Lowry Leads Irish in Portugal

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Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, the two front-runners for the Ryder Cup captaincy at Gleneagles in 2014, had differing fortunes in the opening round of the Portugal Masters.

Clarke finished with an eight-iron into the ninth hole for an eagle two and a 70, but McGinley withdrew before the start with a bad back.

Shane Lowry's return to form was again in evidence when he shot a four-under-par 67 to lie two off the pace being set by Ross Fisher and Stephen Gallacher at the Oceanico Victoria course.

Padraig Harrington and Gareth Maybin both signed for creditable 69s, while Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane were a shot further back along with Clarke.

Peter Lawrie (73) and Simon Thornton (76) -- who replaced McGinley in the field -- had a disappointing day at the office.

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal also struggled, managing only a 75 on his return to action. Fisher was part of the victorious European side in Wales two years ago, but has managed only one top-five finish since then and finds himself down at 140th in the world.

"It's been a tough season," the 31-year-old Englishman said, "but it's nice to see my hard work pay off, and if that Ryder Cup win doesn't inspire you then nothing will."

The closest he came to winning this year was the Wales Open in June. He was one behind with four to play, but was then given a one-stroke penalty for slow play and dropped to sixth.

Gallacher, meanwhile, was still in contention for the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday when he played the wrong ball on the 16th and ran up a quadruple-bogey eight. Keeping a bogey off his card next time out was a fine effort by the 37-year-old, nephew of ex-Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher.

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McIlroy Loses to Tiger in Turkey

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The showdown between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, washed out by a thunderstorm on Wednesday, proved something of a damp squib at the Turkish Airlines World Golf final.

McIlroy had lost both of his opening matches in Antalya - to Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel - and needed to beat Woods this morning and hope other scores and results went his way to have any chance of reaching this afternoon's semi-finals.

But the world No 1 never looked like keeping his half of the bargain from the moment his tee shot on the first hole found a water hazard, the 23 year-old eventually carding a round of 70 to lose by six shots to Woods (64).

Schwartzel (63) beat Kuchar (65) in the other game in Group One to make it three wins out of three and set up a semi-final with Lee Westwood, who finished runner-up in Group Two after shooting a 64 to beat Hunter Mahan (69).

The best golf on a low-scoring day came from Justin Rose, who carded a nine-under-par 62 in beating Webb Simpson to top Group Two and set up a last-four clash with Woods.

McIlroy at least had the consolation of taking away USD 300,000 (£187,000) for his efforts, which works out at USD 1,382 (£863) per shot, so it was perhaps not surprising that he was not overly disappointed with his early exit.

"Not really, I've got an afternoon by the pool, I don't mind," McIlroy said. "I knew I was going to have an afternoon off anyway so I was just going out and playing. I never really had any expectations.

"I've treated this week as it's great to come here, nice weather, play a bit of golf, I get to spend some time with Caroline (Wozniacki) - I viewed it as a week like that. I didn't touch a club until the first day."

Asked about the form of Woods, McIlroy added: "I never say good shot as much as when I play with Tiger.

"He is so solid from tee to green and he basically didn't hole much out there today and still shot seven under. I've said it all year, he's there, he's playing well and he is going to win tournaments and contend in majors."

Woods, who won just half a point from four matches in the Ryder Cup at Medinah, added: "It felt good. I really hit the ball well and missed quite a few putts out there so it could have been a really low number.

"I got off to a quick start and Rory hit it into the water on the first and got behind the eight ball a little. Once I got a big enough lead I thought just make one more birdie and a few pars and it would put a lot of pressure on Rory to come back at me."

Westwood admitted he had thought about shooting a sub-60 round after five birdies and an eagle - his drive on the short par-four fifth finished 10ft from the hole - on the front nine.

"I thought I had gone out in 29 but then realised it was a par-71 and I was out in 28," Westwood said. "A low number was going through my mind but then I hit a couple of poor shots on 10 and 11 and that blew that."

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Portugal Padraig Wears Special Laces

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Three-time Major Champion and Global Ambassador for Special Olympics, Padraig Harrington, will ‘Wear the Laces’ for Special Olympics during the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura, Portugal, this week.

Harrington has been proudly wearing the Special Olympics emblazoned red shoe laces at recent tournaments in the UK and USA. Harrington wears the laces to show his support for Special Olympics and to highlight the movement’s message of respect, acceptance and inclusion for all people with intellectual disabilities.

Harrington said: “I hope by wearing the Laces for Special Olympics I will not only raise awareness but also show my support for the athletes, families, coaches and volunteers who are the heartbeat of the Special Olympics Movement. I encourage fans of golf everywhere to show their support for the athletes of Special Olympics by also wearing the laces.”

As a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics since May 2010, Harrington has conducted a number of golf clinics for Special Olympics athletes and coaches across the world. 

In July, at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Harrington was awarded the Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1995 Commemorative Silver Coin in recognition of his work with Special Olympics athletes and his commitment to the organisation.

With over four million athletes in over 170 countries, Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation, providing year-round training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 

Harrington became the first European player to win back-to-back Major Championships when he added the 2008 US PGA Championship to his 2008 Open Championship crown, having been the first Irishman to win a Major in 60 years at The 2007 Open Championship.

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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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