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.