Golf, by TourMiss

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 ...

Graeme McDowell singled out the ‘power’ of social media in finally being reunited with the more-recent talked about lost clubs in professional golf. McDowell sent out an SOS for his missing clubs on Monday and soon after his arrival on an Air France flight into Manchester Airport. And to cut a long story short, McDowell had to ‘pull the rip cord’, as his stated yesterday (WED), on teeing-up in Tuesday’s 36-hole qualifier for next fortnight’s Open Championship. Finally, and certainly after ...

Padraig Harrington found himself a winner even before teeing-up in this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Ballyliffin. The triple Major winning Irishman arrived at the stunning Co. Donegal course to be presented with ‘Honorary Membership’ of the club. “That’s very nice. Very much appreciated. Hopefully, someday I’ll get the chance to come up here and spend the time, if you can get the weather like this,” he said smiling. Harrington could very well end the week being presented ...

Shane Lowry will be hoping past experience of tackling the Ballyliffin course can  lead to a double Dubai Duty Free Irish Open success later this week. Lowry is among just a handful who have previously competed on the acclaimed Pat Ruddy designed Glashedy course in Co. Donegal. Of course, Ballyliffin is no stranger to hosting some of the game’s best having staged the 2002 North West of Ireland and a joint European Tour and Challenge Tour event. In 2008 the course laid out on the Inishowen Peninsula ...

Graeme McDowell has bitterly withdrawn from a Final Qualifier for next fortnight’s Open Championship after Air France lost his clubs on route from Paris to Mancherster. As reported earlier today by www.golfbytourmiss.com McDowell arrrived at Manchester Airport early this morning after contesting last week’s French Open. But when he and his caddy got off their flight McDowell clubs were nowhere to be seen. McDowell then tweeted his disgust at 5.48am from Knutsford as he was making his ...