Harrington Receives PGA Award

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Padraig Harrington is the 2014 recipient of the PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf.

The Dubliner, who returned to the winner’s rostrum with his victory in the recent Indonesian Open, picked up the accolade at the PGA’s annual fundraiser at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Harrington has scaled the heights of world golf with back to back Open Championship victories at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale a year later.

He also held off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to land the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills in 2008 to become the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships.

It was deserved reward for his efforts on the practice ground where he would famously spend days on end with coach Bob Torrance fashioning a swing to accompany his deadly accurate short game.

The three-time Walker Cup player turned professional in 1995 and has chalked up 14 European Tour victories plus several more worldwide.

In addition he has enjoyed huge success in the Ryder Cup, making six appearances, helping Europe to four wins – the last in 2010.

Harrington was also a vice captain to fellow Irishman Paul McGinley at Gleneagles and is widely touted as a future captain.

Away from the fairways he has been equally dedicated, establishing the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, becoming an ambassador for both the R&A and Special Olympics and also supporting a number of charities including the Oesophageal Cancer Fund and the 3Ts.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “Padraig is a golfer who inspires tremendous affection on the world stage, not just for his brilliant golf but for his dedication and passion and also for the way he conducts himself and which has made him hugely popular in the game.

“The PGA Recognition Award is our way of acknowledging great achievements in the game and I’m delighted on behalf of the PGA’s membership to bestow this accolade on Padraig – he is a deserving winner and credit to the sport.”

Commenting on the award, Harrington said: “The PGA does outstanding work on behalf of its members and fulfills an important role in growing and promoting the game of golf for the benefit of all. 

“It’s a real honour to receive the PGA Recognition Award from such a respected organisation and I am delighted that my career achievements have been recognised with this special distinction.”

The PGA lunch is an important fundraiser for the PGA’s Benevolent Fund which helps members who have fallen on difficult and hard times.

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Maybank for McDowell and McGinley

Maybank will celebrate its tenth year as title sponsor of the Malaysian Open with the confirmed participation of 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley. 

The Irish duo will join a stellar cast from The European and Asian Tours for the prestigious co-sanctioned championship, which will be held from February 5-8, 2015, at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

McDowell claimed his tenth European Tour victory this year when he successfully defended his ALSTOM Open de France title. 

Two months later, he played his part in Europe’s victory over the United States at the Gleneagles Hotel, winning three points out of a possible three. 

That triumph was masterminded by McGinley, who will be making his first appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open since 2008. 

Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank: “In 2015, as we celebrate the tenth year as title sponsor of the Malaysian Open, we continue with the tradition of bringing a selection of golfing personalities to Malaysia. Fresh from recent victories and with their charisma attracting a huge worldwide following, Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley offer fans exciting and competitive golf every time.

“We are proud of our role in the Maybank Malaysian Open, showcasing a world-class tournament steeped in Malaysian history. The tournament has produced some varied winners, and I expect this next edition to produce similar excitement.”

The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) reinforced the critical role that the tournament has played in expanding the reach of the game in the country.

“The Maybank Malaysian Open represents a consistent and considerable investment by Maybank towards the development of the Malaysian golfing scene, with the largest allocation of playing spots to top local professionals and amateurs who want to participate in the tournament,” said MGA president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor. 

“Maybank has ensured that the sport is one that is treated with the seriousness and importance that it deserves. We hope that our local players will deliver truly inspiring performances that we all can be proud of and hopefully bring home the Seagram Trophy this year.”

The first national Open in Asia to be co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours in 1999, the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open will once again feature leading professional players in its 156-man line-up.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Since joining our schedule in 1999, when it became the first event to be co-sanctioned by The European and Asian Tours, the Maybank Malaysian Open has grown in stature year on year; and with Maybank celebrating a decade of title sponsorship, the 2015 edition looks set to continue that trend. 

“The fact that Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen have both added their names to the trophy in recent seasons bears testament to the quality of field that this tournament now attracts, and we look forward to another week of top class action in Kuala Lumpur next February.” 

Kyi Hla Han, Chairman of the Asian Tour, said: “The Maybank Malaysian Open is one of the most important championships on our annual Schedule, and one that our players enjoy participating in. 

“We look forward to yet another exciting tournament in Malaysia next year, and I would like to congratulate Maybank for ten fantastic years as title sponsor of the Maybank Malaysian Open.”

The premier event has seen the likes of Peter Thomson, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Sir Nick Faldo hold aloft the Seagram Trophy down the years, and in more recent times has produced young and exciting winners in the form of Korean sensation Noh Seung-yul (2010) and Matteo Manassero of Italy (2012).

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Lowry Looks on as Luke Avoids Baboon

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A charging baboon nearly ran into Luke Donald on Friday at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The Englishman managed to get himself out of the way, however, and also managed to shoot a 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the European Tour's season-opening tournament.

With seven birdies on the first 10 holes, the former top-ranked player was one shot off Lee Westwood's course record at the Gary Player Country Club, giving himself a chance of a memorable end to a pretty average and so far winless 

The only time Donald panicked on the course nestled in the wilderness of northern South Africa was when a large baboon came running toward him as he made his way to his ball. Donald was warned by playing partner Shane Lowry, quickly dodged out of the way and the baboon kept going.

"He didn't really pay any attention to me in the end but gave me a bit of a fright when Shane said, 'Watch out!' They are big and strong and you wouldn't want to mess with them, that's for sure," Donald said. "So I got well out of the way. [I] jumped pretty high."

Donald's round was four strokes better than anyone else and put him at 10-under 134 overall. He leads Ross Fisher (70) by two strokes, with Alexander Levy (70) a further two shots back at 6 under.

"I felt very in control," said Donald, who last won in November 2013 and last claimed a title on the European Tour more than two years ago. "It's been a while since I felt like that."

Donald found some of the form with his putter that has been missing since he became the first player to top the end-of-season money lists in both the United States and Europe in 2011. He made nine birdies and no bogeys.EUROPEAN TOURNedbank Golf Challenge leaderboard

South Africa's top tournament stopped midway through the round for a moment's silence on the anniversary of the death of Nelson Mandela, the country's former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Players removed their caps and bowed their heads after a horn sounded across the course for the tribute.

Brendon Todd of the United States was another big mover with a 4-under 68 to tie for sixth. Tommy Fleetwood moved into a tie for sixth with his 67, the best round after Donald.

Behind Fisher and Levy, Danny Willett is fourth at 5 under and Marcel Siem is 4 under. Fleetwood, Todd, Thongchai Jaidee, Charl Schwartzel and Tim Clark are part of the tie for sixth.

Westwood, a two-time Nedbank Challenge champion, improved on his opening 72 with a 2-under 70, while US Open champion Martin Kaymer, off a busy 2014 schedule, slipped down to a tie for 24th in the 30-man field with a 3-over 75.

There is no cut at the invitational tournament, which has a $1.25 million winner's check and is the first event on the 2015 European Order of Merit schedule.

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Nedbank Tees of Lowry Season

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Shane Lowry wants to kick off the 2015 season with a bang when he makes his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

The Irishman finished fifth at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – one of seven top tens in 2014, which also included second place at the BMW PGA Championship – and he is targeting one more strong performance before packing away the clubs for a well-earned break.

Lowry feels that a win is just around the corner, so to do it at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, where a world-class field has assembled to contest the US$6.5million prize fund, would certainly make the Christmas turkey taste even sweeter.

“It’s such a big event and a big purse, it’s a great chance to get a good start to the new season,” said the 27 year old. “I’m really looking forward to giving it everything this week and then taking some time off over Christmas and New Year. Going into the break off the back of a win would obviously be fantastic.

“When you’re playing well in the last few months of the season, you earmark this tournament on your calendar as one you’d really like to get into. I’ve never been here but I’ve always watched it on television and hoped that I’d play in it one day.

“I’ve been playing really well lately and I feel like a win shouldn’t be too far away if I keep doing what I’m doing. This would be a great week to do it, no doubt about that.”

The two-time European Tour winner added: “This is only my fourth time to South Africa, believe it or not. We have a lot of tournaments here but I’ve only played a few times. Sun City is a beautiful place and everything – the hotels, the food, the people – is great, so I’m looking forward to a very enjoyable week.”

Another player hoping to take advantage of recent fine form is Brooks Koepka, who last week was announced as the 2014 European Tour Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

The young American won his maiden title at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports last month, and after spending some time back home in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, he is eager to add to his haul at the first opportunity in the 2015 campaign.

“I was hoping for a win before the end of the year and I felt like I’d knocked on the door a few times,” said Koepka. “I would’ve been disappointed to finish the year without a win, so to be coming here with the chance to get two is great. It would be a nice way to end the year and a great way to start the 2015 campaign.

“It was nice to go home for a few days and celebrate with my family. We had the whole family and some friends over for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have some time to relax and unwind, and I really enjoyed it, but now I’m ready to get back to work. 

“It’s a neat course and I think it will suit my game. I like it. There are some very small greens so you’ve got to be accurate with your irons. It kind of plays to some of my strengths, so it’ll be interesting as the week goes on.”

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