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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Michael Hoey is now ranked 90th in the world, a career high. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey has set his sights on what he once thought was the impossible dream - a Ryder Cup cap.

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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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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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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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Padraig Harrington hits an iron on the final day of the Volvo Golf Champions. Photo by Carl Fourie www.golffile.ieThe door was open but Padraig Harrington failed to walk through it as he closed with a disappointing three over 76 to finish eight shots outside a play-off for the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa.

Having hauled himself back into the tournament on Saturday to trail the leaders by just three shots, the Dubliner had 34 putts in a poor closing effort in perfect weather conditions and had to settle for a share of 10th place behind Branden Grace, who saw off boyhood heroes Retief Goosen and Ernie Els in a play-off.

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Padraig Harrington in action during the third round of the Volvo Golf Champions. Photo by Carl Fourie www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington goes into the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions pursued by the tyranny of results but buoyed by the knowledge that he’s got a great chance to slay some particularly persistent demons.

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The 17th at Fancourt. Padraig Harrington blew a golden opportunity to challenge for his first European Tour win for more than 15 months when compounded mental errors at the 16th and 17th by racking up a double bogey at the par-five 18th for the second day running at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa.

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Padraig Harrington played well on day one before taking a double bogey at the last. Photo by Luke Walker www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington played sublimely for 17 holes before falling victim to the thing he feared most in his first start of the season - mental error.

The Dubliner, desperate to climb into the world’s top 64 from a 12-year low of 89th so he can qualify for next month’s WGC-Accenture Match Play, was lying joint second in the Volvo Golf Champions when he racked up a double bogey seven at the 18th. (Scores)

All things considered, his four under par 69  on The Links at Fancourt was a laudable effort for a man who is under pressure to come out firing on all cylinders if he is to take his place in the field in Tucson and boost his chances of making the Ryder Cup team for the seventh time.

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Padraig Harrington in South Africa this week.Padraig Harrington might not have secured a renewal of his huge deal with FTI Consulting last month but he has not left the valuable space on the front of his cap blank.

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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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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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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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Updated on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 18:17 by Brian Keogh

Rory McIlroy in action in Dubai this week. Picture Denise Cleary www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy’s race is run for 2011 but what now for the world No 2 and his manager Conor Ridge.

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