Robert Rock exorcised any lasting Baltray demons to deny US Open winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods and capture the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

RORY McILROY’S history-making US Open triumph received further recognition yesterday when he was named The 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for June.

SOUTH AFRICA’S George Coetzee birdied the last three holes to complete an opening round of 66 and lead the Saint Omer Open.

Robert Rock holds a two-shot lead over the rest of the field as play gets underway at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

COSTANTINO ROCCA hopes the inaugural Sicilian Open, which gets under way today, will help Italy to continue developing into a major force in world golf.

A MYSTERY virus has forced Michael Hoey out of his defence of this week’s Estoril Open title in Portugal.

BALLYCLARE’S Gareth Maybin continued to stake his claim for a first Race to Dubai Tour success with a three under par 69 on the opening day of the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

FEW were happier with Rory McIlroy’s breakthrough win on the US Tour than European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

FROM the greens of Augusta to the green of the Emerald Isle and on to golfing glory?

Next season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

ENGLAND’S Benn Barham and Scotland’s Marc Warren played their final round at the BMW Italian Open in Turin in a mere 141 minutes yesterday.

DOUBLE Major-winning John Daly is hoping 3 Irish Open organisers will pair him with triple Major champion Pádraig Harrington in Baltray after the American secured his best result in four years after finishing joint second in the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Argentina's Daniel Vancsik won his second European Tour title today - but what will have golf fans really talking is the fact that American John Daly finished joint second in only his second event back from a four-month lay-off.

Argentina's Daniel Vancsik returned to the course at nearly 8pm and bogeyed two of the last three holes to throw the BMW Italian Open in Turin wide open again.

Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik had his bid for a second European Tour victory halted by the weather at the BMW Italian Open in Turin today.

A total of 21 players were separated by only two strokes at the BMW Italian Open today – and they included banned US Tour star John Daly.

Australian Peter O’Malley climbed from 60th place to joint second with a spectacular burst at the BMW Italian Open in Turin today.

With Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie among those already out, the BMW Italian Open could produce a real surprise winner in Turin tomorrow.

IRELAND’S Gareth Maybin, three clear after his opening course-record 64, slipped to second place with a 70 at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Colin Montgomerie missed yet another halfway cut today as Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik moved into a one-stroke lead at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Gareth Maybin opened up the race for the BMW Italian Open in Turin today when he could add only a 70 to his course-record 64.

IRELAND’S Gareth Maybin, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin yesterday.

Irish golfer Gareth Maybin, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin today.

BIG-HITTING Spaniard Alvaro Quiros could have been playing in one of golf’s richest events this week, but believes he has done the right thing both for his health and his career in turning it down.

Record prize money of £8.8m (€12.2m) will be on offer on the 2008 Ladies European Tour, it was announced today.