For the first time in his career, Peter Lawrie stares at the prospect of losing his European Tour card and that thought will haunt him when he tees up in the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura today.

The golfing gods haven’t always been particularly favourable to David Higgins but they certainly compensated over the past few days as the 40-year-old Waterville man’s fortunes went on a decidedly upward curve.

David Higgins cruelly came up short in an heroic effort to win the Italian Open in Turin yesterday.

With Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke now neck and neck favourites to captain the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in 2014, and Shane Lowry winning his first tournament as a professional in Portugal, the game in Ireland has certainly been in the news over the last week or so.

As recession bites, enticing golf’s big names is a luxury Spain can no longer afford, says David Henry