Irish Golf Desk

Golf news and features

Irish Golf Desk - Irish Golf News
© Brian Keogh 2008
Site last published: 11/21/08

Woods texts Harrington

World number one Tiger Woods was among the first to congratulate Padraig Harrington on his Open defence on Sunday night, less than a year after predicting that the Dubliner would win more Majors following his breakthrough victory at Carnoustie. Read More...

Harrington calls for Monty wildcard

Just a year after waking up to find the Claret Jug glimmering at the foot of his bed, Padraig Harrington enjoyed a hearty bowl of porridge, flipped open his laptop and perused the Ryder Cup rankings with a grin on his face. Read More...

Open diary: Monday

Bookmakers Ladbrokes paid a major price for their role in Padraig Harrington’s successful Open Championship defence. Read More...

Harrington retains the Open and joins the greats

It will rank up there with the greatest achievements in Irish sporting history but as he cradled the old Claret Jug for the second year in succession, new world No 3 Padraig Harrington preferred bask in the glory of an imperious victory rather and reflect on where it might place him in the pantheon of Irish sporting greats. Read More...

Harrington's amazing Open week

Padraig Harrington had already been declared a “model” Open champion by the R&A weeks before he lifted the Claret Jug for the second time last night. Read More...

Open diary: Sunday

Greg Norman played an unwitting part in Padraig Harrington’s fifth place finish in the Open at Muirfield in July 2002. Just a week before the Open, the pair played an exhibition match at Doonbeg in Co Clare to mark the official opening of the Australian’s Irish links design. Read More...

McDowell looks on the bright side

Graeme McDowell was looking to the future with optimism despite making up the numbers in the final round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Read More...

Crushing defeat for Smyth

Des Smyth suffered a crushing 18th hole defeat as Spaniard Juan Quiros snatched the weather-lashed Irish Seniors Open by a shot thanks to a spectacular birdie four at the death. Read More...

Old maestro Charles shines a Ballyliffin

On a day when headline acts Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam struggled to perform, it fell to one of the great artists of yesteryear to thrill the golfing aficionados with a vintage performance in the first round of the wind-buffeted Irish Seniors Open at Ballyliffin. Read More...

Old guard ready for Ballyliffin test

Creaking knees and bad legs are just run of the mill occupational hazards for the wily veterans who will begin battle for the €450,000 Irish Seniors Open at Ballyliffin’s beguiling Old Links today. Read More...

Ballyliffin and Portrush seek Irish Open

The future of the Irish Open lies on the links land of Ulster with Donegal gem Ballyliffin announcing a joint bid to host the event in conjunction with Royal Portrush from 2010. Read More...

Arthurs achieves biggest windfall

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs completed a fairytale victory in the East of Ireland and sent his father away to the bookies a happy man after cruising to an imperious four-stroke win in the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Louth. Read More...

Lernihan in command at Baltray

The Castle’s Dara Lernihan relied on his patience to forge a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the East of Ireland Championship at County Louth. Read More...

Victory the only option for Harrington

Padraig Harrington insists that nothing but victory will satisfy him when he defends the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July. Read More...

McGinley fails to explain blowout

As 44-year-old Miguel Angel Jiménez snatched the BMW PGA Championship and a record eighth European Tour victory by a player in their 40s, Dubliner Paul McGinley struggled to come to terms with the most disappointing weekend of his golfing career. Read More...

McGinley in record-breaking form

Paul McGinley continued his amazing rise from the golfing doldrums when he finished birdie-eagle to leave the field spluttering in his exhaust fumes at the halfway stage of the the BMW PGA Championship at rain-softened Wentworth. Read More...

McGinley motors to course record

Paul McGinley struck a blow for the cerebral golfer when he carded a tactically brilliant seven-under par 65 to set a new course record and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the €4.5 million BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Read More...

Irish pair make Champions League plans

Manchester United fan Graeme McDowell doesn’t believe that Nick Faldo needs any hair-dryer support from the likes of Alex Ferguson when the European Ryder Cup team hunkers down in the team room at Valhalla in four months’ time. Read More...

Faldo on the defensive

Memories of Nick Faldo’s cringe-inducing 1992 Open Championship winning speech came flooding back during a disappointing media briefing by Europe’s Ryder Cup captain at Wentworth yesterday. Read More...

Ronaldo an inspiration for Figueiredo

Connor Doran wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Portuguese teenager Pedro Figueiredo cruise to an impressive seven-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.
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Clarke refuses to settle for Nick pick

Darren Clarke knows what he likes - boys toys like his Lamborghini Murcielago, the new Hummer-style golf cart he drives to the range at Queenwood, his iPhone, the private jet he co-owns with Lee Westwood, pints of Guinness and even the odd fag. Read More...

Capital golf - swinging Dublin

Dublin can be heaven, they say, which is why tourism chiefs want visitors to grab their clubs and see where four of Ireland’s 17 Ryder Cup players, 11 Walker Cup stars and one British Open champion learnt to play the game.

Ireland is a virtual mecca for the golf enthusiast with over 440 golf clubs from Cushendall in Antrim to Kerry’s Ceann Sibeall. But many overlook the attractions of the capital, where there are literally dozens of great places to indulge your golfing habit. Read More...

Promoting Irish golf - the Failte Ireland way

According to a report by Deloitte & Touche, the Irish economy benefitted to the tune of €143 million from the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club but less than two years on, Ireland is facing massive new challenges in the battle to attract overseas golfers to these shores.

The weak dollar and the perception that golf in Ireland is expensive has sent visitor numbers tumbling at an alarming rate. The forecast for 2009 is that we will continue to struggle and with that kind of scenario, there has been much burning of midnight oil at Fáilte Ireland to come up with a plan to get back on track again.
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McIlroy off his greens in Portugal

Rory McIlroy had a nightmare day on the greens as Gregory Bourdy smashed David Howell’s comeback dreams with a play-off win in the Estoril Portuguese Open. Read More...

McIlroy looking for big finish in Portugal

Rory McIlroy believes he can still contend for the Estoril Portuguese Open after signing off with an eagle three at sun-scorched Oitavos Dunes. Read More...

Lowry has the magic

Shane Lowry produced that little bit of magic that separates the good players from the true champions to take his place in the semi-finals of the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point. Read More...

Late late show at Rosses Point

Douglas’s JP Hughes survived until the fourth day of the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point. Read More...

Six in a row for Woods

Tiger Woods edged a step closer to golfing immortality when he claimed his sixth successive victory and his eighth in nine starts with a record-breaking 8 and 7 win over Stewart Cink in the final of the WGC- Accenture Match Play Championship at The Gallery near Tucson last night. Read More...

Woods remains on track in Tucson

Tiger Woods is on track for his sixth tournament victory in a row after a nail-biting 20th hole win over Aaron Baddeley in the third round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at the Gallery Golf Club near Tucson.
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Harrington made to suffer for mistakes

Padraig Harrington confessed that he made far too many mistakes as he crashed out to Stewart Cink in the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson. Read More...

Woods survives thanks to late heroics

Tiger Woods produced an incredible late comeback reminiscent of his amateur days to sneak into the second round of the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship at The Gallery Golf Club near Tucson.
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Harrington ready to rumble

Padraig Harrington is bracing himself for a first round onslaught from battling Jerry Kelly in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at The Gallery Golf Club outside Tucson.
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Harrington shares third at Riviera

Padraig Harrington produced a blistering back nine to close with a three under par 68 and share of third place behind winner Phil Mickelson in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Read More...

Harrington shows early form

Padraig Harrington got off to a sensational start in his bid to add the Northern Trust Open to his list of US successes at The Riviera Club.
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Harrington brushes away the cobwebs

It was deja vu all over again for Padraig Harrington as he mixed early season cobwebs with strokes of brilliance to open with a two under par 69 in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera.
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Masters is Harrington's long term goal

Padraig Harrington tees it up at Rivera today with his sights firmly fixed on his preparations for the Masters rather than the Northern Trust Open.
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Villegas awaits Harrington

Colombian "Spiderman" Camilo Villegas can't wait for the chance to take down Open champion Padraig Harrington in next week's WGC-Accenuture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
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Woods breaks Els' heart again

Tiger Woods produced a trademark back nine charge to card a seven under par 65 and snatch the Dubai Desert Classic with a stroke to spare at the Emirates Golf Club.
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McDowell finds oasis in desert

Graeme McDowell left Dubai with a spring in his step after grabbing fifth place behind Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic.
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Damien's date with destiny

Tiger Woods is getting almost twice as much in appearance money this week - a cool €2.4 million - than Damien McGrane has earned in his entire career.
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McDowell and Murphy chasing Tiger

Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy are determined to chase down Tiger Woods after solid second round 72s in the Dubai Desert Classic.
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Irish duo on Tiger's trail

Irish duo Gary Murphy and Graeme McDowell joined an 11-man posse chasing a rampant Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic.
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Woods seeks to extend winning streak

Tiger Woods has taken note of Rory McIlroy’s spectacular appearance on golf’s major stage, revealing that he was impressed by the 18-year-old’s performance in last year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie, where he was outscored by the teenager in the first round.
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McGinley tries a different line

Paul McGinley is so fed up with his slide into the golfing doldrums that he has radically overhauled his putting action in a desperate effort to rediscover his winning touch.
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Rory on a mission in Dubai

Rory McIlroy plans to play his way into a dream pairing with Tiger Woods after failing to land a plum draw with the world number one for the first two rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic.
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Rory and Padraig to challenge Tiger

Henrik Stenson reckons Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington can step up and challenge Tiger Woods for golfing supremacy
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Rory has star quality for Ernie

Ernie Els is a huge admirer of Rory McIlroy, who was described in print by European Tour boss George O'Grady at the weekend as a potential "Irish Tiger Woods."
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O'Meara sees green for Padraig

Mark O’Meara knows what it’s like to shove the Claret Jug out of the way to make room for the Corn Flakes on his breakfast table.
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McIlroy to play in Japan in May

Rory McIlroy will take another giant step towards global fame and fortune when he tees it up in The Crowns tournament on the Japan Golf Tour in May. Read More...

McGinley ninth as Kaymer wins in Abu Dhabi

As Germany's Martin Kaymer took a giant step towards superstardom with a four-stroke, wire-to-wire victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship, Ireland's Paul McGinley was far from satisfied with his first top-10 finish for 15 months
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Pain in the neck for Harrington

Painful memories of the 2002 US PGA Championship came back to haunt Padraig Harrington as he required on-course treatment on his neck to get through the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship. Read More...

Harrington predicts six Ryder Cup rookies

Padraig Harrington began his 2008 campaign with a roller-coaster level par 72 to trail leader Martin Kaymer by six shots after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.
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No cards for Browne or Moriarty

Ireland’s Colm Moriarty and Stephen Browne came up short as 30 players grabbed their cards in a heart-stopping finale to the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at San Roque.
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Crunch time at San Roque

Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty must go low to clinch their European Tour cards at San Roque today.
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Just two out of five at Q-School

Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty survived the cut by the skin of their teeth as Peter O’Keeffe exited the European Tour Qualifying School Finals disappointed but pleased with his progression as a player this season.
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O'Keeffe reeling at School

Peter O’Keeffe’s hopes of earning a dream ticket to the European Tour were shattered beyond repair for even the most optimistic Irish golf fan in the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at windswept San Roque
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Poor finish hurts O'Keeffe

Peter O’Keeffe was left with a bad taste in his mouth after two late bogeys led to a two over par 74 and took the gloss off a grinding opening round in the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at San Roque.
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O'Keeffe puts celebrations on hold

Peter O’Keeffe turns 26 tomorrow but the big-hitting Douglas man plans to put the celebrations on hold until next week, when he hopes he’ll have his European Tour card in his pocket.
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Rose fears Valderrama

England’s Justin Rose believes that Valderrama will be a bigger rival than Pádraig Harrington in the race to become European No 1 at next week’s Volvo Masters.
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Tired McIlroy comes back to earth

A frustrated Rory McIlroy discovered just how cut-throat the European Tour can be as he finished a challenging ten shots off the lead after the first round of the Portugal Masters on the sunny Algarve.
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Kazakhstan wants more birdies than Borats

Professional golf is often a suffocating world of pampered and petulant stars with its prawn sandwich brigade of blue riband sponsors and elitist venues.
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McIlroy cruises through Q-School

Rory McIlroy cruised through the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School - but not without a fright.
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McIlroy closes in on Q-School success

Rory McIlroy is just one round away from cruising into the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.
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McIlroy on course at Q-School

Rory McIlroy added five under par 67 to his opening 70 in the first stage of the Qualifying School (Section A) at the Oxfordshire to remain on course for his European Tour card .
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US Walker Cup win tainted

Rory McIlroy bid farewell to the amateur game by launching an unmerciful attack on American star Billy Horschel as the United States beat Britain and Ireland 12 1/2 - 11 1/2 at Royal County Down.
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McIlroy can be inspirational

Rory McIlroy can inspire his team mates to singles glory at Royal County Down.
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Time to walk the walk

They’ve talked the talk. Now it’s time to walk the walk.

With knees knocking and butterflies whirling, the top amateurs from the United States will take on the cream of Great Britain and Ireland and around 10,000 partisan supporters in one of the most breathtakingly beautiful settings in the world of golf.
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Favourites tag doesn't bother GB&I

Red-hot favourites? No problem. Great Britain and Ireland’s ten-man squad don’t need the bookies, Gary Wolstenholme or even United States skipper George “Buddy” Marucci to tell them what they already know.
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Munster old guard comes up trumps

The “old guard” came up trumps as Munster snatched the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial Matches on a countback at Co Louth yesterday - winning the title for the first time in a decade.
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Munster still alive in Interpros

Munster lost 7-6 to champions Ulster but still have a chance of winning the Golfsure Interprovincial Matches for the first time in a decade at County Louth.
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Connacht survive self-inflicted wounds

Connacht survived some self-inflicted wounds before grabbing a shock 8-5 victory over defending champions Ulster on the opening day of the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial Championship at County Louth.
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Hopes high heading to Carnoustie

Pádraig Harrington and David Higgins headed from The European Club to Carnoustie with a spring in their step and hopes high.
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Irish PGA descends into farce

The Irish Professional Championship descended into farce as three weather delays forced the postponement of the third round at The European Club.
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Harrington plays down hip injury

The European Club didn't bring Padraig Harrington to his knees. But the world No 10 did end up flat on his back after throwing his right hip out of joint on the ninth hole.
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Injury scare for Harrington

The European Club might have a reputation as the toughest links course in the country but no-one expected to see Padraig Harrington flat on his back during the first round of the Irish Professional Championship.
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Open agenda at Irish PGA

Padraig Harrington will be searching for more than just his fourth Irish Professional Championship at The European Club this week.
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Kilpatrick shakes off nearly man tag

Ulsterman Richard Kilpatrick shook off his nearly man tag in spectacular style and opened the doors to Walker Cup selection with a closing eagle three and a massive eight-shot victory in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth.
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Kilpatrick takes massive lead

In-form Richard Kilpatrick fired a sensational six-under par 66 to scorch into an impressive six-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth.
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Saltman recital at Royal Dublin

Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman produced the greatest round of golf yet seen on the new-look Royal Dublin links to lay the foundations of a memorable two-stroke victory in the wind-lashed AIB Irish Amateur Open.
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McIlroy blown away

Rory McIlroy was blown away on the back nine as an unknown Czech grabbed the first round lead in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at new-look Royal Dublin. Read More...

Dalgleish in watching brief

Rory McIlroy is a cast-iron certainty to make his Walker Cup debut at Royal County Down in September.
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Lyons is king at last

Galway's Joe Lyons produced a sensational putting performance to win the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland title at Rosses Point.
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Leonard looks to weather gods

Big Rory Leonard hopes Rory McIlroy will get blown away when he faces the defending champion in the third round of the Radission-SAS West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point today.
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Woods cruises clear in Miami

Tiger Woods produced a brilliant putting display as he scorched to a superb six under par 66 to grab a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the WGC-CA Championship at Doral's Blue Monster in Miami
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Stenson leads in Miami

Big gun Henrik Stenson roared into a share of the first round lead as the internationals dominated the wind blown WGC - CA Championship at Doral's Blue Monster in Miami.
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Federer steals Tiger's thunder

Padraig Harrington has Augusta on his mind but Tiger Woods admitted that he is just as interested in tennis after being watched by world number one Roger Federer during a practice round for the $8 million CA Championship in Miami.
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Harrington signs American course deal

Padraig Harrington has signed a four-year deal to represent an American course as its touring professional. Read More...

Gerry Fagan and the €125 million deal

Looking for the perfect recipe for a golfing paradise? Take two lateral thinking accountants with capital and an idea; mix with more annual sunshine than California; add the cachet of Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor Jnr; blend with Darren Clarke and sprinkle with the flair of landscape designer Diarmuid Gavin and hey presto, you've got Oceanico Golf.

The western Algarve has been a golfing mecca since three-time Open winner Sir Henry Cotton built Penina, the area's first grass course, on a former rice paddy in 1966.

More than 40 years on, Portugal's Atlantic coast boasts in excess of thirty courses and by May next year there will be two more under the umbrella of a burgeoning Anglo-Irish development company that was founded after a meeting of minds between Drogheda-born Gerry Fagan and Englishman Andrew Burgess at Dublin airport in 2000. Read More...

Oceanico pull out the stops

Darren Clarke doesn’t do things by halves. And neither does Gerry Fagan, the Drogheda man behind a multi-million euro mega-deal that has made the Oceanico Group Portugal’s leading golf and property player. Read More...

Stenson wins Accenture

Henrik Stenson became the first Swede to win a World Golf Championship event when he beat defending champion Geoff Ogilvy 2 and 1 to claim the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. Read More...

Tough start for Irish pair in Arizona

Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke could not have asked for a tougher start to the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship had they been paired with Tiger Woods. Read More...

Tickets limited for Walker Cup

At least 10,000 Irish golf fans will descend on Royal County Down for the Walker Cup from September 8-9. Read More...

Higgins vows to come back stronger

Waterville's David Higgins vowed to come back a better player after crashing to second last place in the rain-delayed European Tour Qualifying School finals.
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Walton keeps card hopes alive

Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton produced a battling third round performance to revive his hopes to earning his European Tour card in Spain.

The 44-year-old Dubliner carded a three-under-par 69 on the New Course at San Roque to leap 35 spots up the leaderboard to a share of 58th on two over par.

Walton is still three shots adrift of the top 30 and ties who will earn their playing privileges for 2007 after six rounds. Read More...

Higgins makes positive move at Q School

Waterville's David Higgins made a move in the right direction as Philip Walton lost ground in the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at San Roque.

As Spain's Carlos Rodiles carded a spectacular eight under par 64 to lead on 10 under par after two rounds, Higgins added a solid 70 to his opening 72 to move up to a share of 21st place on two under par.

However, Walton failed to take advantage of near perfect conditions as he posted what he described as a "mediocre" one over par 73 that left him in joint 93rd place on five over par. Read More...