Shane Lowry will head into the final day of the Portugal Masters four shots off the lead.

It has been a largely positive day for the Irish involved at the Portugal Masters.

A relaxed Pádraig Harrington does not believe a fourth major title would alter his golfing legacy, but concedes a third British Open victory next week might lead to a hasty change of heart.

Three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington believes the players who have pulled out of this week’s Turkish Airlines Open due to security concerns may have overreacted.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel has decided to opt out of the Turkish Airlines Open, scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Pádraig Harrington’s Portugal Masters victory hasn’t just reignited his desire to play another Ryder Cup, it’s also reinforced his belief that he can still intimidate the opposition and win at least one more major.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Few people believe that Pádraig Harrington can win a fourth major but averaging 25 putts per day and shooting the lowest winning aggregate of his 21-year professional career to claim the Portugal Masters, writing him off now would be the height of folly.

Padraig Harrington will head into the final day of the Portugal Masters just one shot off the lead as he goes in search of his first European Tour win in eight years.

The home of golf’s Portugal Masters has been sold for just under €70m by its owners, the Oceanico Group, to a business consortium headed up by footballer John Terry’s agent.

Rory McIlroy is relishing the prospect of an injury-free 2016 after a dramatic victory in the DP World Tour Championship ensured he ended the season as European number one for the third time in the last four years.

Rory McIlroy hailed the best bogey of his career after surviving a dramatic lapse in concentration to win the DP World Tour Championship and claim a third Race to Dubai title in the last four years.

Kevin Phelan seized a final Race to Dubai lifeline with both hands, banking a four- under-par 66 in sauna-like conditions on the opening day of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Rookie pro Paul Dunne continues to set the European Tour alight after kick-starting his Portugal Masters by holing a second shot for eagle on day one at Vilamoura.

It is a case of ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for all but two of the seven Irish golfers contesting this week’s Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.

Kevin Phelan may like to hit the ball 25 yards further but it’s the six inches between his ears which concern the new Mount Juliet touring professional more that his driving distance.

A decent initial prize cheque of his career was of little importance to rookie professional Paul Dunne following his 19th-place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Graeme McDowell believes Paul Dunne should give the Walker Cup a miss and take the leap into the professional ranks as soon as possible.

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.

Germany’s Marcel Siem claimed his fourth European Tour title in dramatic fashion after a three-man play-off for the BMW Masters in Shanghai on Sunday.

France's Alexander Levy made the ideal start to his bid for a third victory of the season - and second in China - in the BMW Masters today.

Graeme McDowell outlined a renewed commitment and some ambitious career targets after making an ideal start to the defence of his Volvo World Match Play Championship title.

Alexander Levy has won the Portugal Masters after the event was reduced to 36 holes as more rain battered the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club yesterday.

Alexander Levy has won the Portugal Masters after the event was reduced to 36 holes as more rain battered the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club.

The Portugal Masters has been reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain caused lengthy delays in Vilamoura yesterday with only six players, including leader Alexander Levy, completing their second rounds.

Nicolas Colsaerts left his putt on the 18th "hanging" as he just missed out on firing the European Tour’s first round of 59 at the Portugal Masters.

Defending champion David Lynn is looking for some inspiration as he returns to the scene of his last victory.

After Paul McGinley’s near two-year commitment to Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup campaign he finds the expanding business side of Paul McGinley the golfer will see him contest just 15 events in 2015.

He doesn’t treasure many memories from his adventures in America last year, but Shane Lowry would love to be back stateside this week as the world’s finest golfers descend on San Antonio for the Valero Texas open.

Graeme McDowell hopes to extend his marriage celebrations by capturing the European number one crown.

In a thrilling finish to the Cassidy Golf 103rd €30,000 PGA Irish Championship at Roganstown yesterday, Michael McGeady snatched the title by a whisker from Damian Mooney and Cian McNamara.

Scotland's Scott Jamieson came agonisingly close to recording the first ever 59 on the European Tour in the third round of the Portugal Masters today.

England’s Paul Waring and South African Hennie Otto inspired each other to claim a share of the lead with David Lynn after the second round of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.

The date of the 2014 Irish Open has been confirmed but to be staged the same week as the British Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.

Seven players enjoyed a share of the lead after the first round of the Portugal Masters as a total of 68 players broke par on the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course.

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.