Star Cast at Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

The success of the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation - the first Irish Open sponsored by Dubai Duty Free - plus record prize money for this year's championship, has tempted a star-studded cast to The K Club in County Kildare from May 19-22.

Led by reigning Masters Champion Danny Willett, the field includes eight Major champions among 12 top-50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Rory McIlroy heads up the Irish contingent of Major champions, which includes 2007 Irish Open Champion Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, with Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Korea’s Y.E. Yang and South Africa’s Trevor Immelman making up one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: “The terrific inaugural tournament at Royal County Down last year, plus the fact that the Rory Foundation will continue to host the event was central to our decision to extend our sponsorship to 2018. 

“We are also pleased that as a result of our sponsorship commitment, The European Tour has announced an increase in prize money from €2,500,000 to €4million, making it one of the highest purses on the 2016 Race to Dubai and very appealing for international players to participate.

The staging of the tournament at The K Club, which has recently undergone a major expansion, is another positive. With all these things combined, we are looking forward to a great event.

“By sponsoring the Irish Open it lifts the significance of the event considerably. At last year’s event it felt to me a bit like the re-birth of the tournament, with Dubai Duty Free and the Rory Foundation behind it. Having been without a title sponsor for a number of years it’s been a great boost for the event. The Dubai Duty Free brand is well recognised around the world and we certainly have a global reach. We believe that being involved in golf, is a good thing, particularly with golf being one of Ireland’s biggest attractions.”

McIlroy said: “The support we had last year from all our on-going sponsors, including fellow Dubai sponsorsEmirates Airline and Jumeirah Golf Estates, fans, volunteers and Royal County Down with a ‘sell-out’ tournament, attracting more than 100,000 spectators was incredible. It exceeded all expectations. I’ve got a good relationship with Colm McLoughlin and Dubai Duty Free and I’ve got a long-standing history with Dubai. I’ve got to know Colm over the years just by playing tournaments in the UAE. With our Foundation being involved it aligned very well with their charitable Foundation. It just seemed like a good fit. 

“I was absolutely delighted when Colm and Dubai Duty Free came on board. They have a great sponsorship history in the Middle East and in Ireland and England, and the association has given the tournament that extra kudos. Coming together to benefit the lives of young people can only be a good thing. The other important thing for me is that I can learn a lot from Colm and his extensive experience doing charitable work.

“I would like to thank Colm McLoughlin and Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour for supporting my vision to develop the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation into one of the leading events on The European Tour’s schedule, over the next three years. I am sure The K Club, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the club and their 10th anniversary as host of the 2006 Ryder Cup, and having held 11 European Opens, will be an excellent venue for the 2016 Irish Open.”

McLoughlin was equally impressed by Rory’s efforts with the tournament: “Rory has done a remarkable job in attracting the top golfers to play in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and bringing his Foundation into the mix has been a great initiative.”

Keith Pelley said: “The Irish Open is one of the most prestigious and most eagerly anticipated tournaments on The Race to Dubai, and having two powerful global brands in Dubai Duty Free and Rory McIlroy supporting the event as well as a record prize fund, will ensure that continues. We are delighted that Dubai Duty Free have pledged themselves to the tournament through until 2018 and we thank them for their continued commitment and vision, not just to the Irish Open but to The European Tour as a whole.

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McIlroy Overcomes Sawgrass with 64

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Rory McIlroy’s second round in The Players produced a career-best 64, to move to eight-under-par at TPC Sawgrass, and some satisfaction over course that has over the years has caused the Holywood golfer grief.

McIlroy wasted no time in making his move, an opening with a 25 foot for birdie on the 10th, his first of the day, which was followed by four birdies in a row. There was a six-footer on 15 for his fifth birdie and then rolled in a 55 footer from off the green for eagle on the Par 5 16th.

That run on his front nine enabled him to match the day-old record of 29 strokes set by Shane Lowry on Thursday. “The back nine could not have played any easier,” admitted McIlroy.

However the fireworks of that stretch didn’t continue into the homeward run,  with further birdies at the second and seventh only to come unstuck on the Par 5 ninth where McIlroy opted to lay-up with his approach. 

Having left 270 yards to the front of the green he played a poor third shot into the grassy bank of a greenside bunker and ran up a bogey six.

“I guess I have got it in my head that any time I have went for the green it hasn’t really worked out that well for me. With hindsight, that pin being on the left side, (hitting it) anywhere on the right and I would have had a chance to get up and down. But I thought if I get it within 100 yards and take my chance from there. I didn’t hit a great third shot. Maybe if I had it back, I would go for the green,” explained McIlroy, who had eyed a possible 62 if he’d managed to birdie his closing hole.

A round of 64 moved him into contention and into a position far removed from his early years in playing at Sawgrass when he missed the cut in his first three appearances in the tournament. 

“I hit a lot of quality shots, hopefully I’ll continue to see that over the weekend.”

McIlroy wasn’t the only one to take advantage of benign conditions and soft greens, as Colt Knost hit all 18 greens in regulation and shot a course record equalling 63 to leapfrog through the field to lie on 135 at the halfway stage.

Knost even had a chance to set a new course record, but three-putted the 18th for a bogey. “I was fine over the first putt. I was trying to two-putt it, which is probably the problem instead of trying to make it. I was a little nervous over the second one. I knew what it was for. But I didn’t hit a bad putt, I hit it on the left lip and it just stayed there and lipped out.”

Graeme McDowell fired a second round 70 for 142 to at least survive the midway cut.

Pádraig Harrington’s 74 means he missed back-to-back cuts after also failing to survive at the Wells Fargo last week.

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McIlroy Targets Players Championship

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Rory McIlroy admits he is frustrated at failing to turn good performances into wins this season as he looks to claim one of the few big titles so far missing from his glittering CV in the Players Championship.

As well as winning four major titles and playing on three successive victorious Ryder Cup teams, McIlroy has won two World Golf Championship events and two FedEx Cup play-off tournaments, meaning the so-called 'Fifth Major' is high on the agenda.

McIlroy has finished eighth, sixth and eighth in the last three years at Sawgrass, but similar statistics so far in 2016 mean the 27-year-old is the only member of the world's top five without a victory this season.

"Results-wise it isn't what I hoped for," McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "My performances have been pretty good, I've had a few chances to win tournaments. Of the nine events I've played so far I think I have six top-10s so it hasn't been too bad, but there's no wins in there.

"It's been frustrating and especially because I feel like I've played some really good golf in this stretch, but at the same time there's just been too many mistakes.

"Again last week I led the field in birdies at Quail Hollow, I was up there at Augusta. There's just been too many loose shots, too many soft bogeys, so if anything I just need to tidy that up because I know I'm playing good enough to make the birdies and to post a lot of red (under par) numbers, but I just need to tidy up everything else."

Despite those frustrations, McIlroy remains confident in his ability to "close" out tournaments down the stretch, reiterating that he learnt the most from his collapse in the 2011 Masters.

McIlroy, who was four shots clear heading into the final round at Augusta before slumping to a closing 80, added: "I don't think I believed I was a good closer until 2012.

"My wins early on in my career I led by a lot; whether it was my first win in Dubai, I think I was six ahead with six to play and sort of fell over the line there. When I won at Quail Hollow in 2010 I was five behind at the start of the day and I ended up winning by four. I just got on a great run, I didn't actually have to play with the lead for any length of time. US Open was sort of similar in 2011.

"At the start of '12, whenever I needed to hold on on the back nine at the Honda Classic.... Tiger (Woods) had shot 62, I was trying to get in the clubhouse and become world number one for the first time, that's when I really believed I've finally been able to close a tournament out and be able to play the right shot at the right time and keep it together.

"It takes experience, it takes losing a few first I think before understanding what you need to do. I've always said the biggest learning curve and day of my career was that Sunday at Augusta in '11.

"At least I know now exactly what not to do and what doesn't work for me so when I go into these final rounds and situations where I have a chance to win, I know how to handle myself, what way to think.

"I think that's the big thing, the mentality of learning what's going to be a good score that day, what's going to be the number that's going to win and really try and forget about everything else and try to get to that number."

Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell also tee off on Thusday at TPC Sawgrass.

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McIlroy Back in Mix After 65

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Rory McIlroy hailed a "big improvement" in his putting during a superb round of 65 that lifted him into contention in the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

The Northern Irishman has switched to a "crosshanded" putting method after missing the cut at the Honda Classic.

The 26-year-old needed just 25 putts in a seven-under round to go eight under - two shots behind leader Adam Scott.

"I did some work on the putting green last night and it paid off today," said world number three McIlroy.

"It's great to see putts like that go in. Those are the one I have not been holing over the last few months and today I saw a big improvement.

"I saw Adam had got to 10 under so I did not want to be too far behind going into the weekend."

McIlroy carded eight birdies and a bogey in his second round and is tied for second with defending champion Dustin Johnson, who hit a bogey-free 64.

Scott, who last week won his first title in nearly two years, hit a six-under 66 to lead the field.

England's Danny Willett carded a 69 to go fourth on seven under, a stroke ahead of Charley Hoffman (70) and Bubba Watson (69) of the United States and two in front of compatriot Paul Casey (68) and another American, Phil Mickelson (72).

Shane Lowry will have been disappointed to finish with a closing bogey to sign for a 73 and a level par total. Starting on the 10th, he turned in one over but a birdie on the eighth, his 17th, was undone on the par-three ninth.

Graeme McDowell signed for a 71 to his opening 74 to be one over at the halfway stage.

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McIlroy Happy with Ugly 68

Rory McIlroy admitted he played some "ugly golf" down the stretch but was happy to begin the DP World Tour Championship with a 68 in Dubai.

McIlroy played with his closest Race to Dubai rival Danny Willett in the season-ending event at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and both were four-under for the day and are two shots off the pace after the first round.

The world No 3 turned in 34 and dropped his only shot of the round after a wild drive at the 10th, but he birdied the next two and then did well to save par at the 17th after chipping from the green to avoid putting through the fringe.

McIlroy was also struggling to save par at the last when he dunked his third into a greenside bunker, but he holed the escape for a welcome birdie before Willett rolled in his fifth birdie putt of the day.

The 26-year-old, who has a lead of just 1,613 points over Willett after an injury-hit campaign, said: "It's nice to get round in 68. I felt like it was a little bit of a struggle at times out there but to finish the way I did makes it feel a lot better. It never really looked like a four on 18. I hit into the bunker off the tee, hit a good lay-up shot but a terrible third.

"It was one of those ones where you just had to get it out and it could trundle its way toward the hole. I knew I could get it close but I was pleased to see it drop in. That was a nice way to finish.

"It was a bit scrappy before that. I bogeyed the 10th hole and then got it back with a couple of good birdies straight away. In between those birdies and the birdie at the last, there was a bit of ugly golf in there.

"But to produce something like that and obviously the way I finished makes it feel a lot better. I'm very close. I hit a lot of good shots out on the course but not as many as you've seen.

"Ball-striking tee to green for the most part has been very good, all throughout the year and it's been the putter that held me back. But I felt like I putted well today, so that bodes well for the next three days."

Willett admitted he had visions of missing his birdie putt after McIlroy's bunker shot, but he calmly holed to keep the pressure on the reigning European No 1.

"It's quite a short week after flying in from China, trying to get your body back on the right time," Willett said. "I had a good couple of days' practice but still would like one more. The two of us didn't play our best but four under will put you right up there.

"I played some pretty decent golf apart from a couple of little scrappy ones in there. Obviously it helped both of us shooting a good number, and you can treat it a little bit like match play in that situation.

"Like I said in the press conference earlier in the week, you don't want to play match play if you're level par or one over par but as soon as you're going along quite nicely, it ended up being a pretty good match."

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Spieth Second Tops World

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Jordan Spieth was still smiling after his second place finish in the 97th PGA Championship as it saw him take Rory McIlroy's place as world No 1.

Spieth concluded his remarkable season in the major championships by finishing three shots behind Jason Day at Whistling Straits, but that result was enough to lift him to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

The 22-year-old won the Masters and US Open before finishing in a tie for fourth in the 144th Open at St Andrews, where his dreams of a Grand Slam finally came to an end.

Asked by Sky Sports' Rich Beem if the No 1 spot was a nice consolation prize, Spieth said: "Sure it is. That's as good of a consolation prize as I have ever had.

"I'm really pleased. It was not easy to get out there and try to dethrone Rory, and it's going to be even harder to try and stay on top.

"But this year, the way we have played I think we've earned it as a team and we are going to work our butts off to stay in this position."

Spieth started the day two behind Day but could never quite get close enough to put pressure on the Australian, who was winning his first major championship after a number of near misses.

A dropped shot at the ninth proved particularly costly and Spieth said that was the key part of the round where he should really have been making up ground.

He added: "The middle of the round, really eight through 12, I had a really good opportunity to shoot three-under and I played those holes even par.

"That was killer because at that point I would have got it to about square and it would have been a different story coming down the stretch. 

"But it was Jason's day today and he really didn't miss many shots, and when he did it ended in a good spot and he made plenty of putts."

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Spieth Eases Towards Number 1

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Jordan Spieth will replace Rory McIlroy as world number one if he wins the 144th Open Championship and completes the third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam.

Spieth’s play-off victory in the John Deere Classic on Sunday means he can overtake McIlroy, who has been ruled out of his title defence with an ankle injury, in the rankings by lifting the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

The 21-year-old’s decision to compete in Illinois, where he won his first PGA Tour title in 2013, rather than contest the Scottish Open at Gullane or practise on links courses in Britain has been questioned by the likes of former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

But the Masters and US Open champion had no doubts it was the right decision after defeating veteran Tom Gillis on the second extra hole.

“I really didn’t care anyway,” Spieth said. “I came here for a reason, and we accomplished that reason, and certainly have some momentum going into next week. This tournament means a lot to me. This is a tournament I truly love.

“I’ve got plenty in the tank. Leading into the Masters, those couple of weeks right before could have taken a lot out of me with a runner-up finish and then a play-off loss. And we rebounded nicely.”

Spieth is a strong favourite for the Open despite only having played one round at the Old Course before the 2011 Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, with US Open runner-up Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler next in the betting.

Fowler’s win at Gullane has lifted him to a career-high fifth in the world rankings and the 26-year-old is now hoping to emulate Phil Mickelson in 2013 by winning the Scottish Open and Open Championship in consecutive weeks.

Former world number one Tiger Woods, who won the Open at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and spent the weekend practising at the Old Course, fell from 226th in the rankings to 241st.

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GMAC Ready for Masters Strain

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Graeme McDowell admits he has sometimes needed to spend time in a padded room after failing to get to grips with the challenges posed by Augusta National.

But the former US Open champion is optimistic he can improve on his Masters record this week after overcoming an ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Valero Texas Open last month.

"It was the third time in my career I’ve had to withdraw from a tournament and it’s not something I enjoy doing,” McDowell said after a practice round at Augusta. “I was not really sure the extent of how much I had hurt myself and nearly withdrew from the pro-am on Wednesday, and probably should have in hindsight.

“It was a peroneal tendon strain and, with a big season ahead, I didn’t want to force anything. This is the first 18 holes I have walked since, and I feel good, so we are actually in better shape than we expected.”

McDowell has made the cut just twice in seven attempts in the Masters - although he finished 17th in 2009 and 12th in 2012 – and concedes the long course does not suit his game.

But the 35-year-old Northern Irishman added: “Despite the fact that my record round here is not great, I do love this golf course. I could easily play it every day and be very content.

“It’s such a great golf course, you learn something about it every year. I was out there just picking up little nuances that I haven’t perhaps noticed before and putting those in the memory bank and trying to apply your knowledge and experience and hope that some year I can come here and really compete. This could be the year.

“I am excited. I am really focusing hard on my chipping and putting this year. I haven’t putted well enough here and it seems like such an obvious key round here.

“Sometimes I have required a padded cell when I’ve walked off the 18th green because I have got frustrated, but I have learned to understand why the course frustrates you, because it makes you play with the handbrake on. You have to take it off sometimes and play aggressively to conservative targets.

“That’s a sort of sports psychology thing, but it means you take shots on that you fancy and if you don’t like it you have to play safe. Sometimes it can be dangerous to be playing extremely well coming in here because it gets you to take too much on. Sometimes when you are a tiny bit off and have to play a tiny bit safer and smarter, that can be a good recipe around here so it’s getting that right balance.”

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