The Irish Golf Club Gazette: David Howell

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10/09/2013

Early Defence for Lowry

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Shane Lowry will begin his Portugal Masters defence alongside home hero Ricardo Santos and former Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal from the tenth tee at 8.20am on Thursday morning.

This will be the first in a run of marquee three balls to hit the 7,192 yard Oceânico Victoria Golf Course during round one, with two time runner up Francesco Molinari next to tee off.

The Italian has come within a whisker of this title on two occasions in consecutive years from 2009, and fresh off securing the winning point at last week’s Seve Trophy by Golf+ he will no doubt be brimming with confidence. Molinari will have fellow Continental Europe team members Nicolas Colsaerts and Joost Luiten for company at 8.30am, both of which showed great form at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche en route to their team’s first victory in 13 years.

Next off, at 8.40am, will be an all British trio including Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles winner Tommy Fleetwood. He will play the first 36 holes alongside one of the men he beat in the play-off for that maiden title, Stephen Gallacher, as well as Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who won for the second time on Tour earlier in the year at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Former Champion Alvaro Quiros, who won this title in 2008, is next off alongside Thomas Aiken and David Lynn, while Alex Noren, Marcel Siem and Chris Wood are all out one group later at 9am.

After the excitement of the morning’s play, there will also be plenty for the galleries to follow in the afternoon half of the draw on day one.

Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley will begin his week from the first at 12.40pm alongside two players who will hope to be in the Irishman’s team come Gleneagles next September, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Danny Willett.

They will be swiftly followed by Omega European Masters winner Thomas Björn, former World Number One Martin Kaymer and BMW PGA Champion Matteo Manassero, all of which will be looking to add to their trophy haul in the Algarve.

The latest stroke play champion on The European Tour, David Howell, won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a fortnight ago to end a seven year victory drought. He is off at 1pm alongside Paul Lawrie and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

While one group later is Ross Fisher, who three putted the 18th green to hand Shane Lowry the title 12 months ago. He will tee it up alongside last year’s 54 hole leader here, Bernd Wiesberger, and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño.

They will be followed by Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, 70° OPEN D'ITALIA LINDT winner Julien Quesne, and two time European Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal at 1.20pm.

9/29/2013

Lowry Shares Third at Dunhill

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Shane Lowry and England's Tom Lewis finished a shot outside the play-off, Lewis charging through the field with a 64 and Lowry carding a closing 68 at the Alfred Dunhill Links.

The Clara golfer had briefly led by two shots after playing his first 11 holes in six under par, but paid the price for dropped shots at the 13th and 15th.

Lowry, who defends his Portugal Masters title in a fortnight’s time, was six under par for his round thanks to an eagle at the par four tenth and four birdies.

He was one ahead of England’s David Howell, who had five birdies in six holes from the second as he chases a first European Tour win for seven years.

Lowry's lead was briefly two shots when Howell three-putted the 12th, but Lowry then bogeyed the 13th in the group ahead after failing to get up and down from short of the green.

That meant Lewis was just one shot off the lead at 22 under and the 22 year old had the chance to set a testing clubhouse target with just two holes to play.

Lewis duly parred the last two holes to complete a flawless 64 and set the clubhouse target at 22 under - a superb effort which should at least secure his card for next season even if not enough to win the event.

A bogey from Lowry on the 15th - where he missed from inside three feet after an excellent chip from short of the green - left Uihlein out in front on 23 under with four holes to play.

So it England's David Howell claimed his first European Tour title in seven years on Sunday by beating American Peter Uihlein in a sudden-death play-off at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Howell carded a final round of 67 to set the clubhouse target and then watched as overnight leader Uihlein missed from 15 feet for a winning birdie on the 18th, meaning the pair finished tied on 23 under par.

Both players narrowly missed long birdie attempts on the first extra hole, meaning action switched from the first to the 18th.

Uihlein left his birdie putt from long range inches short but Howell, who had lost all four of his previous play-offs, made no such mistake from eight feet to claim the title and first prize of £495,000.

"It's incredible, the sun is shining and the crowd have come out," Howell said. "I have never played in an Open Championship here but to win a golf tournament as a professional at the Home of Golf is quite amazing and I am really thrilled.

"I was really nervous all week and strangely less nervous today, I can't explain that at all. I stayed calm and smooth under pressure and that was really pleasing.

"It's been a long, long road from the depths of despair. I have had a lot of support from people around me and this is as much for them as it is for me."

Lewis began the week 155th on the European Tour's Race to Dubai with only the top 110 in three weeks' time keeping their card for next season, but the share of third place will be enough for the 22-year-old to retain his playing rights.

Lowry had briefly led by two shots after playing his first 11 holes in six under par, but paid the price for dropped shots at the 13th and 15th.