A round-up of today's other golf news in brief ...
Portmarnock the number one
PORTMARNOCK HAS come out on top in the latest Golf Digest Ireland top-100 courses in Ireland, knocking Royal County Down off the number one spot which it held for the last two years.
According to Golf Digest Ireland editor Dermot Gilleece, Portmarnock’s promotion to number one was based on “key improvements, especially run-off areas on several greens”.
Royal County Down dropped to second, while Pat Ruddy’s design, The European Club, moved up two places to third. Royal Portrush made the biggest move within the top-10 by climbing from ninth to fourth.
Adare Manor dropped three places to seventh but remains the top-ranked parkland.
The Palmer Course at The K Club – 2006 Ryder Cup venue – kept hold of 10th place.
Co Louth, this year’s Irish Open venue, dropped two places to ninth.
Golf Digest Ireland’s top-10 for 2009: 1 Portmarnock; 2 Royal County Down; 3 The European Club; 4 Royal Portrush; 5 Ballybunion (Old); 6 Waterville; 7 Adare Manor; 8 Lahinch; 9 Co Louth (Baltray); 10 K Club (Palmer).
Clarke reaches out to Mickelson
DARREN CLARKE offered support to the Mickelsons after Phil’s wife, Amy, was last week diagnosed with breast cancer, the same condition Clarke’s late wife, Heather, had.
“I spoke to him and we had a good conversation about various things,” said Clarke, whose wife lost her battle with cancer three weeks before the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club.
“I understand probably more than anyone – well, not more than anyone, because a lot of people have suffered from it. But he is a good friend. It’s very sad news, but it’s early stages so we hope all the tests and everything else go as well as we all wish for.
“They’re both really good people and they have been extraordinarily kind to me,” added Clarke, referring to the support they gave him at the Ryder Cup. “He and Amy helped me through that Ryder Cup, walking on and off with me at the opening ceremony and closing ceremony.”
Lowry told to tone down
ONE OF Conor Ridge’s first tasks as manager and advisor to Shane Lowry has been a softly, softly approach to ensure the Irish Open champion tones down his language.
During Lowry’s phenomenal win at Baltray, the 22-year-old was heard swearing several times as his reactions were picked up on television, which prompted European Tour official David Garland to have a quiet word with Ridge.
“I’ve asked Conor to advise Shane to be aware of the presence of boom microphones at tournaments. As a member of the European Tour, he’s now subject to the general members regulations guidelines, which all members sign up to when they join,” said Garland.
US Open joy for Spain's Fernandez-Castano
SPAIN’S GONZALO Fernandez-Castano had the easiest possible route into next month’s US Open at Bethpage – he didn’t have to play a single shot at yesterday’s qualifier at Walton Heath.
The British Masters champion pitched up at the Surrey venue at 7.30am, ate breakfast then left. Why? His new world ranking of 49 automatically qualified him for the second major of the year and the British Open.
“I made some calculations last night but went to bed not certain because I knew the PGA Tour event in Texas could change things,” said the Spaniard, who climbed 11 places in the rankings after finishing 11th at the PGA Championship.
“I received a text from a Spanish journalist saying I was in but I came here just to make sure.
“It’s excellent news because I’ve tried (to qualify) here three times before and never got through.”
Better still, he has tried to qualify for the British Open five times, and guess what, missed out on each attempt.
Slang of the week
“A Vinnie Jones” – A nasty kick when you’re not expecting it, in reference to the former Wimbledon hardman turned actor who wasn’t afraid to put the boot in during his playing days.
