9/19/2014

Mediation On Horizon for McIlroy


Rory McIlroy has welcomed the court-ordered mediation between him and his former management company Horizon.

The world number one says attempts made in the past to resolve the issues out of court have been “knocked back”, but he is keen to end the legal dispute so he and Graeme McDowell can focus on their golf.

McDowell has been involved in the dispute with Horizon by McIlroy’s lawyers, who requested the Portrush golfer’s contractual details with the management company, and the four-time major winner is grateful for how his old friend has handled the awkward situation.

“We have tried over the past six months to get to that point of mediation and resolution and every time we have tried to engage it’s been knocked back,” McIlroy told The Times. “It’s great the judge has forced us into this mediation because it’s the best way to do it. The last thing we both need is a day in court.

“G-Mac has tried to stay out of it as much as he can - it’s none of his business, it’s nothing really to do with him. I know that it has placed him in a tough position but he’s done incredibly well in trying to be as impartial as possible.”

Before the mediation takes place, both McIlroy and McDowell will tee up for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles next week and it will be a welcome distraction for both players, whose relationship has become “strained” at times as a result of legal wrangling.

“At times it has been strained, of course, because he’s managed by people I used to be managed by, and if he’s with them then I don’t want to go over and start chatting,” McIlroy said. “But we’re still very close. We went out to dinner in Denver a couple of weeks ago. G-Mac’s in a great place in life - he’s just had his first baby - and we’re great, we really are.

“I will always be grateful to him for showing me the ropes when I came out on tour and I still feel I have a really good friendship with him, regardless of whatever else is going on.”

The pair have played together six times on Ryder Cup duty and 2014 captain Paul McGinley has said he would be “very surprised” if they don’t team up at some stage against the USA next week.


Lowry Tops Leaderboard in Wales

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Shane Lowry tops the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the ISPS Handa Wales Open after a flawless second round 65 at The Celtic Manor Resort, but admitted his position was something of a surprise.

The Clara man, who has recorded all three of his top-ten finishes this season on British soil, carded six unanswered birdies to move one ahead of first round leader Joost Luiten and big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts on nine under par.

The 2012 winner Thongchai Jaidee and Italy’s former Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari are a shot further back on seven under, while one of Europe’s Team members for next week’s contest at Gleneagles, Jamie Donaldson, maintained his chances of becoming the first Welsh winner of his National Open with a second round 67 that left him five under.

The 27 year old Lowry’s four previous visits to the 2010 Ryder Cup venue had yielded only one made cut when he finished 39th four years ago, and after his round the two-time European Tour winner said: “I'm pretty happy. I've never, ever done well here before, so to be leading after two rounds is nice.

“There is still a long way to go in the tournament but I'm really looking forward to the weekend.

“I didn't drive it that good yesterday but still shot a decent score. I drove it a lot better today, drove it a lot straighter and gave myself a lot of chances and rolled in a few putts, so it was nice.

“I felt like coming over that I could give it a go this week. I was around tenth going into the back nine on Sunday last week, and similar the week before in Switzerland. If I can get myself in a good position come the back nine this weekend, again, hopefully I can give it a go.”

​The 28 year old Luiten finished fourth in the 71° OPEN D'ITALIA Presented by DAMIANI and fifth in the defence of his KLM Open title last week and said: “I’m happy. It was tough today because the greens were very soft compared to yesterday with all the rain they had last night, and with the back pins, even seven irons spun back four or five yards, and it was tough to fly them all the way to the back.”

Colsaerts has not won since the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012 which secured his Ryder Cup place that year, but eagled the par five 18th for the second day running in his round of 68.

"It would mean a lot to win again after two years and struggling the first few months of the season," Colsaerts said. "Today I started very nicely but made two silly mistakes in the middle of the round and I almost lost it but it was nice to hole that putt on the last. It was about 35 feet with eight feet of break."

Ryder Cup wild cards Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood experienced differing results but similar emotions.

While Gallacher headed home in relaxed mood despite seeing his preparations cut short by missing the halfway cut, Westwood was equally happy that a battling performance ensured he would have two more rounds to get his game into shape for Gleneagles.

"Yesterday was quite tough," Gallacher admitted after a round containing two birdies - both on par fives - and one bogey. "It was tough to get going and get my head around it but today was a lot better. I was maybe trying a wee bit too hard yesterday and still thinking about next week.

"I feel good, I'm physically and mentally good so I am really looking forward to next week. I'll get up the road this afternoon and relax this weekend and maybe play nine holes with Thomas (Björn) on Monday morning. I've done my preparation for it and I just want to get up there and get going."

Westwood had also not played competitively since bowing out of the FedEx Cup play-offs after the first event, but recovered from an opening 73 with a 69 which featured two crucial birdies in the last four holes.

"I needed a couple more rounds," Westwood said. "I was not particularly competitive yesterday, it was pretty scratchy, but today was more solid. A few iffy shots but it was nice to finish with two birdies in the last four holes to ensure being here for the weekend and two more competitive rounds.

"I have been working on my game and been in the gym quite a lot, but I'm not quite match fit. I had three weeks off and you lose your sharpness."

Team-mate Björn, who played alongside Gallacher, added a 69 to his opening 71 to lie two under par, with Donaldson’s 67 most impressive of the Gleneagles-bound quartet.


Where are they Now - Philip Walton

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The County Tipperary Golf Club at Dundrum House is a 150 acre golf course specifically designed to use the natural features of woodland, parkland and Multeen River where Philip Walton combined the natural elements to create a very challenging par 72 course. 

At St. Helen’s Bay Golf Cub in Rosslare he designed a championship that overlooks one of Ireland's most beautiful beaches on the south east coast wherehe took the challenge of forging a stern golfing test from the mixture of parkland and links. The 17th and 18th holes enjoy a view of beach and sea which accompany the fairways all the way home. 

Away from golf course design Walton also shares a common link with fellow Irishmen Paul McGinley, Eamon Darcy, Christy O’Connor Jnr and Graeme McDowell; Philip Walton will always be remembered for securing that all important point in the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York in 1995. 


Playing Jay Haas of the USA in the penultimate singles Walton held his nerve to two putt the final green for a European win much to the delight of his team Captain, Bernard Gallacher, and team mates; Seve Ballesteros, Howard Clark, Mark James, Ian Woosnam, Constantino Rocca, David Gilford, Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo and Per Ulrik Johansson. 

Philip Walton grew up in Malahide and spent three years at Oklahoma University on a Scholarship. 

In the Walker Cup Philip won three points out of four in 1981 and 1983 before turning professional that same year. 

Walton has won the Irish PGA Championship four times and previous winners 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, and enduring five unsuccessful visits to the Qualifying School Finals in the preceding years. 

Walton qualified for The Open Championship in 2008 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.

He also hosts the annual Philip Walton Golf Classic at Dundrum House in July with another annual event at Malahide Golf Club every summer. 

Philip Walton is a regular commentator on the game with a column for the 2010 Ryder Cup with the Evening Herald.

Once Walton turned 50 in 2012 he became eligible to play the European Senior Tour.

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: FORE Ireland 
Turned Pro: 1983 (plus 1)