Golf, by TourMiss

Masters champ Danny Willett’s emerged from a two-year victory drought to brilliantly muscle his way into contention heading to the weekend round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballliffin. Willett, 30 fought back from an early round double bogey to post a two-under par 70 and move into a clubhouse share of second on six-under par in continuing ideal conditions on the acclaimed Pat Ruddy designed Glashedy course. The Sheffield-born Willett has been in a virtual golfing wilderness since early ...

For a second day running Rory McIlroy was left frustrated after posting a second round 73 at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin. The tournament host heads to the weekend admittedly just a handful of shots from the lead but again it was a day McIlroy’s stature as a four-time Major Champion should have seen him finish with a sub-70 effort. Instead, McIlroy continued to frustrate not only his huge Ballyliffin fan base but it was a display that again seemed to suck the enthusiasm from the ...

Scotland’s Russell Knox produced arguably the ‘shot of the day’ in trying to throw an apple core into the rough. Unfortunately, last week’s French Open runner-up will never represent his nation in cricket producing what TV analysist and former Tour player, Tony Johnstone described as a ‘reverse shank’. Knox’s apple left his hand doing an immediate left U-turn and just missed hitting the caddy to Swede Robert Karlsson who was attending the flagstick. Know sheepishly made his way to ...

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson still look set to star in a $10m ‘winner takes all’ charity golfing shootout. The showdown between two of golf’s most popular athletes was originally scheduled for July 3 in Las Vegas, but the details surrounding the match’s TV rights and corporate sponsorships reportedly weren’t settled in time. Mickelson, six years older than Woods at age 48, confirmed their respective managers are working together to get what would be one of the greatest head-to-head ...

Padraig Harrington played to his strengths in carrying the Irish flag to within a shot of the lead on the opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin. The former Irish Open winner snatched an eagle and four birdies in a four-under par 68 to trail one shot behind Kiwi Ryan Fox. After three official practice rounds under near cloudless skies, Harington and the early morning starters in the Euro 6.011m event were greeted with rain and cooler conditions. Fortunately, the rain didn’t ...

Rory McIlroy’s putting woes resurfaced on home soil in producing a frustrating 70 on the opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin. McIlroy did manage four birdies but he also had at least half-a-dozen putts from inside 10-feet that failed to drop in warm but slightly windy conditions along the Co. Donegal shoreline. What was frustrating, and not only again for McIlroy, but for a huge gathering lining the ‘natural’ grandstands of the Pat Ruddy designed Glashedy course, ...

Rory McIlroy found himself again being pulled-up over his Majors record heading into today’s (THUR) starting Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin. McIlroy, and brilliant winner of the 2016 Irish Open, is hosting this year’s Euro 6m event for a last occasion ahead of turning over the championship organisation reins to Paul McGinley who’ll host next year’s event at Lahinch. But with just two week’s to the year’s third Major, and also on what will be the fourth anniversary of his last ...