Golf, by TourMiss

Brilliant Bob MacIntyre is ready to pull off an Italian Job victory after a blistering career low 64 on day three of the Italian Open in Rome. MacIntyre, 24 didn’t drop a shot in grabbing seven birdies, including five over his closing nine holes, and storm his way to the then clubhouse lead at 11-under par in his maiden  showing in the 76th hosting of the event on the Olgiata course. And the Oban lefty could have easily signed for a 63 had his 30-footer birdie putt at the last not lipped out. England’s ...

There’ll be no ‘cin cin’ victory toast for Shane Lowry with his goal of becoming 2019 European Tour No.1 taken aback after missing the halfway cut at the 76th Italian Open in Rome. Lowry posted disappointing scores of 72 and 71 for a one-over par tally to fall short by a single shot in playing all four rounds on the tight and twisty Olgiata course in the Italian capital. It is the first occasion in 11 stroke-play events since the Masters in April that Lowry has been forced to sit ...

South African Rory Sabbatini and now a Slovakian national is sure to create what could only be described as a totally bizarre European Ryder Cup historic first should he qualify for the 2020 team. It was this journalist who asked European Captain, Padraig Harrington ahead of the recent BMW PGA Championship if the now 43-year old Sabbatini was on Harrington’s list of likely Wisconsin-bound team probables. Harrington confirmed with just one word  – ‘Yes’. Now in his first ...

Looking very much like James Bond in his distinctive cap, Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen posted a very impressive bogey-free seven under par 64 and seize a one shot lead on day one of the 61st Italian Open in Rome. Pulkkanen, 29 is currently in 102nd position on the Race to Dubai with only one top ten finish so far this season – eighth place in the Trophée Hassan II – but he posted the lowest opening round of his European Tour career to head a strong leaderboard at Olgiata Golf Club. The ...

For Francesco Molinari it is somewhat an emotional return to this week’s Italian Open host venue at the  Olgiata Golf Club in Rome. The champion Italian golfer had made his European Tour debut, and as an amateur, in the 2000 Italian Open only to miss the halfway cut. Francesco contested the 2001 Italian Open’s still as an amateur only to again miss out on the weekend rounds. It was finally in 2002 and at this week’s host vene Francesco made the cut while still an amateur and in ...

Graeme McDowell is hoping a ‘new attitude’ in working with a new coach can lead to a second Italian Open victory title 15-years on from winning a then second Tour title in Milan. McDowell has joined forces with highly-respected Houston-based, Kevin Kirk. Kirk works with the likes of Masters champion, Patrick Reed and Jhonattan Vegas along with LPGA star, Lexi Thompson. G Mac began working with Kirk in the second week of August. “Kevin’s now been working with me for the past eight weeks, ...

It was a double celebration for England’s James Allan when he cruised to a five-shot win in the Abu Dhabi Open by Arena. At Yas Links Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Allan backed his previous rounds of 66 and 67 with a second six-under par 66 effort of the week to tally 17-under par 199 at the Kyle Phillips-designed layout. That round included a sensational run of four straight birdies after the turn, which made it a much easier walk down the tough closing stretch. “By far the best birthday week ...