McIlroy Delights at Fota News

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Rory McIlroy has expressed his delight at the official confirmation today that the 2014 Irish Open will return to Cork for the first time in 12 years.

The magnificent Fota Island Resort, which was recently purchased by Chinese investors The Kang Group Worldwide, will become an Official Sponsor as well as host venue of the Championship.

“I think it is great news that the Irish Open will be played at Fota Island,” said McIlroy who ended his 2013 season with victory in the Emirates Australian Open last month.

“The country’s National Open should be moved around to give everyone an opportunity to see the event, and it also gives us the chance to show the world just how many amazing courses there are in Ireland.

“Fota Island will be an exciting venue for the Irish Open, and exactly the kind of place to showcase what Ireland has to offer as a golf destination.”

The Irish Open was last played in Cork – the country’s most southerly county – in 2002 when Denmark’s Søren Hansen took the title at Fota Island. The Resort also hosted the Championship in 2001, when Colin Montgomerie won the last of his three Irish Opens.

The presence of The European Tour’s new generation of stars, led by Rory McIlroy, will deliver a significant boost to the region, and the World Number Six and double Major Champion is looking forward to the challenge of Fota Island’s Deerpark Course from June 19-22.

McIlroy’s views were heartily endorsed by other leading European Tour players, including Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who said: “I’m delighted that Fota Island is going to host the 2014 Irish Open. The players will love the golf course and everyone involved with the tournament will also enjoy the craic on offer in nearby Cork, Ireland’s second largest city.”

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Hope Still for Duo in Perth

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David Higgins signed for a level par second round 72 at the ISPS HANDA Perth International on Friday and is currently in 48th place, with the afternoon starts still to complete their work. 

At one over par overall Higgins lies seven strokes off the leader and two strokes inside the projected cut. His automatic return to the Europeans Tour next year however requires the Waterville man finishes at least 35th on Sunday to be safe.

Peter Lawrie is currently in a share of 24th, after a two under par round 70, and four places off where he needs to finish on Sunday to retain the playing rights he has held for ten years. 

Ross Fisher grabbed the early clubhouse lead continued in Western Australia.

The former Ryder Cup star, currently 65th in The Race to Dubai and looking to break into the top 60 who will earn a place in next month’s DP World Tour Championship, shot a second round 67 to advance to five under par.

The four-time European Tour winner chipped in from the bunker at the sixth for one of six birdies at Lake Karrinyup, with his only dropped shot of the day coming at the 18th – his ninth – to lead Søren Hansen, Josh Younger and Clint Rice by one in the clubhouse.

“I want to try and get in the top 60,” Fisher said of his Race to Dubai aspirations.

“It would be for me a great achievement having played the first half of the year in the States. My first tournament in Europe counting wise wasn't till May. 

“So I've always been playing catch up, but I can be really proud of how I've played the second half of the year. 

“A good week here, hopefully that gets me into next week in China. Not out of the question if I won this week, hopefully that would put me into the HSBC - that would be huge. There are some big tournaments left: obviously this week first and hopefully I can do enough here to get myself into next week, possibility the HSBC, Turkey and Dubai. 

“The ultimate goal would be to get myself into Dubai, but I need to play very well this week to allow myself to try and get into next week.”

Out on the course US Ryder Cup star Dustin Johnson and Sweden’s overnight co-leader Peter Hedblom were five under for the week after three and two holes respectively to join Fisher in the lead.

Dane Hansen was a member of Sir Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup side in 2008, but has slipped to 137th in The Race to Dubai.

While most outside the top 110 are in the last-chance saloon to move up the rankings and keep their cards for next season, Hansen is in the top 40 career earnings and thus exempt for next year,

“Obviously that relaxes me a little bit and I feel for the guys who are playing for their privilege to play on The European Tour,” said Hansen after a second round 69.

“I played with Oliver Fisher and he's played really, really got last two days, shot level par, but should probably have been a lot better really. I feel for him and hope he can have a good week.”

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