Continent of Europe pen pics: St Andrews Trophy ~ Jacques Léglise Trophy
Mortiz Lampert of Germany. Photo: Pat CashmanThe Continent of Europe will be trying to retain the biennially-awarded St Andrews Trophy won in 2010 in Castelconturbia, Italy against the best amateur players from Great Britain & Ireland.GB&I pen pics: St Andrews Trophy ~ Jacques Leglise Trophy
Alan Dunbar, 22, hails from Rathmore, Northern Ireland, the same club that spawned 2010 US Open champion, Graeme McDowell. He comes into the St Andrews Trophy as the holder of The Amateur Championship having beaten Austria’s Matthias Schwab on the 36th hole of this year’s final at Royal Troon.
Bourdy sparkles in Crans, Lowry and Hoey in touch
Gregory Bourdy made a hot start in damp Crans. Picture ©Getty ImagesShane Lowry and Michael Hoey were the only Irishmen to break par as Grégory Bourdy carded the joint lowest of his European Tour career to take a two-stroke lead in the Omega European Masters.
McIlroy to skip Dunhill Links
Rory McIlroy won’t play another event in Europe this year. He’s skipping the Alfred Dunhill Links. Rory McIlroy might be skipping the PGA Grand Slam of Golf but he has also decided to leave the European Tour without one of its biggest draws by opting not to tee it up in next month’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for the first time in his professional career.
Harrington: "The dogs in the street knew I wasn’t getting a pick"
“And my two picks to join and complete this team are Nicolas Colsaerts and Ian Poulter.” European captain José María Olazábal makes it official. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comPadraig Harrington took his Ryder Cup wildcard blow on the chin but insisted he’ll roar back under an Irish skipper in 2014.
McIlroy to skip PGA Grand Slam
McIlroy in Bermuda as US Open champion last year. Rory McIlroy has opted not to play in October’s PGA Grand Slam, the Bermuda Royal Gazette has reported.Harrington's Ryder Cup hopes on life support
Padraig Harrington at the US PGA. Photo by golffile.iePadraig Harrington’s hopes of winning The Barclays and keeping his slim Ryder Cup wildcard hopes alive were dealt a near fatal blow when he crashed to a four over 75 to fall five shots behind leaders Sergio Garcia and Nick Watney at Bethpage State Park in New York.Ollie denies Harrington grudge: "That is a lot of b.s."
Jose Maria Olazabal believes he would have failed as a captain if he let his 2003 Seve Trophy falling out with Padraig Harrington influence his thinking on wildcards.European Ryder Cup skipper José María Olazábal today dismissed as “b.s.” the idea that his 2003 Seve Trophy row with Padraig Harrington is colouring his wildcard thinking.Harrington goes wild with 64, takes Ryder Cup high ground
Padarig Harrington hopes Jose Maria Olazábal puts winning the Ryder Cup ahead of any personal issues they may have.Padraig Harrington fired a sensational seven under par, course recording equalling 64 to move right into the Ryder Cup wildcard conversation and grab the clubhouse lead in The Barclays at Bethpage Black.
But after initially insisting the he’d prefer to “take the Fifth” rather than discuss his chances of getting one of Jose Maria Olazábal’s two picks on Monday, he grabbed the moral high ground when trying to explain why he believes the Spaniard will not - or should not - put a hypothetical personal vendetta ahead of winning the Ryder Cup for Europe.
Ryder Cup 2014 captaincy betting - changes afoot?
Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke during a question and answer session at the 2011 Irish Open in Killarney. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieWhen I checked with bookmakers William Hill on Monday, Paul McGinley was still favourite for the European Ryder Cup captaincy at Gleneagles in 2014. Despite all the talk about Darren Clarke, he’s still there.
Garcia on Harrington wildcard: "He wouldn't be a sure pick for me!"
Sergio Garcia walking off the 17th green after winning the 2008 Players Championship. Picture: Craig NealPádraig Harrington has history with the Spanish Armada and it appears it could come back to sink his Ryder Cup wildcard hopes this week.Moynihan gets Eisenhower salute
The Island’s Gavin Moynihan has been selected to play in the Eisenhower Trophy in Turkey in September. Picture by Pat CashmanAfter weeks of speculation about the make up of the three-man Ireland team for the Eisenhower Trophy, the Island’s Gavin Moynihan has been selected to accompany Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar and Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan at Antalya and Cornelia Golf Clubs in Turkey from 4-7 October.