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."