The Dubai Duty-Free Irish Open is heading to Co. Clare in 2019, the European Tour has announced.

Miguel Angel Jimenez has his own record as the oldest winner in European Tour history in his sights after making a flying start to the Omega European Masters.

Shane Lowry reckons there will be “carnage” at Portstewart with the European Tour encouraging fans to use their phones to take pictures during play at this week’s $7m Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Sergio Garcia marked his first appearance on European soil since winning the Masters by heading into the second day of the BMW International in third place.

A fine tribute.

Divide and Conquer is a well recognised method of negotiation, during which one vested party attempts to influence key sympathetic members of the opposition in order to gain control of a bargaining position or of the collective proceedings.

England's Nick Marsh was enjoying a dream European Tour debut in the early stages of the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.

McIlroy's agent confirmed that it was not on the four-time major winner's schedule.

“Surely Not!”

The Northern Irishman won three times this year, including the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last month.

Paul Dunne has taken another giant step towards securing a playing card for next year.

Ian Poulter is making a last-minute dash from Florida to Hong Kong in order to maintain his European Tour membership and remain eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup.

World number one Rory McIlroy has been given a special exemption by the European Tour in order for him to play in the lucrative season-ending Final Series.

England’s Danny Willett shot a five-under par 65 to win his third European Tour title in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Rory McIlroy looks unlikely to recover in time to defend his US PGA title in four weeks’ time but his backroom team appear hopeful he can make the FedEx Cup and the conclusion to the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

A week spent playing golf with two former Northern Ireland soccer players along with the acquisition of a very expensive putter has put Michael Hoey in contention at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Shane Lowry’s new European Tour stature has been quickly rewarded with tee times alongside Tour superstars Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson for the opening two rounds of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Soren Kjeldsen overcame a nervy sudden-death play-off and some insecurity about his future on the European Tour to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. 

The buzz around the media centre yesterday left you in no doubt as to the status of the Irish Open, with a who’s who of golf gracing the interview room in quick succession.

The Irish Open is a subject and tournament close to my heart, not just because I’ve been fortunate to play in it but because it has, at best, only limped along, with its sponsor status never fully guaranteed from year to year.

Peter Lawrie did not know he would be playing at Wentworth until Monday afternoon but he had plenty of reasons to thank European Tour chief executive George O’Grady for the tournament invitation that could help him regain his Tour card for next season.

THE Irish Open at Carton House on May 18-21 is likely to be the last sponsored by Nissan Ireland, but chief executive Gerard O’Toole is unlikely to declare his intentions until at least the final day of the tournament.

TCL CLASSIC winner Johan Edfors is expecting a major career change after the 30-year-old Swede won his first tournament on the European Tour on the Chinese island of Hainan.

LOCAL favourite Mardan Mamat struggled to contain his emotions after winning the Singapore Masters yesterday, but fought back the tears long enough to say he was looking forward to playing in Europe.

NICK DOUGHERTY will be hoping his sense of déjà-vu is a good omen after the first round of the OSIM Singapore Masters.

SIMON DYSON produced the tournament performance of his life to claim his first European Tour title at the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open - but believed his duck might never have been broken.

JOINT overnight leader Simon Dyson admitted the thunderstorm that halted play at the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open helped his game.

DAVID HIGGINS intends to make the most of his chances on the European Tour having gained a new determination after a long and arduous slog away from the limelight last year.

WELSHMAN David Park holds the clubhouse lead in the disrupted Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

PRE-TOURNAMENT favourite Padraig Harrington, in his first start of the year, had a promising start the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday with three birdies - at the 12th, 17th and 18th.

FORMER US Masters winner Fred Couples and veteran Australian Robert Allenby have predicted a bright future for India's Shiv Kapur after playing with him at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

IAN POULTER is confident of doing something special this weekend at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

EUROPEAN Tour golfer Tony Johnstone has spoken about contracting multiple sclerosis and his luck at being given drugs treatment to allow him to continue playing.

ENGLAND’S Paul Casey lies four shots off the lead after a first round 68 in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

GOLF’S “Quiet Man” Retief Goosen grabbed a share of the opening day lead in the $2.4 million (€1.98) Dubai Desert Classic, but Tiger Woods, out to end his desert win drought, is handily placed after a confident start.

AMATEUR Danny Denison put pre-tournament favourites Vijay Singh and Ernie Els in the shade as the sun shone on his brilliant opening round at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

PAUL CASEY and Ian Poulter are hoping to get their 2006 campaigns off to a flying start as the European Tour visits Abu Dhabi this week for the first time.

JUSTIN ROSE is hoping some home comforts will help him to victory in the South African Airways Open this week.

ERNIE ELS admitted victory in the Dunhill Championship was “like a dream come true” after winning only his second event back after four months out with a knee injury.

PRE-TOURNAMENT favourite Paul Casey, who all but ruled himself out of contention after two rounds, overturned a five-shot deficit to claim his fifth European Tour title in the Volvo China Open.