Brett Rumford’s dramatic eagle in sudden death gave him his first win since 2007. Picture © Getty Images Former Irish Open champion Brett Rumford hit a sensational five iron to four feet on the first extra hole to set up an eagle and victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
Alex Noren has a one shot lead in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea. Picture © Getty Images.Damien McGrane produced a fighting performance to make the cut with ease then battled back from a poor start to scorch up the leaderboard in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
Paul McGinley is feeling positive about the season ahead after finishing seventh in Korea for his first top-10 finish since last September’s KLM Open. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley clinched his biggest tour cheque for more than two and half years as Bernd Wiesberger sealed a dominant maiden European Tour victory at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
With friend and former professional Simon Hurd on his bag this week, Paul McGinley shot a seven under par 65 to move into contention at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieIf Paul McGinley was a great putter instead of just a good putter, he’d have double digit European Tour wins instead of just five.
Who knows, he might also have saved some wear and tear on his knees, given the untold number of times we have seen the three-time Ryder Cup winner do his knee-flex of frustration every time another seemingly perfect putt burned the edge of the hole on its way past. We’re just kidding, of course, but even the Dubliner would admit that it’s been frustrating at times.
Bernd Wiesberger leads the Ballantine’s Championship but Miguel Angel Jimenez is just three shots behind. Picture ©Getty ImagesMiguel Angel Jiménez has another chance to break Des Smyth’s record and become the European Tour’s oldest winner after a faultless, four under 68 left him just three shots behind Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.
Paul McGinley and his caddy, former tour player Simon Hurd, on the 18th during the opening round of the Ballantine’s Championship at Blackstone Golf Course, Icheon, Korea. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley battled swirling winds, lack of tournament practice and the mental barrier of a chronic left knee to open with a fine one under 71 in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.
The 45-year old world No 515, who has limited himself to just four events and only 13 competitive rounds this year to take the pressure off his knee, had two bogeys and three birdies in freezing early morning conditions at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon.
Shane Lowry has an outside chance of clinching his first tour win as a professional at the Ballantine’s championship in Korea.
With just one hole of his weather delayed third round to complete on Sunday morning, the amateur winner of the 2009 Irish Open is four shots behind leaders Miguel Angel Jimenez and Brett Rumford, who have 27 holes to complete in the final day.
Damien McGrane. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieDamien McGrane fired a slightly chilly 66 to lead the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea but stablemates Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell went from the sublime to the ridiculous on opposite side of the world.
