Peter Lawrie Amongst The K Club Invites

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2015 - Getty Images

Peter Lawrie has received an invitation to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation which will be played at The K Club from May 19-22 in County Kildare.

Also included in the cherished list are Irish golfers Paul Dunne, of Hartl Resort, in Bad Griesbach; Gavin Moynihan of The Island GC; Kevin Phelan of Mount Juliet; Ruaidhri McGee of Rosapenna. Along with Ryan Evans of Wellingborough GC and Seve Benson of the Wentworth Club.

They all are joined Martin Kaymer, who has added his name to the all-star field, with a host of his fellow Ryder Cup players and European Tour winners also entered for the 61st edition of Ireland’s national Open.

Kaymer makes his fourth appearance - in what is now a €4 million tournament - with a tied tenth finish at Adare Manor in 2008 as his best performance to date. 

The German has not won though a regular European Tour event for five years – his last victory being the 2014 US Open Championship. But a top six finish on his last outing at Real Valderrama Club Open de España, Hosted by Sergio Garcia Foundation two weeks ago offered encouraging signs. 

Not unlike The K Club, which hosted a memorable Ryder Cup in 2006, Kaymer became synonymous with golf’s greatest team contest after holing the putt which ensured the trophy would remain in European hands at Medinah Country Club in 2012. 

A strong showing at The K Club under the eye of Europe’s 2016 Captain, Darren Clarke, would enhance Kaymer’s claims for a fourth straight Ryder Cup appearance. Englishman Chris Wood and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger also be hoping for inclusion in Europe’s line-up later in the year. 

Rafa Cabrera Bello, Soren Kjeldsen, Matt Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan all currently occupy automatic qualifying places for 2016 The Ryder Cup. 

Danny Willett will also be teeing up at The K Club has already confirmed his place at Hazeltine National in September following his victory at The Masters last month. 

Peter Lawrie was part of that strong field in Valderrama two weeks ago courtesy of being a former Open de España winner. Over the four days the Dubliner made good use of his return to a European Tour event with a solid performance in a tough field and testing conditions.

“It’s great news to get a start at our National event, said Peter from Rabata in Morocco, "Even more so as it has been revitalised by Rory McIlroy and Dubai Duty Free.” 

“With the Trophée Hassan this week it will offer another great opportunity to fine tune a few things and compete in another tough field.”

“So I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks,” concluded Lawrie

Lawrie lost his automatic playing rights after finishing 124th in the Race to Dubai last season.

*Peter Lawrie is sponsored by PGA Catalunya [Girona] and NewstalkFM [Dublin]

DDFIO Entry List

Related articles

• McIlroy will skip WGC event for Open de France in June
• McIlroy Will Skip WGC Event for Open De France in June
• If they build a golf course, will they come to Olympics?
• If they build a golf course, will they come to Olympics?
• If they build a golf course, will they come to Olympics?
• Oosthuizen cites schedule, pulls out of Olympics

GUI Name Fota Island Four

Four top amateurs get Irish Open invite with two former Irish Amateur Open champions included in the Golf Union of Ireland's [GUI] four man selection for the Irish Open at Fota Island on June 19th. 

Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) and Gavin Moynihan (The Island) are joined by Gary Hurley (West Waterford) and Dermot McElroy (Ballymena).

The four amateurs are included in a field alongside Major champions and Irish favourites Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke and European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley

The 2009 winner Shane Lowry, who won in enthralling circumstances as an amateur at Baltray, is also included in the field.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director said “The amateur game in Ireland has always been vibrant, thanks mainly to the commitment and endeavours of the Golfing Union of Ireland.

“We are delighted to welcome Robbie, Gavin, Gary and Dermot to join a world class field of professionals at Fota Island Resort. The experience they get from playing in the Irish Open will be invaluable as they progress in the game of golf.”

Albert Lee, Honorary Secretary of the GUI said: “Playing in the Irish Open is an important step in the development of these players and we acknowledge the support of the European Tour in allowing us nominate four amateurs to compete in what will be a fantastic display of golf at Fota Island.”

Related articles

• Stay and Play Championshiop Golf in Co. Cork - venue for the 2014 Irish Open
• Shane Lowry Open Ready
• Lowry Launches Fota Countdown
• Irish Open Makes Fota Return
• Irish Open 2015 to be held at Royal County Down Golf Club
• Chinese hoteliers pay €20m for Cork's Fota Island Resort

Four Named in GB&I Squad

Gavin Moynihan - Getty Images

A 21 player Great Britain and Ireland squad has been announced for the St Andrews Trophy match at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Sweden on 29 and 30 August, 2014.

The nine-man team that will face the Continent of Europe in the biennial match will be named in mid-August.

Four players will bring valuable Walker Cup experience to the squad including Matthew Fitzpatrick, who recently made his Masters Tournament debut, and Rhys Pugh who played on the GB&I side in both 2011 at Royal Aberdeen and in 2013 at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York.

Greg Eason, who is currently ranked third in the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™, and reigning European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters bring depth to the squad, along with talented young players Sam Horsfield and 2013 Scottish Boys champion Bradley Neil.

Nigel Edwards will captain the team for the third time as GB&I look to reclaim the trophy after the Continent of Europe’s narrow 12½ – 11½ victory at Portmarnock in 2012.

“We have announced a strong squad for this year’s match,” said Edwards, a playing member of the victorious St Andrews Trophy teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006. “The final selection of the team for the St Andrews Trophy match will be dependent on performances and, therefore, players who are not named in this squad have every chance of playing their way on to the team. I am confident that the team we select will mount a real challenge for the trophy in Sweden.”

The St Andrews Trophy is the biennial men’s match which will be played alongside the annual boys’ match, the Jacques Leglise Trophy, at Barsebäck on 29 and 30 August. The St Andrews Trophy has been played alternately on British/Irish and mainland European courses since 1956. Great Britain and Ireland have won on 24 occasions and the Continent of Europe has won five times, including the 2010 and 2012 matches.

The 2014 GB&I squad is:

Tomasz Anderson (Brocket Hall) – Welwyn Garden City, England

Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park) – Wem, England 

Greg Eason (Kirby Muxloe) – Leicester, England

Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) – Wellingborough, England

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) – Sheffield, England

Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) – North Berwick, Scotland

Sam Horsfield (Davenport, USA) – Manchester, England

Paul Howard (Southport & Ainsdale) – Southport, England

Jack Hume (Naas) – Naas, Ireland

Gary Hurley (West Waterford) – Aglish, Ireland

Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) – Elland, England

Jimmy Mullen (Royal North Devon) – Devon, England

Gavin Moynihan (The Island) - Dublin, Ireland

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) – Troon, Scotland

Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) – Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) – Perthshire, Scotland

Rhys Pugh (Pontypridd) – Pontypridd, Wales

James Ross (Royal Burgess) – Edinburgh, Scotland

Ewan Scott (St Andrews) – St Andrews, Scotland

Jordan Smith (Bowood) – Calne, England

Ben Taylor (Walton Heath) – Leatherhead, England

Related articles

• Europe win thrilling Seve Trophy
• Six Nations 2014: Head-to-Head Records and Latest Odds on Final Weekend
• Rugby Is Like Air For Irish Sports Fans
• Pearce explains Beckham exclusion
• Ford in line to make England debut
• Top Attractions in Missouri Golf this Summer

US Claim Walker Cup

Getty Images

Nathan Smith won the deciding point in the United States' 17-9 victory over Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup on Sunday, beating England's Nathan Kimsey 4 and 3 in the fifth singles match at historic National Golf Links of America.

The United States, ahead 8-4 entering the final day in the biennial amateur event, split the four morning foursomes matches and won seven of the 10 afternoon singles matches.

"It's something I have been wanting for a long, long time, particularly after we lost in 2011," U.S. captain Jim Holtgrieve said. "I was hoping I would get a mulligan for `13 and when I knew it was going to be at National Golf Links, which is where it all started, I wanted so bad to come here. Yes. I wanted to win, but I wanted to do something good for golf and this, to me, was truly good for golf."

The 35-year-old Smith, a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Pittsburgh, won the par-3 13th and par-4 14th with pars and ended the match with a halve for bogey on the par-4 15th.

"This ranks at the top of the list," said Smith, who has played in the Masters four times. "I never wanted a point so much in my life. This means the most. I'm happy for Jim. Nobody deserves it more than him and loves the game of golf and put more hard work into a team than him."

Alabama teammates Bobby Wyatt and Justin Thomas, 45-year-old South Carolina high school teacher Todd White, California's Michael Kim, Oklahoma State's Jordan Niebrugge and Stanford's Patrick Rodgers also won singles matches.

"It took a long time to get to the matches, but once I was there, it seems like it just went by real quick," Kim said. "And you know, winning is great, but to win with these other nine guys who, you know, I've known for a while now, it's special. And to represent your country is always an honour and something I'll never forget."

England's Matthew Fitzpatrick and Callum Shinkwin and Ireland's Kevin Phelan won their singles matches. Fitzpatrick, a freshman at Northwestern, won the U.S. Amateur last month.

"They adapted to conditions a little bit better," Britain and Ireland captain Nigel Edwards said. 

"The greens changed and there were very, very severe pin positions. They holed out a little bit 

better and I would say the short shots into the green, the distance control, that's where they outdid us. When they did hit it over the back they got up and down and we didn't."

Wyatt beat England's Neil Raymond 4 and 3; Thomas routed England's Max Orrin 6 and 4; White topped Wales' Rhys Pugh 4 and 3; Kim beat England's Garrick Porteous 4 and 2; Niebrugge pounded England's Jordan Smith 6 and 5; and Rodgers edged Ireland's Gavin Moynihan 1 up.

"They all focused together," Holtgrieve said. "They all played together. They all worked together and they helped each other with their games. There were no individuals. It was a team."

Fitzpatrick beat California's Michael Weaver 3 and 2; Shinkwin edged Alabama's Cory Whitsett 2 up; and Phelan beat Max Homa, the NCAA champion as a senior at Cal, 2 and 1.

In the morning foursomes, Whitsett and Wyatt beat Kimsey and Orrin 2 and 1, and Homa and Kim also earned a point for the United States, topping Porteous and Pugh 1 up. Fitzpatrick and Raymond beat Weaver and White 3 and 2, and Moynihan and Phelan topped Rodgers and Niebrugge 2 up.

Wyatt led the U.S. with 3½ points and Kim was 3-0.

"It was just a wonderful week for everybody involved," said Wyatt, part of Alabama's NCAA championship team. "I got to know some of the Great Britain and Ireland guys that I didn't know. I really enjoyed that, and I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of them down the road."

The 2015 matches will be played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England.

Related articles

• US fight back to lead Walker Cup
• US Wins Walker Cup, Routing Britain and Ireland
• US wins Walker Cup, routing Britain and Ireland
• USGA Completes 2013 USA Walker Cup Team Roster With Selection of Five...
• GB&I Trail in Walker Cup
• US wins Walker Cup, routing Britain and Ireland

GB&I Trail in Walker Cup

Getty Images

The United States will head into the final day of the Walker Cup with an 8-4 advantage over Great Britain and Ireland.

It had looked promising for the visiting side when they established a two and a half to one and a half advantage after the morning foursomes but they were blown away in the afternoon session on The National Golf Links of America in New York.

The US were victorious in six of the eight singles with only Nathan Kimsey and Gavin Moynihan avoiding defeat for GB&I.

Kimsey claimed a half from his clash with Justin Thomas while Moynihan enjoyed a 2&1 victory over Patrick Rodgers.

The afternoon struggles were in stark contrast to a morning session which GB&I edged.

The first match was halved with GB&I winning the next two before the United States won the final foursome of the session.

The first match-up saw home pair Cory Whitsett and Bobby Wyatt refuse to let the visiting duo of Kimsey and Max Orrin capitalise on the one up lead they held on six occasions.

Instead each time Whitsett and Wyatt came back to tie including on the 18th hole when Orrin hit his eagle putt 12 feet past the hole with Wyatt sinking a two-foot birdie to win the hole and halve the match.

Next up was Sheffield's Matthew Fitzpatrick, who became the first Englishman since 1911 to win the US Amateur Championship - propelling him to number one in the world amateur golf rankings - and also win the Silver Medal at July's Open Championship at Muirfield.

He was partnered by Neil Raymond and they went one up against Jordan Niebrugge and Nathan Smith at the par-four fifth, a lead they held until the 15th. The GB&I duo won the par-five 18th when Raymond hit an eagle attempt to three feet and Fitzpatrick calmly rolled the ball in for a one up victory.

Raymond told www.usga.org: "To go out in foursomes over here and get the first solid point on the board was very important. I was just really happy to get it done.

"I believe in my ability, and obviously believe in the world number one [Fitzpatrick] over here."

The visitors moved further ahead when Garrick Porteous and Rhys Ough defeated Michael Weaver and Todd White, three and one.

Victory was clinched at the 372-yard 17th. Welshman Pugh hit his wedge approach shot to four feet. Weaver also hit a fine wedge approach to seven feet, but White missed the birdie attempt and Porteous' birdie was conceded to give GB&I victory.

Pugh said: "It gets my [competitive] juices flowing playing for Great Britain and Ireland. It's an honour and brings the best out of me."

The hosts then hit back in the final match of the session, Rodgers and Thomas defeating Moynihan and Kevin Phelan two and one.

The United States took a lead they never relinquished on the 15th before Rodgers recorded the clinching birdie on the 17th, hitting a 111-yard wedge to six feet.

Related articles

• Walker Cup 2013: USA Power Ahead of GB&I in Southampton
• US fight back to lead Walker Cup
• US takes 8-4 lead in Walker Cup
• Tide teammates set to open Walker Cup
• USGA Completes 2013 USA Walker Cup Team Roster With Selection of Five...
• Tide teammates set to open Walker Cup