The third at Royal Liverpool in 2006 when Tiger Woods won The Open. The Irish Open has received an unexpected boost with the announcement that it will offer three places in The Open Championship at Hoylake as part of the new Open Qualifying Series (OQS).

A determined looking Pádraig Harrington rips a drive in practice. Picture via OneAsia.asiaPrayad Marksaeng celebrated the first victory by a home player in the Thailand Open for nine years by jumping into a lake. Pádraig Harrington needs to remain true to his leap of faith with his putting.

Padraig Harrington crosses a bridge during his third round at the Thailand Open in Bangkok. Padraig Harrington’s hopes of a first tournament win for more than two years ended when he carded a three over 75 in the third round of the Thailand Open to slip 11 shots off the pace.

Pádraig Harrington appears to be gaining in confidence on the greens. Picture via OneAsia.asiaPadraig Harrington continues to experiment with his glasses in a bid to find his putting touch but still has both eyes firmly fixed on a special St Patrick’s Day celebration in Bangkok on Sunday.

Padraig Harrington works in his putting under the watchful eye of mental coach Dr Bob Rotella in Miami last week. Picture Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieA 24-hour trip to Asia wouldn’t normally fill Padraig Harrington with excitement but the Dubliner touched down in Bangkok this morning feeling more enthusiastic about his putting than he has for five years.

No champagne but Toshinori Muto didn’t care after winning the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament by four shots with a closing 63.Shane Lowry finished tied for third but Graeme McDowell ended up a disappointing 38th as Japan’s Toshinori Muto won the 54-hole Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan.

Graeme McDowell in action in Japan on Thursday. In 2013, he could be playing the Irish Open in his home town of Portrush.Irish professional golfers were in action in at least four countries on three continents yesterday from the Kruger National Park in South Africa and tropical Malaysia to the Land of the Rising Sun and the southern United States. Back home the government of Northern Ireland was promising to do all its power to make sure the world comes to Ireland - specifically to Portrush - for a major tournament in 2013.

Shane Lowry claimed the biggest cheque of his professional career and his best finish since his Irish Open victory when he tied for third behind Italy's Edoardo Molinari in the €1.5 m Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on Sunday.

Molinari claimed his fourth win of the season and his third in his last five starts when he made a four footer on the second play-off hole to beat Sweden's Robert Karlsson after both players had tied on 13-under 271.

Lowry closed with a four under par 67 to share third with Hirofumi Miyase on seven under par and earn 11.6m yen (around €88,000).

Shane Lowry continued his upward trend in the Land of the Rising Sun by moving to tied 12th entering the final round of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament.

The Irish Open champion, 22, had five birdies and three bogeys in a 69 to get to three under par in Japan.

He trails Italy's Edoardo Molinari by five shots after the Italian winner of this year’s Challenge Tour rankings also shot a two-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead in the €1.5m Japan Golf Tour event.

Shane Lowry moved up from 53rd to tied 20th at the halfway stage of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan.

Big in Japan - Shane Lowry in action in round twoPlaying on a sponsors' invitation, the Irish Open champion fired six birdies and three bogeys in a three under par 68 to make the cut with five shots to spare.

Shane Lowry slipped eight shots off the pace on his Japanese bow in the €1.5m Dunlop Phoenix Tournament.

The Irish Open champion, 22, had three birdies and five bogeys in a two over 73 at the Phoenix Country Club near Miyazaki.

Shane Lowry will bring his rookie season to an end by taking on Vijay Singh in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Just a mock up, but Lowry will be in Asia's shop window for real in November.The Irish Open champion, 22, has been given an invitation to tee it up in the Japan Golf Tour’s €1.5m Dunlop Phoenix Tournament from November 19-22.

At least that’s the plan, providing Shane doesn’t make up the €370,000 plus deficit that is keeping him out of the season-ending Dubai World Championship, which takes place the same week.

Tiger Woods' caddie Steve Williams believes Padraig Harrington was "destined" to beat his boss in Japan.

Padraig Harrington beamed from ear-to-ear as Tiger Woods helped into the green and navy check jacket awarded to the winner of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament.

Padraig Harrington will partner Tiger Woods in the third round of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan and get a major boost.

The Dubliner, 35, fired a four under par 66 in $1.7 million event at Phoenix Country Club to get to seven under par and trail the world No 1 by just one stroke at halfway.