Murphy’s Irish Open has gone to a four-way play-off between South African Darren Fichardt, Englishman Richard Bland, Dane Soren Hansen and Swede Niclas Fasth.

Scandinavia held sway over the rest of the field on a day of glorious shot making and a glut of birdies and eagles in the third round of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island in Cork which ended with no fewer than 27 players within four strokes of the lead.

Swede Klas Eriksson and England’s Russell Claydon produced the best rounds of the early starters on the final day of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island.

Murphy’s Irish Open Leaderboard

Three Scandinavian players are tied for the lead after today’s third round of the Murphy’s Irish Open at the Fota Island golf course.

English rookie Richard Bland set the clubhouse target on 10-under-par but Swede Niclas Fasth had the course record of 63 in his sights as he moved to 10-under with the leaders preparing to tee off for the third round of the Murphy’s Irish Open.

English rookie Richard Bland moved to within a shot of overnight leader Peter O’Malley with three holes of his third round to play.

Peter O’Malley leads the Murphy’s Irish Open at the halfway stage after a second round 67 at Fota Island took him to nine under par 133, one clear of the chasing pack that includes the defending champion Colin Montgomerie.

Australia’s Peter O’Malley has taken the outright lead after the second round of the Murphy’s Irish Open in Fota Island today.

Australian Peter O’Malley found conditions to his liking as he established a one-shot lead on the second day of the Murphy’s Irish Open.

Seve Ballesteros has fuelled speculation he may soon be retiring by withdrawing from next month’s Open championship at Muirfield.

Spain’s Seve Ballesteros has been disqualified from the Murphy’s Irish Open in Fota Island after signing for a 10 instead of a 12 on the final hole of his opening round today.

English rookie Nick Dougherty and Swedish Ryder Cup player Joakim Haeggman both carded five under par rounds of 66 to share the early clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island.

Swede Joakim Haeggman was the surprise early clubhouse leader on the first day of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island.

Former Ryder Cup players Gordon Brand Junior and David Gilford made the early running as the Murphy’s Irish Open teed off at Fota Island in Co Cork.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie sounded an ominous warning to his rivals as he wound up his preparations for the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island, where Epsom Derby winning jockey Johnny Murtagh was one of his partners in the pre-tournament pro-am.

Card of Fota Island, Cork, venue for the Murphy’s Irish Open

Ryder Cup Dubliner Paul McGinley will not be playing the Murphy’s Irish Open in Cork next week.

2002 PGA European Tour Schedule

Latest leading positions in the final round of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island, Cork.

Colin Montgomerie has been presented with a golden chance to play his way into Europe’s Ryder Cup side.

Colin Montgomerie lost both his magic and his lead when the Murphy’s Irish Open went into its second round today at Fota Island near Cork.

Thomas Bjorn is the current leader of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota.

Eamonn Darcy set the early pace at the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island.

The Murphy’s Irish Open gets under way today at the Fota Island golf course in Cork with a world-class field set to contest the tournament on the par 71 course.

Colin Montgomerie plans to quit golf the moment he thinks he cannot win again.

Three killer whales have put Darren Clarke in the mood to do some damage of his own at the Murphy’s Irish Open starting in Cork tomorrow.

Padraig Harrington is seriously concerned that an injury originally suffered playing Gaelic football 12 years ago could damage his chances of winning the Murphy’s Irish Open this week.