Golf, by TourMiss

The R & A, and as organisers of golf’s oldest Major, have broken from a 40-year tradition to now adopt a three-hole play-off should one be required at this year’s 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush. If needed, the play-off will be over par-4 1st hole, the par-3 13th and the par-4 18th. If any players are still level after those three holes, the winner of the Claret Jug will be decided by a sudden death play-off. Since 1989 when American Mark Calcavecchia defeated the Australian ...

Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington led by example to ignite his quest for a second Irish Open success in 12-years after a sizzling 63 for a two-shot lead on day one of the event at Lahinch. It was remarkably also the 47-year old Dubliner’s lowest Tour score in over 18-years, and also close to 300 events ago at the 2001 Singapore Open, thanks to eight birdies and just the one bogey in glorious conditions on Ireland’s south-west coast. “I didn’t expect 63 out of it. I was expecting ...

Just weeks after teeing-up in a first U.S. Open and 22-year old American Amateur amateur sensation, Brandon Wu is headed to a first Open Championship after storming his way to leading qualifier at a Final Qualifier at the Fairmont Resort in Scotland. Wu posted scores of 64 and 67 for a nine-under par tally in bright but breezy conditions on an 18-hole combination over the two courses to the east of the St. Andrews. The current World No. 5 ranked amateur managed seven birdies and just one dropped ...

Rory McIlroy insists he’s not at all interested in teaming up with a so-called superstar caddie. The four-time Major winner’s comments come after the recent decision by Jason Day to bring legendary Kiwi caddy, Steve Williams out of retirement onto the Aussie’s bag. Day and Williams teamed for a first time at the recent U.S. Open, with Day suggesting he thought the veteran caddie’s experience would be an asset as he tried to play his way back to world number one status. Williams ...

It is 10-years since a then very unheralded Shane Lowry gladly gave-up a Euro 1/2m victory pay-out in capturing the 2009 Irish Open at Baltray. Lowry defied everyone, except an overwhelming rain-drenched partisan home crowd, in historically becoming the first amateur to land the Irish Open trophy at his very first attempt. Being an amateur, the then 22-year old had to forfeit the whopping first prize cheque though there was the luxury, and when he turned pro a fortnight later, of a two-and-a-year ...

Shane Lowry declares he is heading to next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in the best form possible. The Offlay golfer is backing-up his claims for a second Irish Open success already a winner on this year’s European Tour while he’s savoured the joy also of securing his 2019/20 PGA Tour card with a superb share of second behind Rory McIlroy earlier this month at the RBC Canadian Open. Indeed, Lowry is also riding at No. 35 on the World Rankings and the knowledge also the 32-year ...

With now less than a month to tee-off in the 148th Open Championship and Rory McIlroy is second favourite to capture a second Claret Jug and a fifth Major. PaddyPower has the now 30-year McIlroy at 8/1 favourite to find his way around Royal Portrush in the least number of shots late Sunday on July 21st. American Brooks Koepka is rightfully a 7/1 favourite having captured a fourth major in winning a second PGA Championship title last May at Bethpage Park.     Masters champion Tiger Woods, ...