Irish Golf Desk

Golf news and features

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

McIlroy challenging in Hong Kong

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Red-hot Rory McIlroy is gunning for his maiden European Tour win after scorching into contention with a six-under par 64 in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Victory would catapult McIlroy, 19, into the world’s top 50 and next year’s Masters at Augusta. And he feel ready to finish the job after notching up a confidence-boosting five top-10s from his last seven starts.

Just two shots behind amateur rival Ollie Fisher (65), Oliver Wilson (66), South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen (62) and Chawalit Plaphol (66) of Thailand on six under, McIlroy said: “I played really nicely and I feel that I could have done a little better. I didn’t birdie any of the last five holes and I probably had four wedges in my hand and could have birdied a couple.
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Harrington wins Shot and Golfer of the Year

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A review of Padraig Harrington’s sensational summer, where he successfully defended The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale before winning the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, is one of the many highlights of the 21st Edition of The European Tour Yearbook (RRP £30.00) which goes on sale today.
 
The stunning full colour publication has been an integral part of The European Tour for the past two decades and the 21st edition once again captures all the excitement and emotion of a momentous and historic year as well as celebrating the phenomenal growth of the Tour since 1988.
 
In addition to Harrington’s achievement, the 21st Edition of the Yearbook also highlights Trevor Immelman’s triumph in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National as well as Robert Karlsson’s momentous feat in becoming the first Swedish golfer to win The European Tour Order of Merit and The Harry Vardon Trophy. Read More...

Garcia wins Shot of the Month for October

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Sergio Garcia of Spain has won The European Tour Shot of the Month Award for October for a typically inventive stroke on his way to victory in the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar over his home course of Club de Campo del Mediterráneo.
 
Garcia, seeking his first victory on European soil in three years, had seen a four shot overnight lead evaporate by the sixth hole on the final day in Spain as Peter Hedblom of Sweden roared into title contention. Read More...

McIlroy continues rankings rise

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy can overtake Darren Clarke in the world rankings and take another step towards his US Masters dream in this week’s $2.5 million UBS Hong Kong Open.

The Holywood teenager, 19, jumped 17 places 63rd in the world thanks to his fourth place finish in the Barclays Singapore Open and is now just two places behind his mentor.

If he remains inside top 64 until February 23, McIlroy will tee it up in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. But he has his sights set on finishing the year inside the world’s top 50 and booking his ticket to Augusta National. Read More...

McDowell primed for next step

Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell believes he is ready to battle with the big boys for golf’s major titles - but first he wants to take on the world.

The Ulsterman, 29, grabbed a share of eighth place in the Volvo Masters to finish the season a career-high fifth in the Order of Merit.

Now he wants to prove he has stepped up to  a new level but contending for major honours and helping Paul McGinley to World Cup glory.
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Valderrama is Valhalla for a day

Soren Kjeldsen
It was more like Valhalla than Valderrama as Scandinavian heroes Soren Kjeldsen and Robert Karlsson celebrated their moments of glory with sighs of relief rather than throaty roars.

While the diminutive Dane Kjeldsen avenged last season’s play-off defeat by clinching an impressive two-stroke victory in the weather-ravaged final edition of the Volvo Masters, Karlsson rounded off a season of incredible consistency when he became the first Swede to lift the coveted Harry Vardon Trophy. Read More...

Storming finish for Harrington at Kingsbarns

Padraig Harrington produced a brilliant finish to rescue his hopes of a third Dunhill Links Championship and his second Order of Merit title.
Padraig Harrington


He was level par after 12 holes, good enough only for a share of 90th place but then birdied five of his last six holes to card a five-under-par 67, three off the lead held by Ryder Cup team-mate Soren Hansen and England's Ross Fisher. Read More...

Faldo not to blame say Irish stars

Nick Faldo is not to blame for Europe's biggest Ryder Cup defeat for 24 years.
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McDowell sees Major silver lining to Ryder Cup cloud

Graeme McDowell is shooting for Major glory after a brilliant Ryder Cup performance convinced him he can take his game to a new level. Read More...

Americans regain Ryder Cup

Nick Faldo’s final day strategy backfired as the United States snatched back the Ryder Cup in impressive fashion at Valhalla. Read More...

Harrington and McDowell go down fighting

Celtic tigers Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell went down fighting as the United States roared into a 5 - 2 Ryder Cup lead at steamy Valhalla. Read More...

McDowell prepared to get down and dirty

Graeme McDowell has no intention of going down in Ryder Cup history as a good loser. Read More...

McDowell eyes Harrington partnership

Matchplay wizard Graeme McDowell hopes he can get handcuffed to Padraig Harrington for the rest of the Ryder Cup. Read More...

Faldo promises to reveal his hand

Nick Faldo has revealed that he WILL have several Ryder Cup helpers at Valhalla - but not Paul McGinley. Read More...

McDowell to silence American fans

Graeme McDowell can't wait to gag the beer-fuelled US fans at Valhalla and continue Ireland's great Ryder Cup tradition. Read More...

McDowell to impress Faldo in Cologne

Ryder Cup rookie Graeme McDowell wants to ease Nick Faldo’s selection headaches with a storming performance in Germany. Read More...

McGinley and McDowell bound for Mission Hills World Cup

McGinley and McDowell
Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell will team up in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

With top man Padraig Harrington officially pulling out, McDowell was Ireland's qualifier at 30th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

That earned him the right to choose his partner and 86th ranked McGinley jumped at McDowell's offer to tee it up.
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McDowell and McGinley set for World Cup

Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell look certain to head Ireland's Mission Hills World Cup bid in China. Read More...

Bumper year for Irish golf

Darren Clarke’s amazing KLM Open victory brought Ireland’s victory haul this year to an incredible 13. Read More...

McDowell gets rough ride

Graeme McDowell slammed US PGA bosses for raking up the rough as he crashed to a four-over par 74 at fast-running Oakland Hills. Read More...

Pain in the grass for McDowell

Graeme McDowell had a pain in the grass after a first round 74 at Oakland Hills and blasted the tricked up rough as “stupid”. Read More...

McDowell ready for short game test

Graeme McDowell believes he has the short game skills to challenge for his first Major win at Oakland Hills.
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Oakland Hills made for Harrington

Graeme McDowell reckons that “tough guy” Padraig Harrington has the short game genius to win at Oakland Hills.
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McDowell comes up short

Gutted Graeme McDowell reckons his short game must improve if he is to become a future Open winner. 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...

McDowell makes his move

Graeme McDowell wants to snatch the Claret Jug from Padraig Harrington after digging deep to stay in contention at wind-lashed Royal Birkdale. Read More...

McDowell ready this time

Ulster ace Graeme McDowell topped the Open charts for the second time in three years and roared: I'm ready to be a winner this time. Read More...

Ireland's Open challengers

Ireland’s Open challengers Read More...

Open door for McDowell at Birkdale

Graeme McDowell has a golden opportunity to step through an Open door this week and take the Claret Jig back to Ireland.
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Irish get Major company in Open draw

Pádraig Harrington will have some major company in the first two rounds of the Open at Royal Birkdale.
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McDowell bubbling under

Adrenaline junkie Graeme McDowell wants to ride his wave of red-hot form to Open glory at Royal Birkdale. Read More...

Harrington misses cut in Wales

The Wales Open will resume tomorrow with a little-known Australian eyeing the main prize and with its star attraction nowhere to be seen. 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...

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 praise for Clarke and McDowell

Ryder Cup skipper Nick Faldo is delighted to see Darren Clarke come back to winning form. Read More...

McIlroy and McDowell eye Champions League

Manchester United fans Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will pull out all the stops to watch tonight’s Champions League final. Read More...

Clarke and McDowell shun US Open qualifier

Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell have pulled out of US Open qualifying in a bid to make this year's Ryder Cup team. Read More...

Ulster move for Irish Open

The Irish Open could be heading to Ulster in 2010 - and Graeme McDowell is over the moon. Read More...

McDowell tips Clarke for Ryder Cup comeback

Europe needs Darren Clarke to ride his new wave of confidence to the gates of Valhalla for his sixth Ryder Cup cap. Read More...

McGrane comes back to earth

Damien McGrane came back to earth with a bump following his Volvo China Open win when double bogeyed his opening hole in the BWM Asian Open. Read More...

Ryder Cup beckons as McGrane wins maiden title

Super-grinder Damien McGrane broke is tour duck with an amazing NINE-shot win at the rain-lashed Volvo China Open and confessed: The world is my oyster now. Read More...

McGrane poised for maiden win

Damien McGrane delights in describing himself as a grinder, a European Tour worker bee, sucking up the euro and tournament experience with the kind of patience and dogged determination that makes the legendary Bernhard Langer look like a whirling dervish by comparison. Read More...

Grinder McGrane lurking in Beijing

Grinder Damien McGrane produced a sensational short game display to lurk one-shot off the lead in the Volvo China Open in Beijing. Read More...

McDowell wants to be like Padraig

Graeme McDowell says Padraig Harrington is his role model and inspiration as he battles to earn his first Ryder Cup cap in September. Read More...

McDowell eyes Irish Open success

As the first Irish winner on The 2008 European Tour International Schedule, Graeme McDowell is eyeing this year’s Irish Open with a keen sense of anticipation and renewed feeling of confidence. Read More...

McDowell takes a month off

Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods licked their wounds in an exhibition fourball last night after falling short in the WGC-CA Championship in Miami. Read More...

McDowell to push on

Graeme McDowell has become a lean, mean, driving machine.

And while things can't get much better according to his coach, McDowell's convinced he can push on and become a prolific European Tour winner.
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McDowell comes full circle

Graeme McDowell was inspired by Padraig Harrington to battle his way from golfing despair to the verge of Ryder Cup glory. Read More...

Houston on McDowell radar

Graeme McDowell could get a Houston warm-up for the Masters. Read More...

McDowell thanks McGinley

Graeme McDowell thanked Paul McGinley for his moral support in South Korea. Read More...

McDowell up to 59th in the world

Graeme McDowell soared 35 places to 59th in the world after capping an extraordinary final round at the inaugural Ballantine’s
Championship with a thrilling sudden-death play-off victory on the third extra hole over Jeev Milkha Singh at the Pinx Golf Club.
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McDowell in seventh heaven after play-off win

Graeme McDowell has vowed to make Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup side after soaring to sixth in the qualifying stakes thanks to his dramatic play-off victory at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Read More...

McDowell opens the door

Graeme McDowell double bogeyed the 18th to allow Jeev Milkha Singh claim a share of the lead entering the final round of the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Read More...

McDowell leads after 64 in Korea

Graeme McDowell capitalised on a putting tip from Thomas Bjorn to card an amazing eight-under par 64 and scorch two shots clear at the weather-delayed Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Read More...

McDowell and McGinley start well

Graeme McDowell is bang on course to qualify for next week's CA-Championship in Miami after an opening 68 in the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Read More...

McDowell wants "no regrets"

Graeme McDowell is determined to have "no regrets" as he chases Ryder Cup glory this season.
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McGrane heads McDowell in Indian Masters

Irish duo Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell surged to the top of the pile at the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in Delhi. Read More...

Els and Clarke to bounce back

Darren Clarke and Ernie Els are hoping to bounce back from their Dubai disappointments in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters.
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McDowell prepared to be patient

Graeme McDowell is convinced that it is only a matter of time before he ends a victory drought that goes back to the Italian Open in May 2004.
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McDowell back in business

Graeme McDowell can’t wait to grab a Indian takeaway in this week’s Indian Masters after breaking into the world’s top 100 again.
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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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Irish left in Tiger's wake

Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane had to bow to the superiority of Tiger Woods in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
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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 have a blast in the desert

Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy emerged sand-blasted but happy after combining exfoliation with perspiration to remain on the coat-tails of Tiger Woods and surprise package Damien McGrane 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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Murphy and McDowell in the mix

Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy finished in an 11-man log jam for second place after five under par 67s as six of Ireland's seven participants broke par on the opening day of the Dubai Desert Classic.
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McDowell on the up in Doha

Graeme McDowell scrambled his way to a one under par 71 to lead the Irish challenge at the halfway stage of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. Read More...

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...

New horizons for McDowell

Graeme McDowell has revealed how one moment of club-smashing madness inspired him to completely reassess his career.
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McDowell can't wait for '08

Graeme McDowell claimed sixth place in the UBS Hong Kong Open to finish his season on a high.
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McDowell on the charge

Re-charged Graeme McDowell surged into contention at the Hong Kong Open as Rory McIlroy missed his first cut as a pro.
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McDowell 'fizzing' to get back

Graeme McDowell says he's "fizzing" with desire to get back to the top after his amazing Volvo Masters performance.
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Albatross for McDowell

Graeme McDowell hit an amazing albatross two on the 563-yard 17th to share fourth place with Padraig Harrington at Valderrama.
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McGinley disgusted by putting

Paul McGinley was disgusted as a nightmare finish left him six shots behind a rampant Justin Rose at Valderrama.
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McDowell leads Volvo again

Go-getter Graeme McDowell stormed into lead at the Volvo Masters for the second year on the trot.
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Seve Trophy race for McDowell

Recharged Graeme McDowell faces a three-week race against time to make next month's Seve Trophy in Ireland.
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McDowell wants Open in Ireland

Graeme McDowell says he'd love to win the Open - in Ireland!
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Ireland's Magnificent Seven

On the silver screen they were seven - and they fought like seven hundred.
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McDowell hops ahead

Graeme McDowell summed up a soggy day at the K Club when he saw a frog on his line on the ninth green.
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Weather turn-off in Ireland

Graeme McDowell believes Europe's top stars are running scared of the Irish weather.
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McDowell takes Open spot

Qualifiying specialist Graeme McDowell scorched into the Open at Carnoustie - despite farcical scenes at Sunningdale.
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McDowell has US Open gene

Graeme McDowell is convinced that he has a US Open win deep inside him.
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McDowell needs wedge magic

Graeme McDowell believes he must find some short game magic if he is to win a major title
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McDowell heading for grizzly finish

Graeme McDowell was heading for a US Open mauling as a black bear caused commotion and Tiger Woods roared at steamy Oakmont.
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Harrington hangs on

Padraig Harrington held on to his US Open dream at mighty Oakmont - but only by his fingertips.
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Hell with the lid off

Padraig Harrington will need to be a man of steel to triumph in Pittsburgh - a city once described as "Hell with the lid taken off."
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McDowell ready to rumble

Graeme McDowell rolled up his sleeves, got stuck into Oakmont and declared: I’m here to do a job.
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Mum's the word for Graeme

Graeme McDowell plans to put a smile on his Mum’s face by plotting his way to US Open glory at Oakmont next week.
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McDowell gives 100K to charity

Graeme McDowell has donated $100,000 to help his Mum and the battle against Multiple Sclerosis.
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McDowell takes the p***

Graeme McDowell says he'll do anything for a free beer - even if it means taking a drug test.
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McDowell eyes World Cup spot

Graeme McDowell would love to stand in for Padraig Harrington in November's World Cup in China.
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McDowell avoids longest drive

Graeme McDowell avoided a five-hour drive back to Portrush with an amazing birdie-eagle burst.
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Irish Open - home players

Paul McGinley topped the Irish charts on a bad day for the 17 strong home brigade at Adare Manor.
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PGA Tour 'stealing' players says McDowell

Graeme McDowell believes the PGA Tour is “stealing” Europe’s top players.
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McDowell feeling good for Italian job

Go-getter Graeme McDowell believes he is on the verge of something really big. Read More...

McDowell in the mix in Madrid

Marathon man Graeme McDowell moved into contention for his first win in three years in the Spanish Open.
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McDowell ninth in Shanghai

Graeme McDowell grabbed his third top-10 of the season as Raphael Jacquelin cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in the BMW Asian Open. Read More...

I need a slap, says McDowell

Graeme McDowell admits that he needs a good slap to continue his move forward in the world rankings.
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McDowell second in China

Graeme McDowell settled for second place in the Volvo China Open and roared: I'm back on track at last.
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McDowell fancies Chinese takeaway

Portrush powerhouse Graeme McDowell believes he can end his three-year winning drought in China this weekend.
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Tucker finds new path for McDowell

Tiger Woods once called David Howell 'The Cool Dude'.

Now get ready for Cool Dude II in the shape of Ireland's Graeme McDowell. Read More...

McDowell comes back to earth

Globe-trotter Graeme McDowell crashed back to earth in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand.
Read More...

McDowell and Clarke have things to prove

Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell are preparing to get off to a fast start in 2007. Read More...

Clarke and McDowell blown away

Ulster star Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke were blown away at Fota Island - by the weather and the officials. Read More...