THE CYNICS have already dismissed next weekend's inaugural $1.5 million (€1.2 million) Royal Trophy contest between Asia and Europe as nothing more than another glorified exhibition match.

THANKS to Pádraig Harrington’s status as the 9th ranked golfer in the world when the draw was made, Ireland have been seeded third in the World Cup of Golf to be played at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on December 10-15.