Day on top of the world as Lowry and McDowell struggle
Australia’s Jason Day won the individual and team titles at the ISPS Hamda World Cup of Golf. Picture © Getty Images
The world rankings say Shane Lowry regressed in 2013 but the Offaly man is convinced he made big strides with his game despite a disappointing ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf performance at Royal Melbourne.
"Please god let me par the last tomorrow" - Lowry
Jason Day leads the World Cup as an individual and also with Adam Scott in the team section. Picture © Getty ImagesGraeme McDowell carded an immaculate 67 to give himself an outside chance of catching home hero Jason Day in the final round of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.Melbourne madness envelopes Manley
Stuart Manley is congratulated by his playing partner, Hideto Tanihara. Picture © Getty ImagesEven a Hollywood scriptwriter would have rejected the story of Stuart Manley’s third day at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf as a little too farfetched, writes the European Tour.
Irish focussed on course management in Australia and South Africa
Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell during a practice round for The Open at Muirfield. Picture: David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie
They might not get to play together at any stage but Graeme McDowell insists his partnership with Shane Lowry comes before individual honours in the $8m ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.
McDowell refuses to comment on Rory: "It's been a long complicated year for everyone"
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup just 13 months ago. Picture: Fran Caffrey/www.Golffile.ie.Graeme McDowell might be looking forward to partnering Shane Lowry in the World Cup but he didn’t sound particularly enthused when the subject turned to the question of Rory McIlroy’s year from hell.McIlroy contractually obliged to miss World Cup?
Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell during a practice round for The Open at Murifield. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieContractual reasons are being touted as the reason for Rory McIlroy’s absence from the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, giving Shane Lowry the chance to pick up some precious world ranking points when he partners Graeme McDowell at Royal Melbourne in November."There is only one Irish team incorporating North and South as in previous World Cups" Keith Waters
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell representing Ireland at the 2011 World Cup in China. Picture Phil Inglis www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy’s hopes of teeing it up for Northern Ireland in the World Cup - and remaining free of somehow being railroaded into playing for Ireland in the Olympics - were based purely on an ambiguously worded press release issued by the PGA Tour.
Ireland fade to fourth as USA take Mission Hills World Cup
Mission Hills proved to be infertile ground for Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell for the second World Cup in a row. Picture Phil Inglis www.golffile.ieIreland’s Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy lost their “mojo” and carded a disappointing 72 in the final round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup to finish three shots behind winners the United States.Ireland in command at World Cup
Local fans attempt to catch a ball during the third round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup. Picture Phil Inglis www.golffile.ieGraeme McDowell was the strongman of the partnership as Ireland fired an eight under par 64 in the fourballs to take a two stroke lead into today’s final round foursomes at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.
Ireland two off World Cup pace after opening 63
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup, Mission Hills Resort,Hainan Island, China. Picture Phil Inglis www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell opened with a betterball 63 to keep leaders Australia in their sights at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.End of the world for McDowell and McIlroy?
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy faced each other in the Volvo World Match Play earlier this year. Now they are stablemates and team mates chasing World Cup success at Mission Hills. Photo Eoin Clarke/Golffile.ieRory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are determined to take advantage of what could be their last chance of World Cup glory in China this week.
Pressure on McIlroy but McDowell a banker
Rory McIlroy faces the most pressure packed day of his career in China on Sunday. Luckily, he has Graeme McDowell to share the burden as Ireland takes a one stroke lead into the final round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Yes, McIlroy and McDowell are on track for a wire-to-wire victory after a bogey-free eight under par 64 left them on 26 under, just one clear of Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari (61) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson (62), the defending champions.
Given McIlroy's amazing ascent from 50th to 10th in the world rankings over the past 11 months, it's amazing to think that he might have under-achieved.
McIlroy and McDowell survive wobble to stay three clear
In Thursday's fourball 58 they didn't have a five on their card. But Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell showed they are somewhat human after all when they carded a six and a seven in a battling foursomes 68 and still remained three clear in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
The Ulstermen cruised five shots clear of the field after two birdies and an eagle on the front nine but stuttered on the way home before recovering brilliantly.