Clarke Targets BMW PGA

Darren Clarke is eyeing victory at the BMW PGA Championship - 20 years after he first appeared at the tournament.

The reigning Open champion admits he would love to add the title at the European Tour's flagship event to his CV.

Clarke, who first appeared at Wentworth back in 1992, finishing 54th, said: "I think if you ask any player on the European Tour to pick one event outside the Majors that they'd want to win one day it would be the BMW PGA Championship and I am no exception.

"Obviously to do it on the 20th anniversary of my first playing in the tournament would be extra sweet but I'm under no illusions about the task in hand because the field is always one of the strongest of the entire year.

"I can't really believe it is 20 years since I played for the first time - time really does fly by when you are having fun. If I'm being honest though, I can't really remember much about my debut in 1992 but what I do remember was thinking that if I'd qualified to play at Wentworth, I really must have arrived on the European Tour."

Clarke has finished runner-up at Wentworth on two occasions - 1997 and 2000 - and he feels that shows that going one better remains a possibility.

The Northern Irishman added: "I have come close a couple of times and it is a course I feel I can compete on.

"I've always liked the golf course and it has always been demanding, but it is a really tough challenge nowadays after the changes Ernie (Els) made to it.

"In the past, on the odd occasion, you used to see people finish perhaps birdie, eagle, eagle to suddenly burst into contention, but with the changes that is a lot harder to do nowadays. It is a much tougher test than it used to be."

This year's tournament takes place from May 24-27.

Defending champion and world number one Luke Donald will appear, as will Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood.

Donald Returns to Number One

Luke Donald regained top spot in the world rankings from Rory McIlroy after finishing third in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The Englishman needed a top-seven finish to move back to the head of the standings and a final-round 67 saw him finish third, two shots adrift.

American Jason Dufner beat Ernie Els in a play-off for his first PGA Tour title after they finished tied on 19 under.

Masters champion Bubba Watson carded 70 to end tied 18th at 11 under.

The world number one spot has changed hands nine times in the last 18 months, with Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer also holding the position.

With Donald absent this week, McIlroy can regain top spot in the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina.

“All in all, pretty good week. All this different media attention tires you out. It's something you got to get used to”Masters champion Bubba Watson

"It's been going back and forth a little bit. Rory's turn next week. It was a little bit of a motivation to try to play well today," said Donald on Sunday.

Dufner took a two-shot lead into the fourth round but his two-under 70 was not enough to hold off Els's 67.

Both missed birdie putts within eight feet on the par-five 18th on the first play-off hole, but Dufner holed a short birdie putt and Els missed one from the fringe on the 18th for a second time to hand the 35-year-old a first title in 164 starts on the PGA Tour.

Dufner lost play-offs last year to Mark Wilson in the Phoenix Open and Keegan Bradley in the US PGA Championship for two of his three career runner-up finishes.

"To get the monkey off of my back, it's a great feeling," said Dufner, who is getting married next weekend.

Three-time major winner Els last won on the PGA Tour in the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

"It was a nice little charge I made and, you know, nice to catch the leader," said the South African. "I had a chance to win the tournament with a six-footer and missed it, but I made quite a few putts on the back nine to keep myself in it."

Defending champion Watson, playing for the first time since his Masters win over Easter weekend, entered the final round eight shots off the lead and was unable to mount a charge after bogeys on his first two holes.

"All in all, pretty good week being tired, coming back for the first time after winning the Masters, all this different media attention," Watson said.

"It's something you got to get used to. It wears on you, tires you out. Somehow I finished - I'm in the top 20. A lot of guys wished they did that."

Wiesberger Impressive Maiden Winner

A master class from Bernd Wiesberger brought the first European Tour title at the Ballantine’s Championship for the Austrian as he cruised to a five shot victory.

Five clear overnight after consecutive course-record rounds of 65, the 26 year old was coolness personified as he compiled a closing round of 68.

Twice a runner-up on The European Tour last season, there was never any danger of Wiesberger missing out this time as he played his final 59 holes without dropping a shot at Blackstone Golf Club.

Paul McGinley finished nine shots adrift of the winner after a final two under par round of 70, leaving the Dubliner securing a four way share of 7th p[lace with Ross Fisher, Felipe Aguilar and Alexander Noren.

A good weeks' work having also equalled the course record on Saturday.

Australian Marcus Fraser was first to try and challenge Wiesberger, trimming his advantage to four with a 30 foot birdie putt at the third.

But Wiesberger, a runner-up in Scotland and South Africa last season, responded with a pitch to six feet at the long fifth for a first gain of the day after opening with four consecutive pars.

Four further pars saw Wiesberger turn in 35 and still five clear, and he clocked up five further pars as Richie Ramsay came charging from the pack.

The Scot hit his tee shot to five feet at the 16th for his sixth birdie of the day to close the gap to three, but that was as close as anyone got to Wiesberger.

The two-time Challenge Tour winner responded with a glorious pitch at the par five 15th to eight feet, holed a 20 footer at the 16th and drained a 15 foot birdie putt at the last for good measure to finish with an 18 under par total.

“I just tried to enjoy it and I had the three best rounds of my life,” said Wiesberger. “I tried not to make bogeys and I did that pretty well, it was awesome. 

“My game plan was to hit as many greens as possible and try to make putts, and they dropped in the end.

“I didn’t get nervous, I had three or four shots. There was a pretty shaky moment at 12 but I made a great chip and a putt for par, but I just tried to enjoy it the last three or four holes in.

“I fly home tonight, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a shot of Ballantine’s in the Emirates lounge. I'm going to bring back a couple of bottles of Ballantine's so they will be opened, I'm sure."

Ramsay birdied the last to finish second on 13 under after a 65, two ahead of Fraser and France’s first-round leader Victor Dubuisson.

“I'm really, really pleased with the round, it's been fantastic,” said former South African Open Champion Ramsay. “You never want to lose - being a golfer, we always want to be the one that wins - but Bernd has played fantastically well out there. 

“Obviously the fact that he's a really nice guy - I played with him a few times on The Challenge Tour - and he's a top-class guy. If you're going to get beat by somebody, it might as well be Bernd because he's a good guy.

“Ballantine's has done a fantastic event here. The sponsorship has been brilliant, the tournament has been run fantastically well, and it's great to come here and obviously there's a lot of people out here today which makes it good to hit some nice shots.

“All in all it's been a great week and I felt that it had been coming and it's nice to just put a number on the board.” 

Fraser, who won this event on Jeju Island in 2010, played some beautiful golf from tee to green but, as in his third round, struggled to get his putter going as he signed for a 70.

“I think I made just six birdies for the weekend,” said the 33 year old. “It’s frustrating - I had a lot of chances yesterday and a few chances today but didn't take them. 

“I think I played the par fives in one under for the weekend. I’m going to finish seven shots behind, and with the par fives, that's the majority of it right there. To finish third in a European Tour event is never a bad thing, but it’s still frustrating.

“I said to Bernd: ‘get used to that because you're going to do that quite a bit’. He's as impressive a golfer as I've ever seen. 

“If he keeps working on the right things and doing what he's doing, he's obviously got a great support team around him and he can go onto do whatever he wants. 

“A guy that size and hits it that far and still putts unbelievably, you don't see that too often. He's got massive things ahead of him and I wish him all the best. He's an absolute gentleman on the course, it was great fun being out there and watching it.” 

Shane Lowry finished  in a tie for 32nd place on four under par overall, after signing for a 70 on Sunday.

Gareth Maybin was one under par ending the weekend on 2 under.

Damien McGrane struggled again on the last day finishing with a two over par 74 for a +3 finish overall.

Paul M

McGinley 65 Still Not Enough

 

Paul McGinley put together a spectacular run of birdies to move to within a shot of the lead during the third round of the Ballantine’s Championship. The former Ryder Cup hero, who won the last of his four European Tour titles back in 2005, started with five birdies in his first six holes at Blackstone Golf Club.

He added another again at the 12th, and then at the 18th to sign for a third round 65 and 7 under for the tournament.

But it was Bernd Wiesberger who again took complete control after a second consecutive 65  at the Blackstone Golf Club. One clear of 2010 champion Marcus Fraser overnight, Wiesberger matched his own course record to reach 14 under par.

“I think that's what we call a great day at the office,” the Austrian said afterwards. “It was fun out there. It was nice conditions again like yesterday, and really nice set up for the course. I enjoyed myself out there, made a lot of putts and that was the key to another perfect day.” 

A 15 footer for birdie at the fourth and a five foot putt at the sixth kept him ahead on the front nine, and he forged clear with a spectacular inward 31.

The 26 year old barely missed a putt after the turn, holing a 12 footer for birdie at the tenth, converting from ten feet for another gain at the 12th, then preventing a first dropped shot in 36 holes by saving par from 15 feet at the 13th.

That was followed by a brilliant downhill 20 footer for birdie at the 14th, and Wiesberger displayed his all-round talents with a tee shot to two feet at the 16th and a chip to within a foot at the last.“Out there on the greens I really felt like I saw the lines perfectly today and I putted the ball nicely,” added Wiesberger, who won twice on The Challenge Tour in 2010 and was a runner-up twice on The European Tour last year. 

“It feels like I'm getting into position more often, and played well when I was in those positions in the last half of the year last year. It was a good preparation the last two years, and I hope it pays off tomorrow.”

Australian Fraser played some fine golf in his 69, but in contrast to his playing partner struggled to get the putter going and now has five shots to make up in the final round.

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar (68) and England’s Oliver Fisher (67) share third on eight under, with Ryder Cup veterans Miguel Angel Jiménez and Paul McGinley a shot further back.

But they will all need something special to catch Wiesberger and Fraser certainly feels it will be difficult to stop the runaway leader claiming his first European Tour title.

“I felt really comfortable out there, hit a lot of good shots inside 20 feet, and just couldn't get anything going,” said the 33 year old.

“I hit putts where I was wanting to hit them, but they just weren't taking the break. 

“I felt like I was playing chase out there most of the day and trying to keep up. Bernd is playing great - so much game and definitely a star of The European Tour to come. He's obviously a great player now but he's got big things in front of him, that's for sure. 

“It reflects the way he's playing. He played great here and gives himself a chance on every hole and he's a great putter, as well. 

“If I was a betting man, I would put the house on him. He's just played so well and looks very comfortable.”

Shane Lowry signed for a third round 70 and share of 29th place on 2 under par.

Gareth Maybin was one strike further back with an improved 67 on day three.

Damien McGrane was 2 over par overall after Saturday's round of 73.

Clarke Misses out in Incheon

Darren Clarke carded a level par second round on Friday, after an opening round of 77, and just misses the cut by one stroke at the Ballantine's Championship. The tough weather conditions at the Blackstone Golf club on the opening day left him battling at five over par total to earn a weekend stay.

Gareth Maybin on the other hand just made the mark after a second round 75 left him on +4 overall - and one stroke to the good.

Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley are alllevel for the torunament at close of play on Friday. 

But it is Bernd Wiesberger who leads and believes he is mentally ready to win his first European Tour title after taking full advantage of benign morning conditions to lead at the halfway stage.

The 26 year old Austrian carded a brilliant seven under par 65, and having opened with a respectable level par 72 on a blustery first day, leads by one from Australian Marcus Fraser.

Wiesberger was twice a runner-up in his rookie season last year, and having been beaten in a five-man play-off at Gleneagles by Thomas Björn feels he has gained some crucial experience to help him over the weekend.

“Last year I've always kind of hung in there,” he said. “So I feel comfortable up there. It's different for you if you go in the last day as the leader, but we'll see how it goes. 

“We'll see how tomorrow goes, and I'll just take it easy and hope that I have a nice day tomorrow.”

After starting on the back nine and turning in 33, Wiesberger holed a 20 footer for birdie at the second, knocked in a 25 foot uphill putt at the fifth, and struck his approach to five feet at the sixth.

That took him into a share of the lead, and the two-time Challenge Tour winner finished by holing a downhill chip from the rough at the ninth to complete a blemish-free second round.

Fraser, who won this title on Jeju Island in 2010, signed for a 67 that left the 33 year old one ahead of Swede Oskar Floren.

“Today I couldn't really do anything wrong really,” added Wiesberger. “It felt like everything was going in the right direction. 

“I’m just trying to hit a lot of greens and try and hit on the right spots, which is important here. It's a tricky golf course when you hit into the wrong places.” 

Fraser started on the back nine and turned in 32 after four birdies, the last of which came when he chipped to within a foot from a greenside bunker at the par five 18th.

He then added further gains at the first and second, the latter after an approach to five feet, but bogeyed both par threes on the front nine and only a birdie at the fifth kept him in solo second.

“Obviously yesterday was very windy, pretty tricky for everybody,” said the two-time European Tour winner. 

“And then today was completely different. We basically had no wind for most of the day and then it kicked up a little bit over the last maybe five, six holes. But overall, I’m very happy and very pleased with the way it's going at the moment.” 

Asked what it was about the Ballantine’s Championship that brought the best out of him Fraser joked: “It's obviously just the alcohol – I can't really survive without it! 

“It's obviously one of our premiere events now on The European Tour, and Ballantine's have been such a great sponsor and product. It’s just a great week and somewhere I love coming back.”

Floren was level par for his round and the tournament with five holes to play, but followed birdies at the 14th, 16th and 17th with an eagle three at the 18th.

“I hit a terrible, terrible tee shot on 14 but got a break with it and hit a good shot in and knocked in the birdie,” he said. “From there on, I hit only good shots.”

Spanish Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jiménez, England’s Anthony Wall and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar share fourth on four under, with none of the afternoon starters able to break into the top six in much windier conditions.

Philip Ready for Pula Waltz

Philip Walton is best remembered as the man who sealed victory for Bernard Gallacher’s European team at The 1995 Ryder Cup, and the Irishman is hoping to rekindle that competitive spirit when he makes his Senior Tour debut at the Mallorca Open Senior next month.

Walton, a three time winner on The European Tour, turned 50 in March and, after seven years away from competitive golf on the continent, is primed for a return to action in the Senior Tour’s first tournament of the season at Pula Golf Club.

The Dubliner has been working tirelessly on his game and fitness over the last few months and his excitement for his Senior Tour debut is palpable.

“I’ve been a long time out of it really,” said Walton. “I just can’t wait to get going now. I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a second chance for me and that’s the way I’m looking at it, so I want to make the most of it. I played on the Irish PGA and Pro-Am circuit for a few years and did quite well, but I had got used to the traveling lifestyle of The European Tour and I’ve missed it.”

One thing Walton is particularly looking forward to is reuniting with all the friends he made during his 22 year career on The European Tour, with former Ryder Cup team-mates Mark James, Costantino Rocca, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam all Senior Tour regulars.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of the lads again,” he said. “It’s crazy that I haven’t seen any of them in so long, but I’m good friends with Stephen McAllister and Eamonn Darcy and a few more of the lads so it’ll be great to be back in their company week by week.

“I know it’ll be a little bit more relaxed than before, but there are some top class players out there on the Senior Tour with the likes of Peter Fowler, Barry Lane, Andrew Oldcorn – there are so many of them - so I know it won’t be easy.

“But hopefully some of the lads will be scared of me now, being one of the new fellows out there, and they know I was a tough nut back in my day. I suppose they’re all tough nuts really though, so it’s just case of cracking them.”

Mallorca is the first stop for Walton and having played there a number of times during his professional career, he knows what to expect.

Expectations of immediate personal success are being kept in check for the time being, but he feels that if he starts the season well, he could be in with a chance of beating players such as McAllister, Malcolm Mackenzie, Miguel Angel Martin and Philip Golding in what is sure to be a closely fought race for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award.

“I’ve played Pula Golf Club a few times down the years and I know it can get really tough if the wind picks up,” he said. “There are a lot of elevated greens so that’ll make it tough in windy conditions. I haven’t had great results there to be honest, but this time out it will hopefully be a bit more relaxed and I’m looking forward to it.“It is hard to say how I’ll fare. I’ll just see how I go at the start. I think if I play well in the first couple of months, a couple of top 20 or top ten finishes to start, then I’ll have a good season, but it will probably take a few weeks. I just hope I can find that gritty competitive spirit that I had before.”

McGinley in Early Ballantines Mix

Paul McGinley battled the cold and gusting winds that greeted yesterday's early starters at the Ballantines Championship in Korea where self-belief was essential firing through swirling breezes and marked elevations to tiny target areas on Blackstone's rolling greens.


McGinley (45) signed for a one-under-par 71, which left him three off the lead in a tie for seventh with, among others, pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott.


Though tired after a day's toil on undulating hillside terrain, McGinley revealed that he had "absolutely no problem" with the chronic knee injuries that have hampered him so badly in recent years.

"I shortened my schedule a little at the start of this season and I've definitely reaped the benefit. I'm really with my knee," he said. "The biggest challenge now is not physical, it's mental -- trusting it and getting onto my left side (in the swing)."

McGinley is even looking forward with optimism to the summer.

"I've only played four events this year. From Wentworth on, I'll play a full schedule, the tournaments I normally play. Hopefully, I'll be nice and fresh this year," added McGinley, who had three birdies and just two bogeys on a day in which potential disaster lurked around every dog-leg.

Scott had to recover from a double-bogey six at dawn after hitting a stiff-limbed approach into the greenside hazard at 10, and Victor Dubuisson (22) needed to sink 18-foot putts for bogey at one and par at two before going on to post the stunning 68 which gave him the first-round lead.

Gareth Maybin played the front nine brilliantly in three-under, but stumbled on the way home to a level-par 72 which still edged him into the top 20.

Damien McGrane opened with a 73, Shane Lowry shot 74 and Darren Clarke returned from his honeymoon with a ring-rusty 77.

Dyson Defends Irish Open Title

Simon Dyson will bid to become the first player for 15 years to successfully defend the Irish Open when the €2million event takes place at Royal Portrush Golf Club from June 28-July 1.

Successive rounds of 67 over the weekend at last year’s Irish Open earned Dyson his sixth European Tour title, and the Englishman has now set his sights on following in the illustrious footsteps of Colin Montgomerie, who took the coveted title in 1996 and 1997.

Dyson dropped just three shots over the four rounds at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in a display he labelled his “best of the year”, and the 34 year old is now hopeful those cherished memories will act as the catalyst for a successful title defence when the Irish Open returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1947.

He said: “My main memories from last year were coming down the stretch on the final day, starting with my nine iron tee shot into the par three tenth. That got everything rolling really. My four iron into the 11th to 12 feet was probably one of the best shots I hit all season, and the whole back nine was probably the best golf I played all year.

“I hit lots of fairways and greens, gave myself loads of chances and never got into any real trouble. To play that well and not win the tournament would’ve been heart breaking, so the sense of relief when I got over the line was overwhelming.

“The Irish Open is a tournament you want your name associated with, so I felt very lucky to add mine to the list of former champions. The crowds were absolutely fantastic – they were five deep on both sides of the fairway coming down the last hole, which made for a very special atmosphere. I’m lucky enough to have won a few times on The European Tour, but that final round was definitely one of the highlights of my career.”

Having only played Royal Portrush during an amateur career which included a victorious appearance at the 1999 Walker Cup, Dyson’s first-hand knowledge of the stunning 6,843 yards, par 72 layout in County Antrim falls some way short of the host nation’s quartet of Major Champions, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. 

But having received glowing reports from the reigning Open Champion Clarke and the 2010 US Open Champion McDowell, Dyson is relishing the prospect of making his first professional outing at Royal Portrush, where he will attempt to join some of the game’s greats – including Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam – in the exclusive club of players who have retained the Irish Open title.

He said: “I played Portrush in the Home Internationals for England, but I can’t remember too much of the place. However I’ve been chatting with Graeme and Darren, and they both say it’s a fantastic course, so I’m really looking forward to defending my title there. I’ve never managed to defend a title before in my career, so the Irish Open wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”

Clarke looking for Korean Dazzle

Darren Clarke wants to leave the Ballantine’s Championship with silverware in his hands on Sunday night. But, unlike the rest of the field, the Ulsterman was the only player to arrive in Korea with a very special trophy already in his luggage.

Nine months ago the 43 year old completed the greatest victory of his illustrious professional career when he claimed The 140th Open Championship, holding off Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson to triumph at Royal St George’s.

As well as worldwide acclaim and a place in the annals of golfing history for all time, Clarke also received one very special reward for his victory, the famous Claret Jug, recognised across the globe as perhaps the most famous trophy in golf.

Naturally proud of his achievement, Clarke endeavours to take the trophy with him to as many places in the world as he plays and Korea is no exception, the Claret Jug taking pride of place on the table at the Gala Dinner which heralded the start of the Ballantine’s Championship week.

“I must admit that the Gala Dinner went really well last night,” he said. “I had the Claret Jug there last night and there were a lot of pictures taken with it. It's certainly a privilege for me to bring it with me most places where I go.”

Clarke enjoyed another memorable celebration earlier this month when he married his fiancée Alison Campbell, the former Miss Northern Ireland, at a beach ceremony in the Bahamas, attended by Clarke’s sons Tyrone and Conor, close friends and family and Clarke’s manager Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler.

The couple met in 2009 after having been introduced by fellow European Tour professional Graeme McDowell and Alison was by Clarke’s side in Kent last summer when he triumphed in The Open Championship.

“It has been a special couple of weeks, that’s for certain, and it was good to have the opportunity to have a little break and get married again. I feel very lucky, but it is back to work again now and I’ll be trying to get back into my golf again.”

Clarke has enjoyed 14 victories on The European Tour International Schedule in addition to numerous successes around the globe including winning the Taiheiyo Masters in Japan in successive seasons in 2004-05 and the BMW Asian Open in China in 2008.

But he admitted he is looking forward to trying to add to his title haul with a first success in Korea on his debut over the demanding Blackstone Golf Club layout.

“It is my first time here, I have not played the course before, but obviously heard a lot of good things from the tournament and about the golf course from other players,” he said.

“It's another good field again and because of that there are a lot of World Ranking points on offer. As a result, I'm sure it will be another great week.”

Mt Juliet Hosts Irish Championship

One of Ireland's best known golf resorts Mount Juliet is set to play host to this year's Irish Championship.

Mount Juliet will stage the climax to the season from October 11-14 when it brings down the curtain on the year.

A 102-strong field will contest the prestigious Championship which has more than 100 years of history and has been won by some of Ireland's greatest golfers including Fred Daly, Harry Bradshaw, Christy O'Connor Senior, Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Philip Walton.

Organisers are expecting another strong entry for the Tournament which was won by Simon Thornton who is playing on the European Tour this season.

Irish regional secretary Michael McCumiskey said:'' Mount Juliet is regarded as one of the best golf resorts in the world and we are delighted they are hosting the Irish PGA Championship in 2012.''

Mount Juliet boasts a rich tournament history and was the venue for the Irish Open from 1993 to 1995 and also staged two World Golf Championships where Tiger Woods and Ernie Els triumphed.

McCumiskey added: '' Mount Juliet always has the golf course in pristine condition and is evidenced by the many golfers who visit there every year. We look forward to staging another successful Championship.''

Because of the numbers who wish to play in the event it is necessary to stage qualifying rounds, and they will be staged at Mount Juliet on September 4th and 25th.

www.mountjuliet.ie

Dawson Hails McIlroy Future

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson believes world No.1 Rory McIlroy can go on to become the golfer of his generation in much the same way as Tiger Woods did.

The 22-year-old already has one major title to his name after winning last year's US Open, having previously had a successful amateur career.

And with Woods struggling to regain his dominance of a couple of years ago, McIlroy heads the queue of young golfers hoping to take over his mantle.

The Northern Irishman's rise to the top of the rankings is just another indicator of his talent and Dawson has watched his progress with admiration.

"It's very gratifying to see someone we've seen from his amateur days and played in a lot of events come through like this," he said.

"It's a wonderful time for British golf and European golf, having so many players from these islands and the continent of Europe doing so well.

"It is quite indicative to me as to who the star players are; the star players are always the ones where the TV companies are very interested in what tee times they're going to get at the Open.

"Rory and Tiger are the two that they are most interested in. So you're really seeing the old guard in Tiger, he's only mid-30s, isn't he, and the young Rory.

"Every generation has its stars, and Rory is going to be this one, I'm sure."

Jim McArthur, chairman of the R&A's Championship Committee, echoed Dawson's endorsement of McIlroy.

"Rory certainly relates to the younger person, the younger golfer. I think he has certainly been a good role model for them," he said.

"Obviously reaching No.1 he gets even more prominence as far as the golfing public is concerned and I think that can only be good for the game going forward."

The focus on Irish golf has grown in recent years, starting with Padraig Harrington's victories in two Opens and the US PGA, and being followed up by Graeme McDowell's success at the US Open, then McIlroy's breakthrough major and finally, last year, Darren Clarke's long-awaited Open triumph at Royal St George's.

There has been a growing call for the Open to return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, which hosted the championship for the only time in 1951.

Dawson, announcing the course changes for this summer's event at Royal Lytham and St Annes and also the lifting of the mobile phone ban for spectators, admitted they had looked at taking the championship back across the Irish Sea.

"I and some of the people in the Championship department have been over having a look at Royal Portrush, a magnificent golf course," he added.

"It is very interesting they have the Irish Open there this year and have had some very strong ticket sales, so I hear, and we will have a look to see how that goes.

"We're a long way from any announcement that the Open is going back to Portrush but we have had a look at it.

"It's an interesting venue from all sorts of points of view but there are certain aspects of the golf course which would be very difficult for big crowds."

Clarke Returns to Ballantine's

The Open Champion, Darren Clarke, returns to action this week keen to regain his winning touch and does so after a disappointing Masters - where injury almost forced him to drop out. The event in Korea follows his honeymoon after his wedding to Alison in Barbados in days after the Augusta trip.

Clarke heads the Irish field at The Ballantine’s Championship this week, where he is joined by Shane Lowry, Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin who played in China last weekend.

Paul McGinley also returns to action following a missed cut at The Sicilian Open a fortnight ago.

The event toasts its fifth anniversary this week with a strong list of international stars at Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul all hoping to kick start their seasons - Adam Scott, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter. 

The home challengers are led by Korean trio KT Kim, Bae Sang-moon and YE Yang, the first Asian player to win a Major Championship.

Jiménez will be looking to go one better than last year when he finished one stroke behind winner Lee Westwood, with the Spaniard player searching for his 19th European Tour title.

He will face some stern competition from Clarke and Poulter, two players who have consistently exhibited the ‘true character’ trait which is emblematic of the Ballantine’s brand.

Poulter returns to Blackstone Golf Club following a hugely encouraging final round performance in last week’s Volvo China Open, when he improved on a frustrating first three days with an impressive closing six under par 66.

That, according to the 36 year old Englishman, was the perfect preparation for this week’s €2,205,000 event, the second staging of the tournament at the exclusive Blackstone resort.

“I am looking forward to getting out there after the final round in China,” said Poulter, who recorded a career-best seventh place finish at the Masters Tournament at the start of the month.

“The first three days in China were frustrating because I was hitting the ball well, but then to go out on Sunday and make a load of birdies and leave a few out there as well tells me I could have gone very low.

“That’s good for the confidence heading to the Ballantine’s Championship, and I feel that I can go there and put on a show. I was disappointed to miss the cut last year because it is a golf course that should suit me and is one that really fits my eye.

“There are a lot of elevation changes, and there are a number of tee shots that you need to be really aggressive on, and I like that. I am driving the ball very well at the moment, and when I do that on any golf course I am going to give myself chances.

“We have some great players in the field this week and if I can keep that standard of play that I had last Sunday then I am pretty hopeful that I can come out on top.”

Kim, Bae and Yang, who are all inside the top 60 on the Official World Golf Ranking, carry the Korean hopes, with World Number 32 Sang-moon having shown some fine form so far this year, including losing to Luke Donald in a play-off in the Transitions Championship on the US PGA Tour.

Australian Scott, winner of last year’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, is the highest ranked player in the 156-man field, and he will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Marcus Fraser, who won the Ballantine’s Championship in 2010, and who will be buoyed by a strong performance in China last week, where he finished in a tie for sixth place behind the South African Branden Grace.

“I can’t wait to get back to Korea,” he said. “The Blackstone Golf Club is a very impressive place, and I played well last year and defended my title well.

“The club really suits the Ballantine’s brand – it is very classy and just the perfect place for tournament like the Ballantine’s Championship. They are as good a sponsor as we have in Tour. I went to the gala dinner last year as defending champion and it was one of the most impressive events I have ever been to.

“The golf course is great and suits me off the tee – hopefully I can make enough putts and give myself a chance.

“I played really well in China all week and the game feels like it is really coming together. I think over the past six or seven months I have been playing some of the best golf of my career so I am hoping to continue on that path.

“Winning the Ballantine’s Championship really kicked my career off again. I went there having not one in six years or so it was a massive confidence boost. It goes without saying I’d love to win it again.”

McIlroy Remains World No.1

The past week's golfing action has not brought any significant changes to the top of the world rankings.

Despite his successful defence of the Indonesian Masters title, Lee Westwood was not able to improve on his third place, with Rory McIlroy remaining on top and Luke Donald still holding strong in second.

Bubba Watson remains fourth after his Masters triumph, with Hunter Mahan following in fifth.

South African Branden Grace, meanwhile, is now up to 66th in the world following his third victory of the season at the Volvo China Open. The European Tour qualifying school graduate began the season in 271st.

Former Open champion Ben Curtis won the Valero Texas Open and moves from 285th to 156th.

Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings

1 Rory McIlroy 9.46pts

2 Luke Donald 9.31

3 Lee Westwood 8.40

4 Bubba Watson 6.40

5 Hunter Mahan 5.76

6 Martin Kaymer 5.46

7 Steve Stricker 5.44

8 Tiger Woods 5.42

9 Phil Mickelson 5.25

10 Justin Rose 5.13

11 Louis Oosthuizen 5.06

12 Adam Scott 5.04

13 Charl Schwartzel 5.03

14 Webb Simpson 4.88

15 Matt Kuchar 4.82

16 Jason Day 4.81

17 Dustin Johnson 4.75

18 Graeme McDowell 4.70

19 Bill Haas 4.41

20 Keegan Bradley 4.25

Grace Storms to China Win

A final round 68 secured Damien McGrane a share of twenty third place at the Volvo China Open to secure  a vital cheque for just under twenty-five thousand euro - and finish the best of the Irish players on Sunday.

Shane Lowry slipped down the field after a two over final round to end the weekend on 6 under overall and two strokes better than Michael Hoey who signed for a71.

Peter Lawrie also finished with a one under par 71 but was further back in 63rd place.

Gareth Maybin ended on 2 under for the tournament after turning in a two over par card on Sunday -  a total 19 strokes off the winner Branden Grace - who became only the second player in European Tour history to win three times in the season after graduating through Qualifying School.

Three clear of last year’s winner Nicolas Colsaerts overnight, the South African’s lead on the final day was never fewer than two shots and a closing 69 saw him finish 21 under at Binhai Lake.

“I stayed really calm today,” said Grace. “I kept hitting the ball well. I missed a couple of shots the first couple of holes but regrouped well and made the birdies where it counts on the par fives, and just stayed with it from there. 

“I thought my first win was around the corner [this season]. To have three before May is literally unbelievable, but I’ve been playing well so I’ve been feeling like I can win and I’ve been giving myself opportunities.”

“It’s just amazing and shows you the standard of golf that I am playing right now. To have three win on The European Tour at this stage of my career is awesome. 

“It could have been different this week – Nicolas was superb the last two days and came up short with a few putts that could have made a difference. It helped that I was playing with him but it was still hard.

“If I think back now to last year and playing on the Challenge Tour and just trying to get back to the main Tour and really just trying to make a living it was tough at points. So to be here with three wins is amazing. 

“Everything is going great. I wouldn’t have thought I would have been top 70 in the world and it is nice to know that I don’t have to worry about a lot of stuff and I will just be able to play the game with a smile on my face and try to push on from here. I want to get better, I want to win more titles and I want to play the Majors and make a name for myself around the world.”

As well as matching Johan Edfors’ 2006 accomplishment of winning three times after coming through Qualifying School in the winter, the 23 year old joins some illustrious company in The European Tour record books.

Only two players have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age – Seve Ballesteros did it three times between 1977 and 1980, and Sandy Lyle did it in 1979.

Grace also becomes only the third South African to win three times in a single season, and again he is in the company of Major winners – Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are the others to do so.

The Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions winner’s achievements are all the more remarkable given there have been only 15 events so far on the 2012 Race to Dubai, and few would bet against him adding to his trophy haul before the season’s end.

Having pulled three clear of Belgian Colsaerts with a sublime third round 64, Grace’s first shot on returning to the course was not a good one - but he holed a 15 foot par putt at the first to atone for his wayward drive.

Colsaerts applied some pressure when he splashed out of the bunker at the second to three feet to set up a birdie putt, but Grace followed him in from two feet.

Both players in the final group parred the third, but another poor drive from Grace at the fourth saw him drop a shot.

He responded with birdies at the long sixth and struck his approach to five feet for another gain at the seventh.

Colsaerts matched the latter, and closed the gap to two by the turn with another birdie at the ninth.

The 29 year old Colsaerts dropped a shot at the tenth, and Grace looked odds on to win when he birdied the 12th from five feet.

Despite some hefty strikes off the tee, Colsaerts could not find another birdie until the last – although it was still an important blow as it gave him solo second from England’s Richard Finch. 

“I thought I could have got little meaner on Branden today because I had a few chances and I could have closed the gap a little more but in the end I left him a bit too much breathing space,” said Colsaerts.

“Apart from that I played pretty good. I didn’t putt as well at the weekend but I think I played pretty good all day but he never really made a mistake.” 

Grace, meanwhile, was completely unflappable as he parred his way in for a three shot victory.

“I’m definitely here to win every week I play now,” he added.