Shane Lowry would be happy to partner Andy Sullivan in a potential Ryder Cup debut after the European pair secured another vital point for skipper Darren Clarke in the Eurasia Cup in Malaysia.

Shane Lowry made a winning start with fourball partner Andy Sillivan as Darren Clarke's Europe took a 4 ½-1½ lead over Asian after day one of the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.

Even when he’s bad he’s good, though Saturday, Rory McIlroy was as almost good as ever as he shot a best-of-the-day seven under par 65 in the third round of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to put himself on the brink of a glorious double on Sunday.

Damien McGrane signed off as a full-time European Tour player with his best round for eighth months in the Portugal Masters.

Padraig Harrington was the lone Irish mover in round three of the Portugal Masters but he still trails leader Andy Sullivan by 15 strokes heading into Sunday's 8am shotgun start on the Algarve.

The glass was half full rather than half empty for Kevin Phelan as he closed with a brilliant 66 to share second place behind Andy Sullivan in the Joburg Open. 

Gareth Maybin fired a costly 75 to finish tied 38th as former Walker Cup player Andy Sullivan claimed the South African Open after a playoff with overnight leader Charl Schwartzel.

They might have lost their tour cards in 2014 but Gareth Maybin and Peter Lawrie started the year in positive fashion with one under par 71s in the South African Open Championship in Johannesburg.

On a day when Paul Casey was "over the moon" and Andy Sullivan won a trip into space, Pádraig Harrington is about to hit a new low and slip out of the Top 300 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in more than 18 years.

Michael Hoey and Simon Thornton are playing for the minor places but former world No 1 Lee Westwood has his sights set on his first win for nearly two years in the Maybank Malaysian Open.