Victories 

Peugeot Open de France (1990)

Murphy’s English Open (1995)

Catalonia Open (1995)

Team Events 

Ryder Cup (1995)

World Cup (1995)

Alfred Dunhill Cup (1990) 

Irish PGA 

PGA Championship (1987) 

PGA Championship (1989) 

PGA Championship (1993) 

PGA Championship (1995) 

Amateur Career 

Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship, (1981) 

Spanish Open Amateur Championship (1981) 

Amateur Team Events 

Walker Cup (1981, 1983)

Eisenhower Trophy (1982) 

Personal 

Date of Birth 28/03/1962 

Residence: Co. Meath, Ireland 

Attachment:  

Turned Pro: 1983 (plus 1)

Michael Hoey - With This Win

• His fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 151st European Tour event.

• Moves to €316,798 in The Race to Dubai.

• Would move to around 70th from 98th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

• His second consecutive season with a European Tour victory, following the 2011 Madeira Islands Open and 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

• This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of tied 12th in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.

• His third European Tour win in his last 25 European Tour events, dating back to the 2011 Madeira Islands Open.

• Began the final round two shots behind the leaders. This equals the largest 54 hole comeback by a winner since the event became part of The European Tour. He would match the figure of Rhys Davies in 2010.

• The first Northern Irish victory of the 2012 European Tour season.

• The first player from Northern Ireland to win the Trophée Hassan II.

• Victory comes in his third appearance in the event and beats his previous best performance of tied 19th in 2011.

OTHER FACTS

• The 44th Northern Irish win in European Tour history.

• His seventh win as a professional.

• Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014.

• Gains a place in the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.

• Moves over €2 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.

• Becomes the seventh former Challenge Tour player to win on the 2012 European Tour. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions), Robert Rock (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (WGC – Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol) and Michael Hoey (Trophée Hassan II).

• Becomes the 292nd European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Hoey 65 Claims Hassan II Trophy

Michael Hoey fired a closing round of 65 to claim his fourth European Tour victory in the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco.

The Northern Irishman benefited from being one of the few players to complete his third round on Saturday - several of his adversaries having to finish early on Sunday.

Hoey's 65 the previous day eventually saw him start the final round two off the lead held by Matteo Manassero (65) and Damien McGrane, who double-bogeyed the 18th early in the day to card a 71.

Irishman McGrane retrieved both shots at the first two holes in his final round but Hoey raced to the turn in 31 including a run of four successive birdies from the fourth.

The pair continued to trade the lead though, McGrane picking up shots at the 10th and 11th while Hoey made his first mistake of the day as he turned for home, making six at the long 10th after finding the wrong green.

But McGrane then gave one back at the short 12th, and although he got it straight back it was Hoey who was to finish the stronger, picking up three birdies in four holes to sink McGrane's hopes of a first win in four years.

He won by three shots at the finish with McGrane hanging on for second with a round of 70.

"I knew it was going to be tough, I'm surprised Damien bogeyed 17 and I thought it would be a little bit tighter towards the end," Hoey, who had a breakthrough win at the Dunhill Links last year, told Sky Sports.

"It was nice to see my second shot land on the green there and I had three or four putts for it, which is unique, really.

"I've been working hard with my coach and my swing is more consistent and obviously my putting has been brilliant, I've got a nice team and my wife who travels with me."

Manassero had been searching for a victory that would take him back to Augusta next month, but his round never got going at he went to the turn in 38.

At eagle at the 15th gave him renewed hope but he still required a strong finish and it wasn't to be, a six at the 17th seeing him fall into a tie for sixth.

But the round of the day undoubtedly belonged to Jamie Donaldson, who returned a sensational 11-under-par 61 that included an eagle at the ninth - his closing hole - after finding rough off the tee.

The Welshman had two more eagles on his front nine as he covered it in 28 to spark dreams of a first 59 on the European circuit, and although he birdied the 10th a six via the water at the par-five fifth halted the momentum, but a third place finish proivides excellent compensation.

Donaldson was joined by fellow Welshman Phillip Price and Englishman Robert Coles on -13, four behind Hoey, with Manassero alongside Edoardo Molinari and Keith Horne one further back.

Moroccan McGrane Takes Sunday Lead

Damien McGrane leads after three day of the Trophée Hassan II, but Matteo Manassero is just one shot behind as the Italian seeks a second Masters Tournament appearance before his 19th birthday.

McGrane's only European Tour title came by nine shots in China four years ago and he started the day three strokes behind clubhouse leader Phillip Price but with 13 holes of his second round remaining after lengthy wind delays on Friday.

On his return to the Golf du Palais Royal course in Agadir McGrane birdied the seventh, ninth and tenth to pull level with former Ryder Cup hero Price, before two-putting the long 15th for birdie to take the outright lead.

He holed an important six footer at the last to confirm his halfway advantage, then mixed four birdies with three bogeys over the first ten holes of his third round to reach 12 under par.

That was one ahead of not only teenager Manassero, but also Spain’s José Manuel Lara, with Northern Irishman Michael Hoey a shot further back in fourth after a brilliant 65 – that despite missing a six foot par putt and bogeying the last.

“It was a nice way to finish the day with a birdie but I have to be honest and say that it was a bit of a mixed bag out there today,” said McGrane.

“Plenty of birdies and bogeys so not quite as good as the first two rounds. I have actually missed a few fairways out there in the third round and that is probably the easiest thing to do on this course.

“But I can’t complain too much – I am in the position you want to be going into the final day and hopefully I can get the job done. We’ll come back tomorrow and we will have a winner so hopefully that can be me.”

Manassero, needing a win to climb into the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 and earn a place at the Masters Tournament in a fortnight’s time, was a brilliant six under through 14 holes.

The 18 year old, who impressed with a 36th-placed finish at Augusta National as a 16 year old, two-putted the long tenth for birdie, gained another shot with an approach to ten feet at the next then completed his hattrick with a two at the 199 yard 12th after an outward 33.

“It was a very good round for me,” said the Maybank Malaysian Open champion.

“I went out there trying to make no mistakes and not to leave any shots out there and it worked out to be a great 15 holes. I made a lot of birdies and a lot of good putts and I knew that I needed to do that. I knew that I needed to get to double figures at least by the end of the day to get into contention and that is the way it went.

“The dream is still alive and I have to try my best to make it happen. I am certainly going to try and win the event first and foremost to win the event and then if The Masters happens it would be amazing.

“I have to say that the extra prize of the Masters really helps me as well. It gives me extra motivation and I seem to play better in that kind of situation. I had a few months recently where I couldn’t get into contention but after last week and now this week it feels great to be playing well and having chances to win.”

The 34 year old Lara had carded a 65 to race into contention on Friday, and mixed three birdies with a single bogey over the first ten holes of his third round.

“It was a difficult day and it was tough conditions for the first few holes today but all in all I am still in a great position,” said the two-time European Tour winner.

“I just hit a bad drive in the 11th but overall I am happy to be 11 under and at the top of the leaderboard.

“I am playing well so I am trying to do the same things as I have been all week and hoping that it will be good enough tomorrow. Thankfully one thing is certain tomorrow - we won’t finish in the dark!”

Former Ryder Cup star Phillip Price, the overnight leader, had a disappointing start to his third round and missed putts from inside five feet on the fifth and sixth to turn in 39.

But a huge eagle putt at the tenth got the Welshman back to nine under, just three behind and with eight holes remaining.

McGrane Takes Second Round Lead

Damien McGrane signed for a second round 68 on his return to Golf du Pails Royal to retake the lead at the Trophée Hassan II.

The Irishman only played five holes on Friday after five-and-a-half hours’ play was lost to strong winds in Morocco.

That allowed Welshman Phillip Price to set the clubhouse target at ten under par with the former Ryder Cup star carding a 66.

But McGrane, who began the tournament with a 65, had four birdies and no dropped shots over the 13 holes remaining in his round to re-establish his lead at 11 under par.

José Manuel Lara and Joel Sjöholm, who like Price were able to complete their rounds on Friday, lie third and fourth on nine and eight under respectively.

As the second round drew to close Dutchman Joost Luiten produced an eagle and two birdies in his last four holes for a 66 to charge into a share of fourth with Swede Sjöholm.

“I have been very steady for the last 36 holes and playing nicely and taking a lot of the opportunities that I am creating for myself,” said McGrane, whose only European Tour title came by nine shots at the Volvo China Open.

“I am playing with confidence and have now given myself a great opportunity to try and get another win here. I have some good feelings out on the course this morning and I am very content at the moment.

“I suppose you could say that I have had the good side of the draw this week because I didn’t have to wait around at the course all day yesterday. It is always better when you can relax around the hotel and take it easy there, but these things even themselves out over the course of the season and I just have to try and take advantage the best I can.”

McDowell Moves a Day Early

Graeme McDowell completed a second round 63 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

In recent weeks G-Mac has seen Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Luke Donald win the last three US PGA Tour events and from six off the pace after his opening 72 he moved alongside early clubhouse leader Jason Dufner.

The American added a 69 to his opening 66 to stand nine under par at halfway and then had to wait to see what the chasing pack - Tiger Woods and Justin Rose included - could do later in the day.

McDowell has fond memories of the event, finishing second back in 2005, and his round matched his lowest-ever score in the States.

Birdies at the fourth and fifth began his move through the field from joint 27th overnight and he then holed from 27 feet at the short seventh and 32 feet on the next.

A 98-yard pitch to four feet at the tenth took the 2010 US Open Champion to five under for the day and two holes later, after driving into a bunker, he hit his third shot to five feet to set up his sixth birdie.

The best was still to come, though. A 215 yard approach to seven feet on the 16th brought an eagle and he rounded off an inward 31 with a ten foot birdie putt at the last.

At that point he and Dufner were three clear of Korean Charlie Wi, who had yet to resume, while Sergio Garcia was only four back after a 67 and both defending champion Martin Laird (68) and Ian Poulter (69) five behind.

Woods and Rose, joint fourth after starting with rounds of 69, both parred their first two holes.