Lowry Heads for County Down

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Shane Lowry “can’t wait” to play at Royal County Down in the Irish Open next week after a very pleasing tied-for-sixth-place finish at BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Three bogey-free rounds saw the Offaly man finish level with Tommy Fleetwood on 11-under par, both ending up 10 shots off runaway winner Byeong Hun An.

The 2009 Irish Open winner says he wants to be in contention next weekend as well.

“I’m really excited about next week now,” he told RTÉ Sport.

“It’s the Irish Open and it’s massive for me. I just can’t wait to get up there. I’m really excited about getting up there and hopefully contending next weekend as well.”

Lowry, 28, finished second at the BMW PGA last year and admitted he has a fondness for the course.

"It’s nice to be back up at the top of the leaderboard and giving myself half a chance"

“It was very pleasing for me to go out and do that on such a tough golf course," he said.

"Obviously, I quite like the place and if I could play 25 tournaments a year on this golf course I would.

"It’s nice to be back up at the top of the leaderboard and giving myself half a chance.

“The leader ran away with it today but going out there this morning I was thinking if I could shoot seven under that I had a chance of winning.

“I played the golf to do that, I just didn’t hole the putts early on...but that’s the way it is, three birdies, no bogeys again, so it was nice.

“It’s always nice [to have a bogey-free round]. The way I play golf I normally make a lot of birdies and throw in a couple of bogeys during the round but it was nice.

“I was in control, my short game was on fire this week, as good as it’s been in a long time, got up and down when I was in trouble. I put myself in a few tricky spots and managed to save pars.”

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Harrington Withdraws from Wentworth

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Padraig Harrington has pulled out of this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth because of a shoulder injury.

Three-time major winner Harrington withdrew from the European Tour's flagship tournament after playing just two holes of his first round. The Dubliner also withdrew from Wednesday's pro-am competition.

The 43-year-old, who has returned to the top 100 in the world rankings this year, could now be doubtful for next week's Irish Open at Royal County Down.

The world number 83 had indicated before his round on Thursday that his withdrawal was "definitely a possibility", despite receiving physiotherapy treatment.

"It is like frozen shoulder. I am struggling to lift my arm," explained the Irishman, who won the PGA Tour's Honda Classic in early March

The Florida triumph was his first win on either the PGA Tour or European Tour since his 2008 USPGA victory at Oakland Hill.

His withdrawal from the Wentworth event marks the first time he has pulled out of a tournament because of injury in his 20-year career.

The Irishman said that he felt the problem while in the gym in Tuesday but had opted to continue his fitness session.

"I probably should have stopped doing the exercises," he added.

"I didn't feel so bad and I hit shots afterwards but it has really stiffened up overnight."

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Remarkable Rory Pockets PGA

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Rory McIlroy came from seven shots behind to claim a remarkable victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.

McIlroy carded a closing 66 to win The European Tour's flagship event for the first time following a rollercoaster final day.

The Northern Irishman only took the outright lead for the first time with a birdie on the 71st hole and made another on the last to finish 14 under par, one ahead of Ireland's Shane Lowry with two-time winner Luke Donald and overnight leader Thomas Björn a shot behind in third.

Lowry had briefly been three clear when he started the back nine with a hat-trick of birdies, but drove into trouble on the 13th and ran up a double-bogey six.

Björn began the day five shots clear of playing partner Donald but both players ran up triple bogeys on the sixth to throw the tournament wide open, the Dane taking two attempts to get out of a fairway bunker and then finding more sand with his fourth shot.

Donald responded with five birdies in his next ten holes - chipping in on the 13th and 16th - but crucially failed to birdie the 17th which meant he needed an eagle on the last to tie.

Björn also needed a three on the 18th after birdies on the 16th and 17th, but after Donald had found the water with his approach, the 43 year old's third shot came up well short of the flag to confirm McIlroy's triumph.

McIlroy said: "It's been 18 months since I won on The European Tour and to win the flagship event, I could not have asked for any more.

"I knew coming in here I was playing well. I struggled a little on Friday but played great over the weekend. I was a little fortunate that some of the guys ahead of me made mistakes and I took advantage of it.

"My caddie JP (Fitzgerald) set me the target of 15 under today. I didn't quite get there but 14 under was enough. I really wanted to win before going into the second Major of the season (the US Open from June 12-15) and I could not have asked for a better way to prepare."

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European Tour Statement

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Everyone within The European Tour family continues to mourn the untimely passing of caddie Iain ‘Mac’ McGregor, who died during the final round of last week’s Madeira Islands Open.

Tributes paid during this week’s Open de España included a minute’s silence during the first round and a banner beside the clubhouse celebrating his life, while all players and caddies during the first round of next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, have been encouraged to wear ‘Black for Mac’ as a mark of respect.

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady travelled to PGA Catalunya Resort this week to meet personally with the committee of the European Tour Caddies Association, a meeting also attended by Players’ Tournament Committee Chairman Thomas Björn.

O’Grady said: “We had a full and frank meeting with Chairman Gerry Byrne and his committee, a meeting which was understandably emotional at times and one during which I apologised to them for the hurt and upset caused by events in Madeira.

“I completely understand the views of people who say that we should not have carried on, but it was a terrible situation for anyone to be in and the decision to finish the tournament was not taken lightly, either by myself or by the tournament officials on the ground in Madeira.

“However, that decision is in the past and the important thing now is that we continue to work with Mac’s family and friends – as we have done from last Sunday – to assist with arrangements surrounding the funeral, which will take place in Madeira next Thursday, the same day as we wear ‘Black for Mac’ at Wentworth.

“I have also personally instructed a review of how we deal, operationally, at tournaments with situations such as this so that we can ensure the lessons of Madeira are learned.”

O’Grady also paid tribute to the dignity shown by Scotsman Alastair Forsyth, whose bag Mac was carrying when the tragedy struck.

“Throughout this whole process Alastair has behaved like a true gentleman in incredibly challenging circumstances,” said the European Tour Chief Executive. “He accepted our decision to play on in Madeira with grace and dignity, and he should command enormous respect for the way he has conducted himself throughout this difficult week.”

Gerry Byrne, Chairman of the European Tour Caddies Association, said: “We as a committee have faced an extremely tough week. Dealing with the passing of our colleague and friend during a tournament is particularly upsetting.

“While we understand that decisions have to be made at very short notice, it will come as no surprise to anyone that all European Tour caddies felt the wrong one was made in Madeira.

“We went into the meeting unhappy and it was emotional at times, but George’s humility and honesty in dealing with tough questions was greatly appreciated and it reassured us of the caddies’ important position within the Tour.

“We can now look forward to celebrating Iain's life next Thursday and strengthening our links with The European Tour moving forwards.”

#RIP

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