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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sat, 26 May 2012 12:06:32 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Irish Golf Desk</title><subtitle>News</subtitle><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/atom.xml"/><updated>2012-05-26T11:24:41Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>What now for Rory McIlroy?</title><category term="BMW PGA Championship"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/26/what-now-for-rory-mcilroy.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/26/what-now-for-rory-mcilroy.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-26T11:10:41Z</published><updated>2012-05-26T11:10:41Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/BMW.PGA.Championship.D1._I2C9536.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1338031395022" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Rory McIlroy says he has plenty of food for thought after his disappointing performance in the BMW PGA at Wentworth. Photo: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie</span></span>We all know who Rory McIlroy is not. He&#8217;s not Tiger Woods, a freak of nature who turned up ready and able to win, every week, for the best part of a decade.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Selfridge comes of age at Portrush</title><category term="Alan Dunbar"/><category term="Amateur golf"/><category term="Andrew Hogan"/><category term="Chris Selfridge"/><category term="Dermot McElroy"/><category term="Irish Amateur Close"/><category term="James Fox"/><category term="Robbie Cannon"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/selfridge-comes-of-age-at-portrush.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/selfridge-comes-of-age-at-portrush.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-25T21:12:20Z</published><updated>2012-05-25T21:12:20Z</updated></entry><entry><title>Moriarty OK, Grant KO in Belgium</title><category term="Challenge Tour"/><category term="Colm Moriarty"/><category term="Stephen Grant"/><category term="Telenet Trophy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/moriarty-ok-grant-ko-in-belgium.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/moriarty-ok-grant-ko-in-belgium.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-25T18:11:30Z</published><updated>2012-05-25T18:11:30Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/260_Ravenstein-1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337969676457" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 225px;">Ravenstein Royal Golf and Country Club</span></span>Colm Moriarty scraped into the weekend&rsquo;s play at the Telenet Trophy after a level par round of 71 meant he sat right on the one over par cut line after the second round at Ravenstein Royal Golf and Country Club.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Lawrie on fire as stars implode</title><category term="BMW PGA Championship"/><category term="Barrie Trainor"/><category term="Darren Clarke"/><category term="David Higgins"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><category term="Peter Lawrie"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/lawrie-on-fire-as-stars-implode.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/25/lawrie-on-fire-as-stars-implode.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-25T00:28:56Z</published><updated>2012-05-25T00:28:56Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/BMW.PGA.2012.D1.155.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337930491358" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Top of the pile. Peter Lawrie at Wentworth on Thursday. Picture by www.golffile.ie</span></span>&#8220;So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.&#8221;</p>
<p>On a&nbsp; day of bibiical proportions for Ireland&#8217;s big name challengers in the BMW PGA Championship - it was a plague of locusts for Rory McIlroy (74), Graeme McDowell (74) and Padraig Harrington (76) - some of the lesser lights shone brighest and some old glories sparked again on a scorching day on the famous Burma Road.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Diamond happy to be a sparkling amateur</title><category term="Alan Dunbar"/><category term="Amateur golf"/><category term="Dermot McElroy"/><category term="Harry Diamond"/><category term="Irish Amateur Close"/><category term="Royal Portrush"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/24/diamond-happy-to-be-a-sparkling-amateur.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/24/diamond-happy-to-be-a-sparkling-amateur.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-24T22:31:12Z</published><updated>2012-05-24T22:31:12Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/Harry.Diamond.Belvoir.Park.3.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337903861951" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Harry Diamond will be one of the men to beat in the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship. Pictured during practice at Royal Portrush&#8217;s Dunluce links by Pat Cashman.</span></span>Nine of the last 11 Irish Amateur Close champions joined the paid ranks but don&rsquo;t expect Harry Diamond to take the plunge if he lifts the title at Royal Portrush on Sunday evening.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>McIlroy talks the talk...</title><category term="BMW PGA Championship"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Lee Westwood"/><category term="Luke Donald"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/24/mcilroy-talks-the-talk.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/24/mcilroy-talks-the-talk.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-24T00:32:46Z</published><updated>2012-05-24T00:32:46Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 450px;" src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/BMW.PGA.Championship.Pro.am._I2C9094.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337819545324" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Rory McIlroy is confident he&#8217;s the best player in the world. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie</span></span>Rory McIlroy takes on a press conference the way he takes on a golf course. Like it or not, he sees the shot, wastes little time over it, and gives it a lash.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Castle set for 52nd All Ireland Father &amp; Son foursomes</title><category term="Amateur golf"/><category term="Castle Father &amp; Son"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/castle-set-for-52nd-all-ireland-father-son-foursomes.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/castle-set-for-52nd-all-ireland-father-son-foursomes.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-23T22:00:26Z</published><updated>2012-05-23T22:00:26Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/2012.Father..Son.Press.Launch.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337810832007" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 448px;">Pascal Taggart (Captain, Castle GC) with Ken Mintern (Key Capital) and Karl Devenney (Chairman, Father &amp; Son Committee) at the launch of the Key Capital sponsored 2012 All Ireland Father &amp; Son Foursomes. The event takes place at the Castle Golf Club in the second week of July. Picture by Pat Cashman</span></span>The 52nd staging of the Castle All Ireland Father &amp; Son Foursomes  will take place in the second week of July.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Grant up for the challenge in Brussels</title><category term="Challenge Tour"/><category term="Colm Moriarty"/><category term="Stephen Grant"/><category term="Telenet Trophy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/grant-up-for-the-challenge-in-brussels.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/grant-up-for-the-challenge-in-brussels.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-23T19:59:36Z</published><updated>2012-05-23T19:59:36Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/260_Ravenstein.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337803496742" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 225px;">Ravenstein Royal Golf Club</span></span>Stephen Grant will be hoping to make the most of his second appearance on the European Challenge Tour as the Offaly man travels to this week&rsquo;s Telenet Trophy at Ravenstein Royal Golf Club of Belgium, in Tervuren outside Brussels writes the <em>European Challenge Tour</em>.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Harrington sees the light: "I was decelerating on my putts"</title><category term="BMW PGA Championship"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/harrington-sees-the-light-i-was-decelerating-on-my-putts.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/23/harrington-sees-the-light-i-was-decelerating-on-my-putts.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-23T06:56:28Z</published><updated>2012-05-23T06:56:28Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/harrigrip.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337757334190" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Padraig Harrington believes he&#8217;s discovered his problem on the greens. He&#8217;s been decelerating on his putts. Picture by Carl Fourie www.golffile.ie</span></span>Less than a month after insisting that his technique was perfect, Padraig Harrington admits that he has a technical issue on the greens.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Harrington app-y to tweet</title><category term="BMW PGA Championship"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/20/harrington-app-y-to-tweet.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/20/harrington-app-y-to-tweet.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-20T07:00:50Z</published><updated>2012-05-20T07:00:50Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/harribird17bn312.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337465449145" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Padraig Harrington launches his new iPhone app today</span></span>Padraig Harrington joined the Twitter revolution today but vowed not to become a tweeting twit.</p>
<p>After insisting for years that he&#8217;d never tweet, he&#8217;s joined as <a class="offsite-link-inline" href="https://twitter.com/#!/padraig_h" target="_blank">@Padraig_H</a> to mark the launch of his new <a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/padraig-athlete-factor/id455980032?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone app</a>.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>McDowell makes semis and says: "I dodged a bullet"</title><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Nicolas Colsaerts"/><category term="Paul Lawrie"/><category term="Rafael Cabrera Bello"/><category term="Sergio Garcia"/><category term="Volvo World Match Play Championship"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/20/mcdowell-makes-semis-and-says-i-dodged-a-bullet.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/20/mcdowell-makes-semis-and-says-i-dodged-a-bullet.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-19T23:41:58Z</published><updated>2012-05-19T23:41:58Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 450px;" src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/mcdowell.4._1.preview.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337473794705" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Graeme McDowell can take a huge step towards his third Ryder Cup cap if he wins the Volvo World Match Play in Spain today. &copy; Pictures courtesy of Volvo in Golf</span></span>Graeme McDowell emerged as the hot favourite to claim the Volvo World Match Play Championship when Sergio Garc&iacute;a three-putted from nowhwere at the first extra hole to send the Portrush man into the last four at Finca Cortes&iacute;n.
]]></summary><link rel="enclosure" type="application/pdf" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/pdf/DrawandResultsVWMPCSaturday.pdf" length="139378"/></entry><entry><title>McCarroll, Shaw and Lernihan angling for Alps win</title><category term="Alps Tour"/><category term="Brendan McCarroll"/><category term="Dara Lernihan"/><category term="Gareth Shaw"/><category term="Gösser Open"/><category term="Richard Kilpatrick"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/19/mccarroll-shaw-and-lernihan-angling-for-alps-win.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/19/mccarroll-shaw-and-lernihan-angling-for-alps-win.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-19T22:24:23Z</published><updated>2012-05-19T22:24:23Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/irishfishaut12.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337468250145" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Richard Kilpatrick, Gareth Shaw, Brendan McCarroll and Dara Lernihan chill out by the lake in Austria. Picture courtesy of <a href="http://www.alpstourgolf.com">AlpsTourGolf.com/</a></span></span>A spot of late afternoon fishing was just what Irish trio Brendan McCarroll, Gareth Shaw and Dara Lernihan needed after moving into contention for victory on the Alps Tour in Austria.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Is Harrington golf's Liverpool FC?</title><category term="HP Byron Nelson Classic"/><category term="PGA Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/19/is-harrington-golfs-liverpool-fc.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/19/is-harrington-golfs-liverpool-fc.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-19T11:46:59Z</published><updated>2012-05-19T11:46:59Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/harrhpnelson.12.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337429529548" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Padraig Harrington believes he&#8217;s found something in his putting this week. </span></span>Padraig Harrington is just four shots behind leader Jason Dufner at the halfway stage of the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Texas. But the question remains - Which way will he go on moving day?
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>McDowell advances as Clarke's calvary continues</title><category term="Darren Clarke"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Justin Rose"/><category term="Sergio Garcia"/><category term="Volvo World Match Play Championship"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/18/mcdowell-advances-as-clarkes-calvary-continues.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/18/mcdowell-advances-as-clarkes-calvary-continues.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-18T22:29:00Z</published><updated>2012-05-18T22:29:00Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/clarke.1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337385505359" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Darren Clarke &copy; Pictures courtesy of Volvo in Golf</span></span>Graeme McDowell only had to go through to motions in a dead rubber to cruise into the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play in Spain. But Darren Clarke&#8217;s miserable run of form since winning The Open continued when he lost to Robert Rock and Justin Rose at Finca Cortestin near Marbella.
]]></summary><link rel="enclosure" type="application/pdf" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/pdf/DrawandResultsVWMPCFriday.pdf" length="137894"/></entry><entry><title>Superstars must win six majors - Player</title><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Gary Player"/><category term="GolfLive"/><category term="Lee Westwood"/><category term="PGA Tour"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/18/superstars-must-win-six-majors-player.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/5/18/superstars-must-win-six-majors-player.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-05-18T21:05:15Z</published><updated>2012-05-18T21:05:15Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/All_Black-1.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1337376610546" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Gary Player is backing Lee Westwood to  win a major, providing he improves his chipping and bunker play.</span></span>Gary Player reckons Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood could do worse than take up pitch and putt.
]]></summary></entry></feed>
