Michael Hoey finished 12th behidn Paul Lawrie in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey shook off the effects of a stomach bug to clinch his best finish since last season’s Alfred Dunhill Championship victory and boost his Ryder Cup hopes at the 54-hole Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

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Padraig Harrington played his role in helping golf return to the Olympic Games. Picture courtesy randa.orgPadraig Harrington believes he’s doing Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell a favour by advising them to declare for Team Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.

Clarifying the remarks he made in a TV interview to be broadcast on Setanta Ireland this weekend, the Dubliner reckons he’s giving the Northern Ireland pair the perfect “way out” of an emotive Britain v Ireland debate that could leave other Irish players “devastated” if they miss the boat to Rio de Janeiro.

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Updated on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 15:52 by Brian Keogh

Winner Robert Rock with the trophy. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieRory 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.

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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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Tiger Woods is back on the prowl again - fitter, stronger and more determined that ever.

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Kartel is synoymous with Padraig Harrington, who signed for the Dublin-based clothing company in 1996 and went on to spread its name worldwide through his numerous successes on the golf course. Now, with the brand entering the US market, Graeme McDowell has come aboard as an ambassador with his own clothing line, G-Mac by Kartel.

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G-Mac goes digital on EA SportsPadraig Harrington expects to win more majors before he’s finished but right now it’s Graeme McDowell who’s cashing on his status as a grand slam title winner.

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Graeme McDowell will make his first appearance in two years at next month’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.

The world No 12 will return to Doha Golf Club from February 2-5 for his sixth appearance in the $2.5 million tournament where he has enjoyed top-20 finishes in each of his last three appearances.

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Conor Mallaghan (Carton House), Richard Hills (Ryder Cup Director, European Tour), Redmond O’Donoghue (Chairman, Failte Ireland), George O’Grady (Chief Executive, European Tour), Arlene Foster (Tourism Minister, Northern Ireland Executive) Darren Clarke and Philip Tweedie (Captain, Royal Portrush) on the 18th green at Royal Portrush Golf Club after the announcement that the Irish Open will be played at Royal Portrush in 2012 and Carton House in 2013. (Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images)Ulster pride in major winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke could help end the search for an Irish Open sponsor.

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The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club will stage the Irish Open for the first time since Harry Bradshaw triumphed there in 1947.After an absence of almost 60 years, and following two hugely successful stagings of the championship at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, the Irish Open will return to Northern Ireland this summer when the classic links at Royal Portrush hosts the 2012 event from Thursday June 28 to Sunday July 1, writes the European Tour.

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Key people in Rory McIlroy’s life in 2011 - new girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki and new manager Conor Ridge. Pictured in Dubai on December 10 by Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieAll eyes will be on Rory McIlroy in 2012 following his major breakthrough at the US Open. His eight-shot win at Congressional was one of the stories of the year but he also captured headlines for his activities off the course and none came bigger than his decision to sack manager Chubby Chandler and take on Conor Ridge at Horizon Sports Management.

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Darren Clarke shares a joke with Phil Mickelson at the Open Championship presentation. Picture Credit / Phil INGLIS / www.golffile.ieDarren Clarke’s magnificent Open Championship victory at Royal St George’s was arguably the highlight of the golfing summer. In the third instalment of our review of 2011, we look back at some of the most significant quotes this year. (Read Part I, Part II)

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US Open champion Rory McIlroy tweets a picture of his first major trophy before his press conference at Congressional Country Club on June 19. Picture Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieContinuing our review of Ireland’s great golfing year (Part I), it is worth remembering that while the game lost a great genius in Seve Ballesteros in May, it was celebrating the elevation of another rare talent to superstar status just a few weeks later.

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Padraig Harrington speaks to the press on Friday monring after being disqualified from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for signing for a wrong score the previous day. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieThe year provided some obvious highs for Irish golfers with Rory McIlroy’s US Open coronation, so soon after his Augusta agony, swiftly followed by Darren Clarke’s long-awaited major breakthrough in The Open. But there was plenty more to keep Irish golf fans reading in 2011 and not all of it was on such an epic scale.

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World No 3 Rory McIlroy is hotly fancied to become world No 1 next year. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieNow that Rory McIlroy has a major title on his mantelpiece, the bookies expect him to continue to rack up the wins and take over as world No 1. Of course, they haven’t forgotten about Tiger Woods.

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