GMAC Seeks Irish Open Title

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Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell have confirmed that they will both compete in the Irish Open, completing Ireland’s line-up of Major Champions at Carton House, in Co. Kildare, from June 27-30.

The pair will join Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy in the field, along with Carton House Touring Professional Shane Lowry, as they attempt to become the first home winner of the event since Lowry’s sensational victory as an amateur at County Louth Golf Club in 2009.

Clarke, the 2011 Open Champion, was third behind winner Thomas Björn the last time the Irish Open was played at Carton House in 2006.

He was also joint runner up to Colin Montgomerie at Fota Island in 2001, and the 44 year old is hoping to go one better when he makes his 22nd appearance in the Irish Open.

“The Irish Open is obviously one of the highlights of the year for us, and it is always an event I always look forward to playing in,” said Clarke.

“The atmosphere at Royal Portrush last year was unbelievable and I think we can expect some more fantastic home support at Carton House. I played well the last time we were there in 2006 so I’d like to think I can do well again this year.”

McDowell, who reached the quarter-finals of last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona, is also looking forward to putting on a good show for the Irish golf fans. The 2010 US Open Champion finished tied 16th last year at his home course of Royal Portrush and has yet to finish in the top ten in the Irish Open, with his best performance to date a share of 11th position at Co. Louth in 2004.

“Carton House should be another great venue for the Irish Open,” said McDowell. “Obviously Portrush was a huge success last year and was very special for me personally, but I think the Irish golf fans will again support the event and it will be another celebration of Irish golf.

“We’ve had some great success on the international stage and so it would be nice for one of us to do it at home, in front of our own fans.

“Personally, I’d love to win the Irish Open one day and hopefully this can be the year I do it.”

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Hoey Headlines Galgorm Challenge

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The European Challenge Tour will return to Northern Irish shores for the first time in ten years when Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena, hosts the Northern Ireland Open Challenge from August 29 - September 1.

Michael Hoey, a four-time winner on The European Tour, will headline the field at the Country Antrim venue, hoping to add to his trophy haul, having also won three times on the Challenge Tour.Hoey has since played a part in Northern Ireland’s incredible story in world golf alongside current World Number One Rory McIlroy, 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke and 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, while the staging of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2012 proved an unprecedented success.

The €170,000 Northern Ireland Open Challenge presents an opportunity for the next generation to follow in the footsteps of those superstars and begin their path to The European Tour.It is the first time Galgorm Castle, one of the country’s premier parkland courses set in the spectacular surrounds of an historical estate, will host a Challenge Tour event.

Gary Henry, General Manager of Galgorm Castle, said: “We are expecting big crowds at Galgorm Castle to see some of Europe’s top young players and some of the more established names as well as some top quality home grown talent.“The excitement is already building ahead of the tournament and, with the support of the people of Northern Ireland, we plan to make this one of the most exhilarating events on the Challenge Tour’s international schedule.”

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted to bring the Challenge Tour back to Northern Ireland, a country which has experienced such great success on the world golfing stage recently and which produced record crowds at last year’s Irish Open.“Galgorm Castle provides a superb venue which is fitting of a tournament of this stature and we are sure that in the coming years this will grow to become one of the premier events on the Challenge Tour schedule, creating more and more opportunities for talented young golfers throughout Ireland.

“We must thank everyone at Galgorm Castle for their commitment, enthusiasm and determination in making this tournament happen.”

Hoey, whose biggest win came at the 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, said: “I am deeply honoured to be the ambassador for the new Challenge Tour event at Galgorm Castle.

“The Challenge Tour was a hugely important part of my early career and has helped me develop into the player I am today. By hosting an event in Northern Ireland, Galgorm Castle Golf Club is contributing to the development of the next generation of Irish golfers and I am delighted to be able to play a part in the tournament.”Hoey claimed a top 15 finish the last time Northern Ireland hosted a Challenge Tour event in 2003, when Clarke emerged victorious three weeks after his famous victory at the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, while another Open Champion – the winner at St Andrews in 2010, Louis Oosthuizen - finished tied 12th.

Harrington Needs New Driver

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Padraig Harrington must overcome a broken driver this week at the Maybank Malaysian Open, after the Dubliner's broke last week in Thailand, and finding a replacement is proving tricky. A  problem that he could do without with only three weeks to go until the Masters.

The 41 year old would love nothing more than to fix the problem at the magnificent Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, explaining: “I was very, very comfortable with the old driver, so having to get used to a new one always causes a little bit of anxiety.

“I was quite confident with where I was at. But obviously when you put a new club in, it takes a bit of time to understand it and you’re not quite sure how it’s going to go. 

“I used a new driver last Sunday and it was okay on the range but not on the course. Often you find that you take a club on the range and think it works nicely, but when you take it out on the course it has a shot in it you didn’t see on the range because of the different tempo or speed on the course.

“So it’s thrown a bit of a curveball in my preparations and I’d dearly love to drive it well this week so that I have that confidence. I don’t want to go home next week still looking for a driver and then possibly play in another tournament where I’m in doubt. The last thing I want is to be going to the Masters with any doubt.”

Driver issues aside, Harrington is delighted to return to the Malaysian capital for an event he believes has gone from strength to strength in the last few years.

“Kuala Lumpur is one of the best cities in the world, no doubt about it,” he said. “There’s a good feel about it and the golf course is excellent. They’ve revamped it and it really is an exciting layout. There’s a lot of water and you have to position your tee shots. You have to be aggressive and go after birdies, even though there is plenty of danger out there.

“Maybank do a fantastic job at putting on a great event, so I’m delighted to be back. 

“They’ve done an excellent job at attracting some big players. We’re playing on an exciting golf course, so it lends itself to a big tournament feel and exciting event. 

“It should be a great spectacle on TV and a great show for the fans to come to. You have to credit Maybank for this, because their drive for the tournament, their work behind the scenes and what they are prepared to invest, is fantastic. 

“They put up the prize money, but that’s just a small part of what they do for this tournament. They’ve done a tremendous job at creating a top class event.” 

Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin complete the Irish entries for the tournament.

World Number Three Luke Donald is also in the field for the US$2.75million event, as is 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel, Italian Matteo Manassero, who won the title here in 2011, and last week’s winner of the Avantha Masters, Thomas Aiken.

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