<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:53:28 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>2012-02-10T11:57:21Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>Glass half full for Harrington</title><category term="AT&amp;T Pebble Beach Pro-Am"/><category term="Dermot Desmond"/><category term="JP McManus"/><category term="PGA Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/10/glass-half-full-for-harrington.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/10/glass-half-full-for-harrington.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-10T00:48:37Z</published><updated>2012-02-10T00:48:37Z</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/mpcc11a.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328834699445" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Monterey Peninsula Country Club</span></span>Padraig Harrington finished the opening day atop the leaderboard in the AT&amp;T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The only problem was that his name was alongside that of 14-handicap amateur partner JP McManus.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>McIlroy finds top gear on back straight</title><category term="Caroline Wozniacki"/><category term="Damien McGrane"/><category term="Dubai Desert Classic"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Gareth Maybin"/><category term="JP Fitzgerald"/><category term="Michael Hoey"/><category term="Peter Lawrie"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><category term="Shane Lowry"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/mcilroy-finds-top-gear-on-back-straight.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/mcilroy-finds-top-gear-on-back-straight.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-09T23:50:54Z</published><updated>2012-02-09T23:50:54Z</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/Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2012 _EWS3852.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328830631946" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Rory McIlroy birdied seven of his last 10 holes to open with a 66 in Dubai. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie</span></span>Rory McIlroy missed a golden opportunity to earn some brownie points with his other half when he gave his caddie the credit for helping him birdie seven of the last 10 holes and open with a six under 66 in the Dubai Desert Classic.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Harrington addresses "vice" issue</title><category term="AT&amp;T Pebble Beach Pro-Am"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="PGA Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><category term="Ryder Cup"/><category term="Ryder Cup"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/harrington-addresses-vice-issue.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/harrington-addresses-vice-issue.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-09T08:43:38Z</published><updated>2012-02-09T08:43:38Z</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/harripebble12.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328781356912" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Padraig Harrington was in locquacious form at Pebble Beach. </span></span>He&#8217;s got other plans, of course, but Padraig Harrington doesn&#8217;t rule out accepting a vice-captain&#8217;s role at September&#8217;s Ryder Cup.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Maturing McIlroy supresses his Seve drive</title><category term="Dubai Desert Classic"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/maturing-mcilroy-supresses-his-seve-drive.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/9/maturing-mcilroy-supresses-his-seve-drive.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-09T08:20:30Z</published><updated>2012-02-09T08:20:30Z</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/HSBC Abu Dhabi Round One 019.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328776907745" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Rory McIlroy in full flight. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.com</span></span>Rory McIlroy admits he must resist the urge to play like Seve Ballesteros if he&rsquo;s to continue his relentless rise in the world rankings.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Harrington refuses to be licked</title><category term="AT&amp;T Pebble Beach Pro-Am"/><category term="PGA Tour"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/7/harrington-refuses-to-be-licked.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/7/harrington-refuses-to-be-licked.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-07T21:25:00Z</published><updated>2012-02-07T21:25:00Z</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/Padraig_2622481.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328602047168" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>Padraig Harrington admits he went nuts over the winter and changed his TONGUE position.</p>]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Hoey dreaming the Ryder Cup dream</title><category term="Dubai Desert Classic"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Michael Hoey"/><category term="Ryder Cup"/><category term="Ryder Cup"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/7/hoey-dreaming-the-ryder-cup-dream.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/7/hoey-dreaming-the-ryder-cup-dream.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-07T09:15:35Z</published><updated>2012-02-07T09:15:35Z</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/Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2012 _EWS2408.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328601721092" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Michael Hoey is now ranked 90th in the world, a career high. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie</span></span>Michael Hoey has set his sights on what he once thought was the impossible dream - a Ryder Cup cap.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Paul Lawrie is Qatar hero as Hoey finds form</title><category term="Damien McGrane"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Michael Hoey"/><category term="Paul Lawrie"/><category term="Peter Lawrie"/><category term="Qatar Masters"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/5/paul-lawrie-is-qatar-hero-as-hoey-finds-form.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/5/paul-lawrie-is-qatar-hero-as-hoey-finds-form.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-05T18:48:47Z</published><updated>2012-02-05T18:48:47Z</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/Commercialbank%20Qatar%20Masters%202012%20_MG_7616.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328470821730" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Michael Hoey finished 12th behidn Paul Lawrie in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie</span></span>Michael Hoey shook off the effects of a stomach bug to clinch his best finish since last season&#8217;s Alfred Dunhill Championship victory and boost his Ryder Cup hopes at the 54-hole Commercialbank Qatar Masters.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Turner 20th in Myanmar</title><category term="Asian Tour"/><category term="Kieran Pratt"/><category term="Myanmar Open"/><category term="Niall Turner"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/5/turner-20th-in-myanmar.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/5/turner-20th-in-myanmar.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-05T15:24:13Z</published><updated>2012-02-05T15:24:13Z</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/20120205711941167741.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328456154981" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Australia&#8217;s Kieran Pratt won the Myanmar Open in a play-off. Picture courtesy of asiantour.com</span></span>Niall Turner got his Asian Tour season off to a positive start when he closed with a three under par 69 to finish tied 20th in the Zaykabar Myanmar Open.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Turner slips back in Myanmar</title><category term="Asian Tour"/><category term="Myanmar Open"/><category term="Niall Turner"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/4/turner-slips-back-in-myanmar.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/4/turner-slips-back-in-myanmar.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-04T23:46:24Z</published><updated>2012-02-04T23:46:24Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/20110810287041802263.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328399811326" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 170px;">Niall Turner</span></span>Muskerry&#8217;s Niall Turner suffered a back nine collapse to slip nine shots off the pace entering the final round of the Asian Tour&#8217;s Zaykabar Myanmar Open.</p>
<p>After opening with rounds of 69 and 68 at Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club in Yangon, the 28-year old Cork player fired a level par 72 on Saturday to fall back to tied 23rd on seven under par.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Olympic allegiance - "Emotions should be taken out of it" says Harrington</title><category term="Darren Clarke"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/4/olympic-allegiance-emotions-should-be-taken-out-of-it-says-h.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/4/olympic-allegiance-emotions-should-be-taken-out-of-it-says-h.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-04T09:20:34Z</published><updated>2012-02-04T09:20:34Z</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/DownloadFile.dwn.jpeg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328318570674" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Padraig Harrington played his role in helping golf return to the Olympic Games. Picture courtesy randa.org</span></span>Padraig Harrington believes he&rsquo;s doing Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell a favour by advising them to declare for Team Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.</p>
<p>Clarifying the remarks he made in a TV interview to be broadcast on Setanta Ireland this weekend, the Dubliner reckons he&rsquo;s giving the Northern Ireland pair the perfect &#8220;way out&#8221; of an emotive Britain v Ireland debate that could leave other Irish players &#8220;devastated&#8221; if they miss the boat to Rio de Janeiro.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Rory should declare for GB - Harrington</title><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Gary Murphy"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="Olympic Games"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/3/rory-should-declare-for-gb-harrington.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/3/rory-should-declare-for-gb-harrington.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-03T08:08:57Z</published><updated>2012-02-03T08:08:57Z</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/Abu%20Dhabi%20HSBC%20GC%202012%20_MG_5956.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328256378976" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Rory McIlroy will have a decision to make on his Olympic Games future. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie</span></span>Padraig Harrington believes Rory McIlroy should tee it up for Great Britain when golf returns to the Olympic Games in 2016.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Q School woe for Heggarty</title><category term="European Senior Tour"/><category term="European Senior Tour Qualifying School"/><category term="Jimmy Heggarty"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/3/q-school-woe-for-heggarty.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/3/q-school-woe-for-heggarty.html"/><author><name>Andy Dean</name></author><published>2012-02-03T00:34:14Z</published><updated>2012-02-03T00:34:14Z</updated><summary type="html" xml:lang="en-IE"><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 225px;" src="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/storage/post-images/123512_M09.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328255808939" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 225px;">Jimmy Heggarty</span></span>A nightmare final round cost Jimmy Heggarty dearly as he missed out on a Senior Tour card for 2012 at Qualifying School in Portugal.</p>
<p>After opening rounds of 70, 71 and 70 had put the&nbsp;Claremorris man&nbsp;in contention, a final-round 78 saw him tumble from two under par to five over, well adrift of the qualifying mark at Vale da Pinta.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Royal Portrush lands 2014 British Amateur</title><category term="Amateur golf"/><category term="Irish Open"/><category term="Royal Portrush"/><category term="The Amateur Championship"/><category term="The Open"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/2/royal-portrush-lands-2014-british-amateur.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/2/2/royal-portrush-lands-2014-british-amateur.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-02-02T14:37:54Z</published><updated>2012-02-02T14:37:54Z</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/1144077871Portrush cover pic.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1328258928442" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>The news that Royal Portrush will host the British Amateur Championship in 2014 will revive hopes that the Dunluce Links is a step closer to staging The Open for the first time since 1951.</p>
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>Clarke parts company with Open caddie</title><category term="Darren Clarke"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="John Mulrooney"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/1/30/clarke-parts-company-with-open-caddie.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/1/30/clarke-parts-company-with-open-caddie.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-01-30T08:17:50Z</published><updated>2012-01-30T08:17:50Z</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/IMG_1930.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1327912231621" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">John Mulrooney in the locker room at Royal St George&#8217;s shortly after Darren Clarke&#8217;s Open victory.</span></span>Darren Clarke has split with the caddie who helped him beak his major duck and lift the Open at Royal St George&#8217;s.
]]></summary></entry><entry><title>McIlroy back to world No 2 as Rock wins Abu Dhabi</title><category term="Abu Dhabi Championship"/><category term="European Tour"/><category term="Graeme McDowell"/><category term="Michael Hoey"/><category term="Padraig Harrington"/><category term="Robert Rock"/><category term="Rory McIlroy"/><category term="Tiger Woods"/><id>http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/1/29/mcilroy-back-to-world-no-2-as-rock-wins-abu-dhabi.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/1/29/mcilroy-back-to-world-no-2-as-rock-wins-abu-dhabi.html"/><author><name>Brian Keogh</name></author><published>2012-01-29T16:22:10Z</published><updated>2012-01-29T16:22:10Z</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/Abu Dhabi HSBC GC 2012 _MG_6349.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1327851294125" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 450px;">Winner Robert Rock with the trophy. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie</span></span>Rory McIlroy regained the world No 2 ranking from Lee Westwood when he finished runner-up to surprise winner Robert Rock in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
]]></summary></entry></feed>
