Rory in Rio Rethink

Rory McIlroy acknowledged on Wednesday that the reaction to comments he made about choosing who to compete for in the 2016 Olympics is making him think again.

Golf's world number one had said he was leaning towards representing Team GB in Rio rather than Ireland because "the fact is I have always felt more British than Irish".

It brought criticism from some people, mainly because he received funding from the Golfing Union of Ireland before turning professional in 2007.

As an amateur he did not have to make a choice because, as in rugby, Northern Irish golfers play for Ireland.

The 23-year-old will not have to make a decision until just before the Rio Games, but he said in Atlanta: "After everything that happened last week it definitely makes me reconsider my position and reconsider a lot of things.

"I think it just really hit home with me how important it is for a lot of people and how important my success has been to them.

"Obviously, I've had a lot of support from all sides - from people that call themselves Irish, from Northern Irish, to the whole of the UK, to people over here in the States.

"It just hit home with me at how my success is welcomed by everyone. It would be terrible for me to nearly segregate myself from one of those group that supports me so much.

"It's four years away - I still have a bit of time to decide. But, I'm very, very appreciative and very grateful of the support that I get from everyone.

"It's great that I get so much support. There are not many people in my position that have to go through what I might have to go through in four years' time, but it is what it is.

"I'm a golfer first and foremost and I just want to play well on the golf course. Hopefully people enjoy that and the entertainment that that brings."

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Looking Good for Mr Dunbar

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Alan Dunbar fired a six-under-par 66 at Wychwood Park in Crewe yesterday to storm up the leaderboard in the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.

The 22-year-old British amateur champion from Rathmore soared up the leaderboard with the lowest round of the event so far -- and is in joint second spot going into the penultimate round today.

Out in 35, Dunbar collected six birdies in eight holes after the turn to come home in 31.

Cian Curley, who was the top Irishman after round one, kept himself in with an excellent chance of making progress with a 74 for a 144 aggregate. His only hiccup was a triple-bogey seven on the 15th.

Mayobridge's Barrie Trainor and David Higgins of Waterville are both still in the hunt as well, on 145. Trainor closed with a birdie four for a 70, while Higgins' downfall was a double-bogey six on the 14th.

Meanwhile, at the Qualifying School in Fleesensee in Germany, Niall Kearney kept alive his hopes with a 72 for a 141 aggregate.

Stephen Grant of The Heritage moved up the leaderboard with a 70, but Shane Franklin is the wilderness after an 83.

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Lough Erne in Ten Million Challenge

Lough Erne Hotel and Golf Resort which went into administration last year is now on sale for £10m, around one third of the price it cost to build.

Dubai-based hotel group Jumeirah, sponsor of Lough Erne Resort's former touring professional, golfer Rory McIlory, has been suggested as a possible interested party.

The 120-bedroomed hotel has two championship golf courses, including one designed by golf star Sir Nick Faldo.

The resort cost a reported £35m to build between 2005 and 2009, including the golf courses and 25 golf lodges.

There are also 25 unfinished holiday homes with planning permission to build 18 more.

Commercial property agents CBRE said they had been instructed to sell the resort as a going concern by the administrators of the resort's founding company Castle Hume Leisure, which was headed up by Jim Treacy.

Brian Lavery, head of CBRE's Belfast office, said: "There is an extensive list of interested parties and we will now be returning to them with full details."

He said Lough Erne was the "most exciting and most high-profile" hotel to come onto the market in Northern Ireland.

The administrators have had to resolve a web of issues over title to the golf course, which have drawn in owners of adjoining land.

It's understood there were also discussions with the Rivers Agency, as some tees extend onto the lough.

Michael Williamson, hotels consultant at accountants ASM, said it was difficult to say if £10m represented a good price: "It depends on the cash generation potential of the resort.

"In some sense there is little point comparing costs on four-to-five years ago as the market has changed so much.

"It will represent good value if a buyer can generate a level of profit that justifies the price."

Chartered accountant Ken Kinsella, who works for private equity firm Gaia Equity in London and lives in Co Fermanagh, said: "I would like to see it stabilised because Jim Treacy had done so much work and had put an incredible team in place."

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) appointed KPMG as administrators to Castle Hume Leisure in May last year over debts of £26.4m.

In the meantime, it has been run by operators TifCo.

Former owner Jim Treacy acquired Castle Hume Golf Course in 1999 and started work on the resort in 2005. The hotel opened in 2007 and the rest of the resort opened in late 2009.

It also has conference and banqueting rooms for 400 people, five bar rooms or restaurants and a Thai Spa.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Tiger Is Intimidated by McIlroy - Norman

Greg Norman believes Rory McIlroy has assumed the mantle of the world's best player from Tiger Woods and believes the American is "really intimidated" by golf's new superstar.

Norman - a two-time major champion who is second only to Woods in weeks spent as World No.1 - claims McIlroy is now likely to set the standard in the game for the next decade or so.

The Northern Irishman has hit a purple patch of form in recent months, following his second major triumph at the USPGA Championship with back-to-back victories in the FedEx Cup play-offs.

His wins all came at events in which Woods was competing and Norman claims the American is now struggling to come to terms with McIlroy's talent and consistency.

"What I'm seeing is that Tiger's really intimidated by Rory," Norman told Fox Sports. "When have you ever seen him intimidated by another player? Never.

"But I think he knows his time's up and that's normal; these things tend to go in 15-year cycles."

He added of McIlroy: "You've got to beat the guy you're taking over from to feel that you're the top guy, and Rory's starting to do that now."

Norman also believes that Woods' desperation to secure a first major title since 2008 has seen him push too hard in those tournaments and fall out of contention.

At both the US Open and USPGA this year, the 14-time major champion was tied for the halfway lead before losing form and momentum.

Norman is adamant that is because Woods is not the player he was once and is now forcing the issue, in contrast to McIlroy who has claimed two in the last two seasons.

"The more you want something, the more you reach for it, the more it gets pushed away," Norman said. "I know all about that. I had that with the Masters.

"Tiger's pushing himself harder and harder now because he's not the force he used to be, and he knows it.

"Look at Tiger's putting stroke. It used to be rock solid. Now, it changes from Fridays to Saturdays. And that comes from pushing too hard, wanting to win that major so badly."

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