McKibbin and Murphy face uphill task in Qatar Masters
Tom McKibbin
Tom McKibbin and John Murphy face a marathon day at Doha Golf Club after struggling on day one of the weather-delayed Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Play was suspended in the afternoon due to lightning and the Irish duo have a lot of work to do to make the weekend.
McKibbin, who lies 42nd in the Race to Dubai with the top 50 making the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, was tied 96th on two-over par through nine holes.
Murphy, who needs to win to keep his card in what is the final counting event, was three-over after he found water at the par-three eighth and made a double bogey five.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier (25) and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (39) carded bogey-free, seven-under-par 65s in the first groups of the day to lead by one stroke from defending champion Ewen Ferguson, his fellow Scotsmen Stephen Gallacher and Robert MacIntyre and Spaniard Santiago Tarrio.
In amateur golf, Ireland slipped from third to 13th on four-under at halfway in the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Australia and Thailand shot 10-under 134’s to surge into a three-way tie for the lead with Spain on 13-under-par, two strokes ahead of the Republic of Korea.
Ireland shot 145 in round two as Lahinch’s Aine Donegan played her last 10 holes in five-under to post a two-under 70 and share 37th in the individual standings on level par.
Douglas’ Sara Byrne followed her opening 68 with a 75 to lie joint 30th on one-under, while a 77 by Kirkistown Castle’s Beth Coulter, who was 59th on four-over, was Ireland’s discarded score.
In the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori birdied four of his first five holes en route to an opening five-under 66 and a two-stroke lead.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf announced a pathway tournament Thursday for players to earn a spot in the league for 2024.
The three-day, four-round LIV Golf Promotions event will take place on December 8-10 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The top three finishers will be drafted onto one of the LIV Golf teams for next season.
The tournament, which includes 36 holes on the final day, also features a $1.5 million prize purse.
"In less than two years, through the launch of LIV Golf and our development of The International Series on the Asian Tour, more than 3,500 new opportunities have been created for players to compete and advance their careers at golf's highest levels.
"This is bringing progress to the sport on a global scale, and the world is taking notice," said Greg Norman, LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO.
"LIV Golf Promotions establishes an integrated pathway for the best players and up-and-coming talent from all over the globe to join a league that is changing the game.
"Open competition and meritocracy have always been a part of the fabric of LIV Golf, and following the success of our first full, 14-event season, we're excited to be able to launch LIV Golf Promotions and offer players from around the world the chance to qualify for 2024."
Players eligible to compete in the tournament include members of the 2023 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams, the winners of the most recent major amateur events, top players from other tours (Japan, Korea, Sunshine Tour, Australasia) and 2023 tournament winners from the Asian Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
