Clarke Ready to Singh at Eurasia

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Captains Darren Clarke and Jeev Milkha Singh are predicting another close contest when the cream of Europe goes up against the might of Asia in the second edition of the EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM. 

The inaugural tournament in 2014 ended 10-10 after a thrilling final day fightback by the Asian team and, given how closely the sides are again matched this week, neither man would be surprised if it were to end in another draw at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. 

Clarke, who can call on the might of Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood in his 12-strong team, believes that whilst Europe may boast a marginally stronger line-up on paper, home advantage could prove pivotal for Singh’s side. 

He said: “We are playing in the Asian team’s backyard, so they are a bit more used to the heat and humidity than we are, which may give them a bit of an advantage. When the humidity comes with this sort of heat, it is quite oppressive. And it probably feels even hotter than the last time we were here. But with the co-sanctioned events we have in Asia, the Europeans do have experience playing here. 

“So it’s too close to call, and I think there’s a pretty good chance it could end in another draw. You have two very strong teams, and because it’s match play anything could happen. Hopefully it will be every bit as exciting as last time. Although I don’t know how our nerves will be at the end of the week!”

Those sentiments were echoed by Singh, who revealed it was an honour to be asked to follow Thongchai Jaidee as captain of the Asian team. 

Much like his predecessor, the genial Indian has vowed to adopt a relaxed approach to the role and will allow his charges to express themselves. 

“I believe in our players,” Singh said. “I know that all of them have the experience. They are used to the weather. They have played in Asia many times, and they play these kind of courses all the time.

“So I just basically have to make sure they are comfortable, happy, and relaxed. When all of these things are given to him, that’s when a player plays his best. And I don’t even have to tell them to try their best, because I know they are all going to give 100 per cent.”

The action gets under way on Friday with six fourball matches, followed by the foursomes on Saturday and concluding with Sunday’s 12 singles matches.

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McDowell Seeks French Treble

Graeme McDowell will begin his quest for a hat-trick of Alstom Open de France titles alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood and rising French star Alexander Levy when the €3million tournament begins on Thursday.

The Northern Irishman, the champion at Le Golf National for the past two years, tees off from the tenth at 13.20 local time, one group behind the widely-tipped Francesco Molinari, two-time winner this season Anirban Lahiri and young Frenchman Gary Stal.

The marquee group in the morning has a Ryder Cup flavour, with Martin Kaymer, who won here in 2009, alongside his 2014 team-mates Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson at 8.30 from the tenth.

One group ahead of them is Englishman Danny Willett, currently second in The Race to Dubai, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and France’s Julien Quesne, while the last player to win the event before McDowell, Germany’s Marcel Siem, has Italian Matteo Manassero and Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg for company at 13.50 from the tenth tee.

European Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke begins his campaign with Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen and up-and-coming Englishman Eddie Pepperell at 7.50 from the tenth, while behind them is another home favourite in Grégory Havret alongside Scots Stephen Gallacher and Marc Warren.

A total of 29 French players will be attempting to become the first home player since Thomas Levet in 2011 to win the Alstom Open de France, including Raphaël Jacquelin, who begins from the tenth in the company of in-form Englishmen James Morrison and Chris Wood.

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Harrington Open Chase Fades

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Padraig Harrington's hopes of a second Irish Open success were endedn at Royal County Down on Saturday as Soren Kjeldesen moved up the leaderboard.

The hree-time Major winner Harrington had hoped to apply pressure on the leaders, but dropped seven shots, including three in a row in the final four holes, to finish the day 13 shots behind the leader.

German Maximilian Kieffer shot a course record 65, but along with Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello trails Kjeldesn by three shots after another scintillating round from the 40-year-old Dane.

It was a disappointing day for Irish challengers, with Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley shooting level round scores to remain at +3 and +4 respectively.

Graeme McDowell shot an impressive 69 to move up to three over heading into the final day.

Simon Thornton ended Saturday with  a level par round to remain +5 for the tournament.

Darren Clarke is one stroked adrift on 6 over par signing for a one par 72.

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Søren Kjeldsen’s late slip did not prevent him from taking a handy two stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation. The 40 year old was flawless for the majority of a cold, yet bright, day at Royal County Down until he dropped shots on his final two holes.

That ensured the chasing pack remained in touch, led by Maximilian Kieffer after he shot a course record 65 to catapult himself into second place alongside Rafa Cabrera-Bello on five under.

With the weather set to turn sour tomorrow Kjeldsen, who has not won on The European Tour since 2009, had appeared to be making a decisive move when he strung a hat-trick of birdies together from the par four 11th.

The Dane had already picked up three shots on the front nine and as his putter began to run hot – he was only denied an eagle at the par five eighth when rolling a 30 footer just short – his rivals all began to tread water apart from Kieffer.

The German had endured a mixed start to his tournament, as he followed an opening 67 with a 76 yesterday, but was celebrating a new course record this evening as he mixed seven birdies with a single bogey.

It was the best round on a day scores improved dramatically – there were 15 rounds of 60 compared to 14 in total on the first two days – although World Number Nine Rickie Fowler proved that the Newcastle course was hardly playing easy.

Fowler remarkably finished with a pair of eights, he lost his ball off the tee at the 17th as he ran up a quadruple bogey, after he had chipped in to eagle the reachable 16th and give himself hope on the final day.

The American’s forgettable finish almost certainly wiped away those ambitions and put into context Kjeldsen’s own troubles at the end of an otherwise impressive round.

"If you had given me 67 stood on the first tee I would have been very happy.

"I played terrific all day and didn't think I did too much wrong on the last two holes, so I will focus on the first 16," said Kjeldsen.

"Competition is pretty hard out here. It's not easy to win and it's not like I have played poorly for six years, but it's nice to have a chance and it would mean everything to win this event.

“But it's too early to think about that. There are a lot of great players behind me and I need to play well (on Sunday) to have a chance. It's still that open."

Kieffer, chasing his first European Tour title, revealed he benefited from some local knowledge from his friend Stephen Sweeney, who was an assistant professional at Royal County Down for four years.

"He showed us around in the practice round and this is definitely a course where local knowledge helps a lot," Kieffer said.

The highlight of Cabrera-Bello’s day arrived on the 16th when the Spaniard drove the green and sunk an eagle putt, although he dropped a shot on the last – which gave up just two birdies all day.

“I missed a short three putt but overall really pleased,” he said.

“It's been really tough out there, lots of wind, pretty cold and playing in control of my game most of the time. I think it's going to put me in a great position for tomorrow.”

A stroke back sits a group of three players including Bernd Wiesberger, Richie Ramsay and Tyrrell Hatton – who had all shared in last night’s six way lead with Kjeldsen, Cabrera-Bello and Chris Wood.

Wiesberger was level with Kjeldsen after 12 holes today only to join the list of players to struggle into the wind over the closing holes, carding bogeys at 14 and 16.

He was nonetheless content to remain in contention and play well to mark his mother’s 57th birthday.

“It will play tough (tomorrow)”, he said.

“It was not ideal to pick up two bogeys there but it was a tough stretch coming in, and I'm just happy with a round under par today.”

Niclas Fasth was next best placed on two under, as the Swede returned a 67, while Lucas Bjerregaard had equalled the old course record of 66 to be one under alongside former World Number One Luke Donald, Jake Roos and Anthony Wall.

An Byoeng-hun, who won at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week, shot a 67 to be level with the card.

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Harrington and Kieffer Lead

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Padraig Harrington took advantage of marginally easier conditions in the afternoon to share the first round lead with fellow late starter Max Kieffer at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.

Former winner Harrington carded a four under par 67 at Royal County Down, which was only matched by German Kieffer in the final group.

Harrington, who won the Honda Classic in March on the US PGA Tour, is looking to end a winless stretch on The European Tour that goes back to the 2008 US PGA Championship.

The 43 year old from Dublin was one over par after ten holes before carding five birdies in the next six to finish level with Kieffer and one shot ahead of former Ryder Cup team-mate Søren Hansen.

"After nine or ten holes I thought to myself 'C'mon, we've got to hit a good shot, no need to be afraid,'" said Harrington, who lasted just two holes at Wentworth last week before pulling out with a shoulder injury, but received intensive treatment and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the US Open Championship four days later.

"I know from experience now that I'm in a position where there's many ways of competing in this tournament. I've two options; play great from now on and try and get away from the field or play average and fight it out on Sunday afternoon."

Kieffer had an eagle on the long 12th and reached five under at one stage only to bogey the eighth – his penultimate hole.

“I played good, and I think the key was today to hole some putts,” said the 24 year old, who is still searching for a maiden European Tour title two years after beng pipped in a marathon play-off for the Open de Espaa by Raphal Jacquelin.

“I had two three-putts from off the green on the front nine, but then I made two long putts after that, so that really like kept the momentum up. That was really nice.

“It's a long week. It's a tough golf course. Some of the best players in the world, they struggle to shoot par around here, so it's going to be an interesting next three days, I think.”

McIlroy carded nine bogeys and no birdies in an opening 80 as only seven of the 78 morning starters broke par.

"It was not quite as difficult as I made it look," McIlroy admitted with a wry smile after an opening round played in cold, blustery conditions and the occasional rain shower.

"I was hitting it well on the range, keeping it down and hitting half shots, but the wind was not up that much on the course and I was caught between trying to play two ways. That led to missing greens, which led to lots of eight to 12 foot putts for par, which led to missing all of them."

McIlroy has pledged to donate all of his prize money this week to his charitable foundation, while his association with the event ensured a top-class field and a sell-out crowd of 20,000 each day.

"It's disappointing because I want to go out there and play well, not just for myself but for a lot of other people," McIlroy added. "I'll just have to pick myself up and go out there tomorrow and shoot a good one. I want to give the fans something to cheer about and not just get sympathy claps as I got coming off the ninth green.

"My goal will be to make some birdies, make my first birdie of the tournament at some point. I've missed the cut the last two years so I don't want to make it three in a row. I want to at least go out there tomorrow and fight for it, try to claw my way back towards the cut line and if I can sneak in there, that'll be great."

Playing alongside McIlroy, Rickie Fowler carded an opening 71 in his first outing since winning the Players Championship at Sawgrass, while Luke Donald went one better with a 70.

Donald dropped out of the Official World Golf Ranking's top 60 on Monday to miss out on qualifying for the US Open, but could claim one of three places up for grabs in The Open at St Andrews by finishing in the top ten here.

"I'm trying not to think about that too much, I'm just trying to play a solid tournament and get some consistency," the former World Number One said.

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DDF Irish Open - Tee Times

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Rory McIlroy will play with Rickie Fowler and Martin Kaymer in the pick of the draw at the Irish Open.

Walker Cup rivals turned Major rivals, Fowler and McIlroy, who is largely responsible for the stellar names littering the draw at Royal County Down, will tee off at 8am on Thursday.

They will be following another home favourite Graeme McDowell, who has been grouped with Miguel Angel Jimenez, fresh from his second place finish in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, and England’s Lee Westwood.

There is little love lost between three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia and the two will start together from the 10th tee along with 2014 winner Mikko Ilonen at 12.50pm.

Shane Lowry returned to form at Wentworth, finishing tied for sixth place and a shot behind Francesco Molinari, and the two tee off at 1pm on Thursday with big Ernie Els.

Elsewhere, Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has been drawn with Luke Donald and Danny Willett, while Wentworth winner Byeong Hun An isjoined by Victor Dubuisson and Tommy Fleetwood.

Selected tee times:

07:40 Darren CLARKE Luke DONALD Danny WILLETT

07:50 Graeme MCDOWELL Lee WESTWOOD Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ

08:00 Martin KAYMER Rory MCILROY Rickie FOWLER

08:10 Michael HOEY Stephen GALLACHER Marc WARREN

08:20 Matteo MANASSERO Kevin PHELAN George COETZEE

08:30 Paul MCGINLEY Paul LAWRIE Robert KARLSSON

08:40 Tyrrell HATTON Peter UIHLEIN Chris WOOD

08:50 Chris DOAK Ricardo GONZALEZ John G KELLY

12:30 Damien MCGRANE Thorbjørn OLESEN Alexander LEVY

12:40 James MORRISON Anirban LAHIRI Thongchai JAIDEE

12:50 Padraig HARRINGTON Mikko ILONEN Sergio GARCIA

13:00 Ernie ELS Shane LOWRY Francesco MOLINARI

13:10 Victor DUBUISSON Tommy FLEETWOOD Byeong Hun AN

13:20 Pablo LARRAZÁBAL Andy SULLIVAN Bernd WIESBERGER

13:30 Marcel SIEM Kiradech APHIBARNRAT Ross FISHER

13:40 Peter HANSON Nicolas COLSAERTS David HOWELL

13:50 Peter LAWRIE Romain WATTEL Richie RAMSAY

14:00 Steve WEBSTER Alex NOREN Simon THORNTON

14:10 Mike LORENZO-VERA Robert DINWIDDIE Gavin MOYNIHAN (AM)

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Rory McIlroy Cut at Wentworth

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Rory McIlroy limped to a disappointing early exit from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after missing the halfway cut by four shots.

The world No 1 again looked out of sorts and short on energy as he stuttered to an error-strewn second-round 78 featuring six bogeys and a double-bogey at the 11th, finishing well down the field on five over par.

Playing the fourth of five tournaments in succession, McIlroy had admitted he was mentally fatigued following his opening 71 which was littered with frustrated outbursts, including hurling his three-wood away in disgust at the 17th which could incur a fine from the European Tour.

Despite having a later tee time for day two, McIlroy was clearly still suffering the effects of his busy schedule and, after opening with a pair of pars, he found three bunkers on the third hole alone before salvaging a bogey with an excellent up-and-down.

McIlroy dropped another shot at the fifth, although he gave himself a lift with a birdie at the eighth before making a torrid start to the back nine. He followed a bogey at 10 with an ugly six at the 11th after another wayward tee shot forced him to take an unplayable lie, and he then hooked his third into the crowd and hit a spectator.

He bunkered another errant drive at the 13th and again failed to save par, and his shoulders sagged further after another bogey at 16 ended any slim hopes of being around for the weekend.

A birdie at 17 was scant consolation, and his performance was summed up at the last when he sculled his second from the left rough to short of the green, pitched 15 feet past the flag and three-putted to close with a six.

McIlroy had not missed a cut in a European Tour event since last June's Irish Open, a tournament he is hosting next week at Royal County Down before he takes a well-earned break prior to preparing for next month's US Open at Chambers Bay.

"I'm not going to read too much into it," he said afterwards. "It was inevitable at some point the run was going to come to a bit of an end. I am back to my usual at Wentworth! It was not great before last year and it has not been great this year.

"I think it was a bit of mental fatigue, especially when I was trying to muster up a few birdies coming down the back nine. I just couldn't get anything going. I would much rather be here for the weekend but if any good comes of this I have a couple of days over the weekend to refresh myself and I will be okay for next week.

"I'm not angry, just a little disappointed I'm not going to be here for the weekend. But coming off the back of three good weeks in the States, I'm probably in need of a rest. I'd rather still be here, but it's not all bad getting to go home for the weekend.

"Any time you're defending a title, you want to come back and give it a valiant effort. This week wasn't really that, but I'll dust myself off and get ready for a big week next week at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open."

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No Saving Grace for Irish at Dunhill

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Kevin Phelan was the only Irish player to survive the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Friday at Loepards Creek Country Club. 

Michael Hoey, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie all finished off the pace and ended two rounds on the wrong side of the line as Branden Grace raced into a five shot lead at the halfway stage.

The 26 year old won four times during a memorable 2012 campaign, and remained on course for another victory as he added a second round 66 to his sparkling opening 62 at Leopard Creek Country Club. 

Three clear overnight, Grace turned in 33 after starting on the back nine before picking up another shot at the first.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the short fifth, but Grace birdied the sixth and finished with a lengthy putt for a closing gain on the ninth that put him five shots ahead of Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

“This is a golf course that suits me and if I keep hitting everything in play the way I have been the first two days then it should be a good weekend,” said Grace.

“The pins have been kind so far; I’m sure there’s going to be a couple of tricky and sticky pins out there on the weekend, but I’ll just stick to the game plan and see what the next two rounds offer us.

“Today was great – the ball striking wasn’t as good as yesterday.

“I kept it going - there was a little bit of a slip there due to a lack of concentration but it happens. 

“I’ve been hitting it well and kept on hitting good putts out there.”

Molinari was typically precise with his irons as he followed five birdies in 12 holes with an eagle at the long 13th. 

The former Ryder Cup star then missed a golden birdie chance at the 14th and dropped his first shot of the day at the 17th, but two-putted the long last to get back to seven under for the day.

“I played really well today,” said Molinari. “I holed some really good putts – the last four or five holes could have been better, but seven under is always a good round.

“Branden has set a low target for everyone, so it was good to get some birdies.”

Tjaart van der Walt, twice a runner-up on The European Tour, had five birdies before three-putting the ninth – his last – for his only bogey in a round of 67 which left him third on ten under par.

Another South African, Shaun Norris, last week’s Nedbank Challenge winner Danny Willett and Dane Lucas Bjerregaard – who chipped in at the last for eagle – were tied for fourth on nine under.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, looking to become only the sixth player in European Tour history to win the same event three years running, carded a two under 70 to be 11 shots adrift of leader Grace.

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Opening Match Play Win for GMAC

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Graeme McDowell and Thongchai Jaidee both made winning starts to the Volvo World Match Play Championship at London Golf Club.

Jaidee saw off Italy’s Francesco Molinari two up, despite three-putting the 17th to set-up a nervy trip down the last.

The 44 year old from Thailand has made the cut in all 20 European Tour appearances this term – he also made the weekend in his last four showings last season – and won a sixth European Tour title at the Nordea Masters earlier in the year.

McDowell outlined a renewed commitment to the game and some ambitious career targets after making an ideal start to his defence.

The Northern Irishman, who fought back from three down to beat Jordan Spieth in the opening singles match in Europe's Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles last month, was again in the first match out on Wednesday but was never in trouble against the in-form Alexander Levy, who won the rain-shortened Portugal Masters on Sunday.

Four birdies in the first six holes helped McDowell into a comfortable lead and although Levy kept his hopes alive with a birdie to win the 13th, McDowell crucially matched another birdie from his French opponent on the 15th before completing a 3 and 2 victory on the next.

McDowell successfully defended the Alstom Open de France earlier this season and won all three of his matches at Gleneagles, but admitted he had not been fully focused in recent times after getting married last year and becoming a father for the first time in August.

"I think you're seeing a turnaround in my commitment level to the game," said the 35 year old, who won the US Open in 2010.

"For two years I haven't been as focused, but for all the right reasons. Getting married and having a baby are special times in the life of anyone.

"But I genuinely believe I can work harder than I have been and I think I've turned a corner in that regard. I realise that I want to win more Majors and more tournaments around the world and I'm more focused now than I have been in a long time.

"Regardless of what happens this week, I am using the end of this year as a springboard for next year and I'm more strongly motivated than I've ever been. I really feel I'm in the prime of my career and ready to step up to the next level and give the next five to eight years 110 per cent of my concentration."

McDowell admits he has been guilty of getting too down on himself on the course, especially when faced with competing against players who hit the ball much further than him.

The World Number 18 believes his iron play would have had to be "superhuman" to compete with Rory McIlroy in the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, which measured 7,458 yards.

"Moments like that I've got to step back and think this might not be my week, but there will be other weeks," he added. "I have different tools to get around golf courses."

That extends to courses such as Augusta National, the permanent venue for the Masters where McDowell has missed the cut five times in seven appearances.

"Why do I think I can't play there? It's old-school thinking isn't it? I've been too guilty of it," added McDowell.

"That's why you pay fortunes to sports psychologists to get it out of your head. Zach Johnson is a short hitter and he won there didn't he?"

McDowell's Ryder Cup partner Victor Dubuisson also enjoyed a 3 and 2 win over Spain's Pablo Larrazábal at London Golf Club, but there were defeats for team-mates Jamie Donaldson and Stephen Gallacher, while Henrik Stenson had to settle for a half in his match with George Coetzee.

Donaldson, who claimed the winning point at Gleneagles, lost 2 and 1 to 2006 champion Paul Casey - who was four under par for the first six holes - while Gallacher lost 3 and 2 to Ireland's Shane Lowry, who carded seven birdies.

"I feel great with that," said Casey, who won the KLM Open last month shortly after the birth of his first child and is looking to get back into the Official World Golf ranking's top 50.

"Jamie's probably fatigued coming off the back of all the golf he's played recently but his performance at the Ryder Cup illustrates how good a golfer he is. I knew it was going to be tricky out there and I played some wonderful stuff."

US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, who was unbeaten on his debut, also lost 2 and 1 to Sweden's Jonas Blixt, while Dutchman Joost Luiten edged out Finland's Mikko Ilonen on the 18th.

"It was one of those days where both of us played pretty solid but at the end of the day I didn't really make anything," Reed said. "I missed a short one on six and it seemed like that was the story of the day, just missing putts left and right."

Reed can still qualify for Saturday's quarter-finals with further group matches to come against Casey and Donaldson, with the top two in each of the four groups advancing to the last eight.

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