Rory McIlroy birdied seven of his last 10 holes to open with a 66 in Dubai. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieRory 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.

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Rory McIlroy had plenty of problems with sand in the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comGareth Maybin is a stroke off the lead in the $2.5m Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - just seven weeks after struggling to keep his card in his last tournament appearance.

But his bogey-free 36 holes was still overshadowed by a two-stroke penalty for Rory McIlroy and positive performances for Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and former world No 1 Tiger Woods.

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Rory McIlroy shows of his powerfully built forearms in Abu Dhabi. Picture by Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieIt seems like only yesterday that Rory McIlroy was watching Tiger Woods play in Dubai, dashing around the grounds of the Emirates Club with pal Harry Diamond like a couple of schoolboys after the final class of summer term.

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Gareth Maybin has been getting ready for the new season in South Carolina where he worked with Rickey Sullivan, the teaching pro at Bull’s Bay Golf Club near Charleston. According to thestate.com, “Maybin flew in from his home in Northern Ireland for four days of instruction.”

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Michael Hoey. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy might have reached world No 2, won the US Open and finished the season as the world No 3 but if the world rankings are a barometer of golfing merit then Michael Hoey can argue that he was the most improved Irish player this year.

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Rory McIlroy goes wild in Hong Kong. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy is almost as well known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as he is for his stunning victory romps.

But after going stark raving bonkers by holing a bunker shot on the 72nd hole to win the UBS Hong Kong Open by two shots to revive the seemingly moribund Race to Dubai, he killed about three birds with one swing of his sand wedge.

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Big Mick McGeady hit two eagle threes on day two of the European Tour Q-School Second Stage in Spain to keep his qualifying hopes alive. Pictured here at September’s Austrian Open by Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieAnyone who doubts that golf is the most mentally demanding of games needs only study Ireland’s professionals on Sunday as they battle their personal demons on five courses from Hong Kong and Sun City to sunny Spain.

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Gareth Maybin jumps into the arms of his caddie Basile Dalberto after acing the fourth at Fanling Golf Club in the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open. Picture Jenny Matthews/GOLFFILEIf Gareth Maybin goes on to retain his European Tour card on Sunday night he may look back on the hole-in-one he scored in the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open and thank his lucky stars.

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Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy during the first round of the UBS Hong Kong Open. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy opened with a magical 64 in the UBS Hong Kong Open to remain on course to deny Luke Donald a transatlantic double.

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Gareth Maybin anxiously watches an iron shot during the final round of the SA Open. Picture golffile.ie/Carl Fourie/golfsupport.nlGareth Maybin’s immediate European Tour future will be decided at this week’s Hong Kong Open after he slipped two places to 120th in the money list following the South African Open.

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Gareth Maybin is tied for 43rd in the SA Open. Picture Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ieGareth Maybin needs a low final round in the South African Open to avoid falling outside the top 118 who will retain their European Tour cards following next week’s Hong Kong Open.

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Gareth Maybin, pictured here in Castellon earlier this season, made just his 13th cut of the year in the SA Open. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieGareth Maybin’s bid to keep his European Tour card looks certain to go right to the wire.

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Gareth Maybin is under pressure to keep his tour card. Picture by www.golffile.ie Gareth Maybin made a strong start in the €1m SA Open Championship but the Ballyclare star still faces a stiff challenge to retain his European Tour card over the next fortnight.

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Padraig Harrington tees off in his second round on Friday. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington fought off the effects of a stomach bug to storm home in 32 and go into the third round of the weather-delayed Iskandar Johor Open just two shots behind leader Daniel Chopra.

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Padraig Harrington tees off on the 15th in the first round of the Iskandar Johor Open. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieEven multiple major champions need a shot of confidence from time to time and Padraig Harrington is no exception.

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