Harrington Books Portugal Masters

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Padraig Harrington is the latest Major Champion to join the field for the Portugal Masters from October 11-14, and the Irishman is hoping that Oceânico Victoria Golf Club in Vilamoura can inspire him to a 15th European Tour title.

The three-time Major winner joins fellow former Open Champions Darren Clarke and Paul Lawrie and former US PGA Champions Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel and Martin Kaymer at the sixth edition of the €2.25 million tournament.

Harrington will be looking for another strong performance at Oceânico Victoria Golf Club after finishing tied 16th in last year’s event and third behind Lee Westwood in 2009, when the six-time Ryder Cup star carded a superb second round of 62.

Having shot under par in each of his eight competitive rounds at Oceânico Victoria Golf Club, Harrington is relishing the chance to return to the venue next month.

“Portugal is always a great place to play golf and I’m really looking forward to going back to Vilamoura,” said Harrington.

“We always have a very strong field for the Portugal Masters, and it is a course where you can shoot a low score. The winning total tends to be around 20 under which puts you under pressure to make birdies, and there is also plenty of water around to punish you.

“I was in contention in 2009 when Lee won, and hopefully I will be again this year.”

Harrington is currently in 31st place in The Race to Dubai and victory in the Portugal Masters would move him into contention to challenge for a place in the end of season top ten, and a share of the US$3.75million Bonus Pool.

The 41 year old Dubliner has recorded four top ten finishes on The European Tour in 2012, including tied eighth place in the Masters Tournament and a share of fourth position in the US Open Championship.

His best performance on European soil so far this season has been a share of seventh place in front of his home support in the Irish Open, but he is looking to end the season with a first European Tour victory since the 2008 US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club. 

England’s Tom Lewis, last season’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, will defend his title in the €2.25 million tournament, which can play an important role in deciding the destination of The Race to Dubai crown at the end of the season.

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UBS Hong Kong Repeat for Rory

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Rory McIlroy will seek to make history by successfully defending his UBS Hong Kong Open title as a prelude to bringing down the curtain on the most successful season of his burgeoning golfing career.

No player in the long and illustrious story of the UBS Hong Kong Open has succeeded in following up a victory by retaining their crown the following year. However, a repeat performance at the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling from November 15-18 would enable McIlroy to head to Dubai the following week for the DP World Tour Championship intent on claiming his first Race to Dubai success.

The World Number One and current Race to Dubai leader has won four times globally in 2012, including his record-breaking eight-stroke victory in the US PGA Championship, to cement his place as the pre-eminent player in the game.

Six months after securing his second Major Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, McIlroy helped Europe to seal a famous victory over their American counterparts, earning a point in tandem with his close friend Graeme McDowell in the Friday morning Foursomes and another in partnership with Ian Poulter in the Saturday Afternoon Fourballs, before seeing off fellow Major winner Keegan Bradley in the Sunday Singles as Captain José María Olazábal’s Team staged a heroic comeback. 

After some close calls in the past, McIlroy starred in the truly unforgettable climax to last year’s UBS Hong Kong Open by holing a sublime bunker shot at the 18th hole to capture one of the Northern Irishman’s most treasured titles. 

McIlroy’s box-office bunker shot sent the packed crowds at Fanling into raptures, and the 23 year old would love to repeat that feat in this year’s US$2 million event. 

“That bunker shot is one of the best shots I have ever played,” reflected McIlroy. “It doesn’t get much better than holing a tough bunker shot on the 72nd hole on a Sunday afternoon to win a tournament – it was one of the best feelings I have had in my career, and I will never forget the crowd’s reaction. It was an amazing win. 

“I can’t wait to get back there and try to defend my title. I have said it for a long time now that the UBS Hong Kong Open is among my favourite tournaments anywhere in the world. 

“I absolutely love the city – it is just one of those places that has a great energy around it, and there is so much to do away from the golf course. 

“Then you have the golf course itself, which is another major draw for me. It is one of the courses that I loved from the first time I played in 2008, and I just have so much fun playing around there. 

“When you find a course that you love going back to you always tend to play well there, and that has been the case for me at Fanling.”

McIlroy could have laid to claim to more than one UBS Hong Kong Open in his short career. He lost a thrilling sudden-death play-off to Lin Wen-tang in 2009, and then finished second to Frenchman Grégory Bourdy and sixth to Ian Poulter before his glorious victory last year.

Kathryn Shih, CEO, APAC, UBS Wealth Management, said: “In light of his electrifying displays at the UBS Hong Kong Open in recent years, I am delighted that Rory is returning to defend his title this year. Coming hard on the heels of his and the European Team’s triumph at The Ryder Cup, Rory’s presence will add an extra dimension to the excitement.

“As a two-time Major Champion and the current World Number One, Rory can be relied upon to add a special frisson to the tournament in any year, and I am sure that his presence will be welcomed by golf fans across the region.”

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Lee Backs Clarke for Gleneagles

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Lee Westwood believes close friend Darren Clarke would be the ideal man to captain Europe in the 2014 Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles.

Clarke was one of Jose Maria Olazabal's four assistants during Europe's remarkable victory at Medinah ten days ago and performed the same role for Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in 2010.

In addition he has five caps as a player and struck up a formidable partnership with Westwood in the event, most memorably at the K Club in 2006 when the duo won both their matches together.

Paul McGinley is currently the favourite to land the captaincy for the match in Scotland in two years' time, but Westwood believes Clarke is the man European golf should turn to.

"There are a lot of good candidates but if I was asked to pick I would pick Darren," the Englishman said. "He's been a Ryder Cup stalwart for many years.

"The one at the K Club (in 2006) will be remembered for him and his great performance under the stress of what he was going through at the time (his wife Heather had recently died).

"He's a major champion, he's a very good public speaker which I think has to be taken into account, tactically very astute. I think Darren has a lot of good things going for him.

"Paul (McGinley) is good in the team room and makes a great vice-captain. He's done a good job with the Vivendi (Seve) Trophy (twice a winning captain).

"Paul has played three (Ryder Cups), Darren has played five and got a major championship and won a lot more tournaments than Paul. You have to have a criteria somewhere and I think Darren just edges it for me."

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