Day of Irish resilience
Pádraig Harrington put his health issues behind him and fired a bogey-free 67 to make his first cut of the year in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
After struggling with pneumonia over Christmas, the three-time Major winner missed the cut in the Dubai Desert Classic and then complained of fatigue after his opening 71 at Al Hamra Golf Club.
But he showed few signs of tiredness as he made five birdies and used the blade just 27 times to jump into 35th place on six-under, eight strokes behind Spain’s Manuel Elvira and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard.
Elvira carded eight birdies and an eagle to sign for a course record-equalling ten under par 62, setting the clubhouse target of 14 under.
Højgaard, who is aiming to emulate his twin brother Nicolai’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship win in 2022, carded an eight-under 64 to move into a share of the lead, one stroke ahead of Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen, who also shot 62, and first-round leader Callum Shinkwin of England, who shot 69.
“(Nicolai and I) do text a little bit,” said Hojgaard, whose twin held a share of the lead heading into last night’s third round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
“I did send him a “good job” text this morning when I saw that he will be going out in the final group tomorrow.
“He’s playing well, and I’m playing well; it’s cool to follow each other’s different paths.”
Tom McKibbin was tied 27th on seven-under after he recovered from a bogey six at the eighth with five birdies in his last ten holes en route to a 68.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, has confirmed he’ll play the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches (formerly the Honda Classic) from February 28 to March 3.
Winner of the title in 2012, when he became the second youngest player after Tiger Woods to reach world number one, it will be a home event for the Jupiter resident who hasn’t played in the tournament since 2018.
“It’s always good to come back to a tournament where you’ve won and had success before, and even better when it’s a bit of a home game,” McIlroy said.
At the LPGA Tour’s Drive On Championship in Florida, Leona Maguire made four birdies in her last eight holes before Stephanie Meadow birdied the last two holes to join her in making the cut on level par.
The Co Cavan star looked doomed when she bogeyed second and 10th at Bradenton Country Club to slip to four-over but birdied the 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th to card a two-under 69 and make the cut on the mark.
She was joined by Meadow, who followed a birdie at the third with four dropped shots mid round to slip to two-over before her birdie-birdie finish for a one-over 72 left her tied for 60th with Maguire on level par.
They ended the day 10 shots behind leader Nelly Korda, who shot 67 to lead by two shots from Korea’s So Mi Lee on 10-under.
China’s Xiyu Lin (66), Ayaka Furue of Japan (67) and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (70) are three behind on seven-under.
In Spain, Ireland’s amateur men beat the Netherlands 6.5-2.5 on day three of the Octagonal Matches and will now face Italy in today’s championship match.
Foursomes wins for Sean Keeling and Jack Murphy and Jack Hearn and David Shiel at Costa Ballena, followed by singles victories for Keeling, Hearn, Shiel and Donnacha Cleary, gave Ireland 2.5 points from their three matches, matching Italy, who beat Switzerland 7.5-1.5.
Holders Spain could only tie 4.5-4.5 with England and now face Germany in the third-place match as England and the Netherlands playoff for fifth and Switzerland and Portugal battle it out for seventh at the Cadiz venue.
In the Portuguese Ladies International Amateur at Penina, Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson birdied the 17th and 18th to post a two-under 71 to go into the final round tied for seventh on six-under.
She’s 12 strokes behind Germany’s Helen Briem, whose 68 gave her a commanding eight-stroke lead over Scotland’s Lorna McClymont on 18-under.
Elm Park’s Emma Fleming shot 72 and Hermitage’s Kate Lanigan a 76 to share 14th on two-under.
Roscommon’s Olivia Costello birdied three of her last four holes but missed the four-under cut by a shot after a 74 with Kanturk’s Mairead Martin nine-over after a 76.
