Turner Looking to Hero

Photo: AsianTour

Niall Turner is the sole Irish entry at Hero Indian Open on the Asian Tour in two weeks where he will join PGA Tour winner Michael Thompson and Robert Rock for the Golden Jubilee of this event. 

The Muskerry golfer returns to action after finishing 32nd at the OneAsia Venetian Macau won by Australian Scott Hend, with Ernie Els third.  

It has been a mixed season for Turner who was unsuccessful at the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 in France earlier this month, where he finished 30th and outside qualification spots for Stage 2. At the Northern Ireland Challenge presented by Clannah and XJet at Galgorm Castle Niall missed the cut after opening rounds of 75 and 78.  However in Macau rounds of 73-68-72-71 showed that form is returning.

Niall made his Asian Tour debut in 2011 and claimed three top-20's in his first nine months on Tour.  In 2012 he contended for the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic before finishing third and also finished top-20 in three other events during the season.

Next on his roster is the US$1.25 million Indian tournament will return to its birth place in 1964 at the venerable Delhi Golf Club from November 7 to 10, 2013.

Befitting the 50th edition of the Hero Indian Open, the local stars including Arjun Atwal, the first Indian to win on the US PGA Tour and Jyoti Randhawa, one of two players to win the Indian Open three times will vie for honours at India’s most prestigious golfing events.

Four other Indian winners, C Muniyappa (2009), Vijay Kumar (2002), Feroz Ali (1998) and Ali Sher (1991 and 1993) will add to the charm of the historic staging.

Mr. Pawan Munjal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., said, “Hero has been associated with golf since the time the game was at a nascent stage in the country. It is, therefore, a matter of immense delight to see this event celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year.

Hero has been a partner in this glorious journey of golf and like always, we remain committed to the promotion of the game in India. I am looking forward to some memorable golf at this landmark edition of Hero Indian Open.”

Only seven Indians have won the National Open, of which the first PG Billoo Sethi (winner in 1965) passed away in 1982. The remaining six will be seen in action at the DGC this year.

While the past champions savour and relive their finest moments, the youth brigade led by four-time Asian Tour winner, Gaganjeet Bhullar, three-time Asian Tour winner, Anirban Lahiri and other winners like S.S.P. Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur, Himmat Rai and Digvijay Singh will also fancy their chances at the legendary and challenging layout at the Delhi Golf Club.

“The Asian Tour is proud to be associated with the 50th edition of the Hero Indian Open. The Asian Tour is also celebrating its 10th season in 2013 and on behalf of our talented players, I would like to congratulate the Hero Indian Open on its milestone,” said Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr.

“The Hero Indian Open has been one of the longest running tournaments on our Schedule and the event has attracted many top golfers in India as well as from across the world. I’m confident the 2013 Hero Indian Open will be celebrated by the presence of the Asian Tour’s stellar stars including defending champion Thaworn.”

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Irish Dozen in School Chase

Photo: Gordon McCadden 

In Early November European Tour Qualifying School Stage will start on four courses in the south of Spain with twelve Irish candidates battling through the halfway stage to earn a chance to play in the final stage a few days later. Where the first twenty five places offer a one season playing category for the 2014 Season.

Gareth Shaw returns once more in pursuit of that elusive playing card after winning the AlpsTour order of merit last year to regain his Challenge Tour for 2013. The Team Ireland golfer will be the only Irish entry at Valle Romano Golf & Resort near Estepona on November 2nd. 

Colm Moriarty is another veteran of Q School and this season will complete his twelfth visit when he tees off at El Saler in Valencia. The Glasson professional is part of a group that includes Walker Cup player Kevin Phelan, Alan Dunbar and Ballybunion's John Daniel Guiney

Las Colinas in Alicante will welcome one time League of  Ireland professional Stephen Grant, Brendan McCarroll and David Rawluk, all now experienced with the qualifying routine. The winner of Stage 1 at Wychwood Park last month Ruairdhri McGee also joins them.

Niall Kearney returns looking to improve on his 67th place in Catalunya two seasons ago at Stage 3 and to better his disappointment at the Asian Tour Q School in January. 

Damian Mooney, a close contender for the Irish PGA Championship this year, hoping to improve on his 123rd finish in 2010. All on the basis that Stage 2 does not become the impassible hurdle it proved for so many Irish players last year.

Dermot McElroy is drawn at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona with the Ballymena talemt yet to fulfil his promise. 

The European Tour Qualifying School Schedule will once again reach its exciting conclusion at PGA Catalunya Resort, where the Final Stage will be played for the sixth consecutive season from November 10th -15th.

Last season, John Parry won by four strokes with a 19 under par total en route to regaining his European Tour card, having lost his playing privileges a little over a year after picking up a maiden title at the 2010 Vivendi Cup.

The Englishman was one of 28 golfers who qualified from the six round event, which every year tests the field’s skills, as well as their stamina, under the most intense pressure following a long, hard season.

Based ten miles south of Girona in the north east of Spain, the 36-hole resort boasts two championship layouts alongside state of the art practice facilities, and is part of the European Tour Properties Network.

Over the first four rounds, both the Stadium and Tour courses will play host to a field comprising of golfers at either end of the spectrum, with young up and comers and experienced pros alike teeing it up having made it through the previous two qualifying stages, or having narrowly missed out on a European Tour card through the Race to Dubai or Challenge Tour Rankings.

The course was co-designed by European Tour Champions and members of the Board of Directors, Neil Coles MBE - who announced earlier this year that he was stepping down as Chairman after 38 years in the position - and Vice Chairman Angel Gallardo, Vice Chairman.

As a further measure of the resort’s quality, the Stadium layout has also been included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses in the World’, as well as Golf Monthly magazine’s ‘Top 50 Courses in Continental Europe’ in recent years.

Mike Stewart, Qualifying School Director, is particularly excited to be returning to PGA Catalunya Resort once again in 2013.

“PGA Catalunya is an excellent facility that year-on-year has welcomed the Qualifying School back with open arms, and this season promises to be yet another thrilling conclusion to the process as some of the newest and the most experienced players battle it out for their European Tour cards.

“Knowing that the players will be greeted by some of the best practice facilities around, as well as two stunning championship layouts, will no doubt help them get through what is bound to be a long and stressful week.”

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Record DJ Leaves MAC's Back

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Rory McIlroy carded a level par second round at the WGC HSBC Champions on Friday to remain in a three way share of second place, but dropping five strokes off the lead in Shanghai.

The World Number six reached ten under par with a hat-trick of birdies McIlroy did not create a single birdie opportunity on the back nine and paid a heavy price on the last.

Having seen his tee shot finish leak right and finish a yard from the water, the undeterred 24 year old went for the green in two at the par five but only succeeded in finding the lake. After taking a drop, McIlroy fired a spectacular fourth to ten feet, but missed the putt for a third bogey of the day and level par 72.

Dustin Johnson up ahead equalled the Sheshan International course record with a nine under par 63 to take control of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

The Ryder Cup star birdied sixth of his first seven holes in a blistering start and, having dropped his only shot of the day at the tenth, picked up four shots in his last six holes.

That took the big-hitting Johnson to 12 under par, and five shots clear of compatriot Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley and Northern Ireland’s first round leader Rory McIlroy.

Graeme McDowell finished three under par and dropped only two shots along the way to trail McIlroy by one.

 

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Irish Open Winner Faces Hearing

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Simon Dyson has been summoned to appear before a European Tour disciplinary panel. The hearing has been called after the Yorkshireman was disqualified from last week's BMW Masters for signing for an incorrect score.

Dyson was in joint-second place at Lake Malaren in Shanghai when he was thrown out of the tournament after an incident during his second round which he had "no recollection of" according to officials.

The 35-year-old failed to add a two-shot penalty to his card on the eighth hole when he touched the line of his putt after marking his ball, an incident which was noticed by a television viewer.

Having reviewed the incident, European Tour officials concluded that further action was required under the Tour's code of behaviour and disciplinary procedure, which states: "3. Serious Breach. If, at the conclusion of an investigation into an alleged breach of the code by a member, it is evident that a serious breach of the code may have occurred, then a disciplinary hearing shall take place before an independent disciplinary panel."

Under European Tour regulations, the three-person panel will comprise an independent lawyer, an ex-member of the European Tour or current player on the European Senior Tour and an experienced sports administrator.

If Dyson is found guilty of a serious breach of the code, the Tour's statement added that it can impose sanctions which range from "a reprimand, a censure, a fine, a suspension of membership, a suspension from participation in one or more tournaments or for a given period, or expulsion from the European Tour, or otherwise as the panel shall determine."

Dyson insists the violation was unintentional and has welcomed the hearing.

He said: "I have been informed of the procedure being put in place by The Tour following my actions during the second round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai last week and am perfectly happy to co-operate with the investigation by the independent disciplinary panel.

"I would like to say at this stage that I have never deliberately broken the rules either on this occasion or in the past.

"It was only after I was shown the replay of my action ... that I realised what I had done and that I was in breach. I immediately accepted that I should be disqualified.

"It was simply an accidental mistake which I have no reservations in apologising for, and particularly to my fellow professionals and The Tour for any inconvenience and embarrassment unintentionally caused."

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McIlroy Fires into HSBC Lead

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Rory McIlroy established a two shot lead on the opening day of the WGC-HSBC Champions as the former World Number One set about justifying his pre-tournament predictions.

McIlroy won five times in 2012, including a second Major title by eight shots, to finish top of the money lists on both side of the Atlantic but has yet to taste victory this season.

Down from first in the Official World Golf Ranking to sixth as a result, McIlroy is 62nd on The Race to Dubai and needs to move into the top 60 this week to have a chance of qualifying for the DP World Tour Championship in November.

McIlroy is less than €4,000 behind Garth Mulroy in 60th place, but will need to win much more than that to feel safe.

The first prize of €1,012,145 would of course take care of everything and McIlroy took confidence from his one shot victory over Tiger Woods in their 18-hole exhibition match at Mission Hills on Monday, insisting he was more likely to win in Shanghai than miss out on a trip to Dubai.

And that did not appear to be an idle boast as the 24 year old opened with a seven under par 65 to lead Wales’ Jamie Donaldson and last week’s BMW Masters champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño by two.

Starting from the tenth with a birdie, McIlroy gave the shot straight back at the next but also picked up shots at the 12th, 14th and 16th.

A long birdie putt was left inches short on the par three 17th but McIlroy made no such mistake from four feet on the par five 18th to reach the turn in 32, before another birdie on the first took the former World Number One into a share of the lead on five under.

McIlroy moved into the outright lead with a birdie on the par five second and although he missed from six feet to double his advantage on the third, he holed from similar distance on the next to avoid a three-putt bogey.

Open Champion Phil Mickelson emerged to join McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard with his sixth birdie of the day on the short par four seventh, the left-hander driving close to the green and producing a trademark pitch to three feet.

But in the group ahead, McIlroy holed from seven feet for a birdie on the par five eighth to regain top spot on seven under par, and Mickelson dropped four shots on the eighth moments later to undo much of his good work.

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