Shane Lowry has failed to claim the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which was won by England’s David Howell in a sudden-death play-off.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry has stormed into the lead midway through the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews today.

British Open champion Ernie Els today said he was glad to make an early exit from the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, just days before the defence of his title at Muirfield.

Shane Lowry cast himself in the role of Irish Open messiah once more when he finished with a roof-raising brace of birdies to ease the pain of a major exodus by Rory McIlroy and the rest of Ireland’s Big Five at a wind-blown Carton House.

Rory McIlroy will head into the Open Championship at Muirfield on the back of a missed cut at the Irish Open – and was joined in making an early exit by fellow major winners Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

Peter Uihlein and Robert Rock share a two shot lead at the Irish Open , they are nine under after 18 and 17 holes respectively.

Michael Hoey is now three shots off the lead on four under after four shots of his second round at the Irish Open in Cartion House.

Rory McIlroy may be on a week off, but he remains in the news and at the centre of debate – both for the clubs he plays with and for his choice of tournaments.