Singapore lifeline for Gary Murphy

Gary Murphy has been handed what could prove to be a vital sponsor’s invitation for next week’s $6m Barclays Singapore Open.

The Kilkenny player appears destined for the second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School as he sits a lowly 236th in the Race to Dubai standings with just two events remaining.

He is unlikely to get a start in the final regular season event in Hong Kong (barring a, he still has a chance to save his card with a top-five finish at Sentosa Golf Club.

The top-115 in the money list retain their cards and while Murphy is €178,657 behind England’s Sam Hutsby, there is more than enough cash on offer in Singapore, which has boosted the prize fund by $1m this year.

The event is almost as rich as the BMW PGA at Wentworth and the winner will take home close to €750,000.

The situation is nothing new to Murphy, who secured a last minute invitation to Singapore last year but missed the cut by a shot.

Murphy will be joined in Singapore by defending champion Ian Poulter and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley, Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin.

Maybin earned his place in the field thanks to his top-10 finish in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, where he tied for second behind McDowell with McGrane and Soren Kjeldsen.