Golf, by TourMiss

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen leads by one with Danny Willett second but it’s Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell now looming large for victory in the Irish Open in Cork. Ilonen, 34 added a two under par third round 69 to move to 12-under par on the Fota Island Resort course. The triple Tour winner, who has led from the outset, is one shot clear of England’s Danny Willett who eclipsed Ilonen’s own course record by a shot with an eight under par 63 that also included a hole-in-one at the ...

England’s Danny Willett had a hole-in-one at the seventh hole on route to an eight under par 63 and a new Fota Island course record. Willett birdied his closing four holes to set a new course low two days after Finland’s Mikko Ilonen set the new mark with a 64 in the opening round. And while Willett, who moved to the clubhouse lead on 11-under par, was delighted with his efforts there was no prize of a gleaming new BMW sedan for his ace with the car on offer at the par three 13th. MORE ...

For Rory McIlroy missing the halfway cut in his own national open certainly cuts the deepest. It is the second year in succession the World No. 6 McIlroy, and highest ranked player in the field, has missed the cut in the Irish Open. McIlroy went into the second day sharing 125th place and worked his way to T78th on the back of a 10th hole eagle and six birdies, including the last two holes. McIlroy went into the second round of the Euro 2m sharing 125th place and while he got off to a bright start ...

Robert Rock’s Irish popularity is sure to be tested five years after losing a play-off in the Irish Open. Rock has put himself in contention to again capture the Irish Open after a second round 66 for an eight under par total and share second place and just two strokes the second round lead at Fota Island. The 37-year old double Tour winner is tied with former US Open champ Graeme McDowell, who also posted a 66 as he seeks also a first Irish Open win along with France’s Romain Wattel (65). In ...

Defending Traveler’s Championship title holder Ken Duke has kick-started his round with an impressive  five under par 65 on the TPC  Highlands course in Cromwell, Connecticut. Duke, who won an enormous number of new fans with his unique ‘bunker shot’ at last week’s U.S. Open, capped his round with an eight foot eagle at the par five, 13th hole. It left the affable American just three shots behind compatriot Brendan Steele who birdied three holes in succession from the 11th ...

Scotland’s Chris Doak was left ruing a bizarre incident in playing a wrong ball during the opening round of the Irish Open in Cork. Doak was four under par at the time and just three shots from the lead when he had to call a two-shot penalty on himself after playing the ball belonging to 21-year old Irish amateur partner, Dermot McElroy. Both players had split the Fota Island fairway down Fota Island’s first that they were playing as their 10th and with Doak walking up to his Titleist and ...

Scratch golfers at The Duke’s Course in St Andrews are being offered the remarkable chance to play in a competition that offers a route to tee up in next year’s Open Championship at the Home of Golf. The Duke’s, owned by the five red star Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, hosts a ‘Tiger Tees’ qualifying competition for members on Sunday 6 July, with the winner of the tournament earning a shot at glory. Provided the victor has a handicap of 0.0 or better, he will earn a place in ...