Lesser lights desperate to shine

Irish trio, Graeme McDowell, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie are hoping Bangkok will kickstart their year.

WHILE Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, laze away the hours this week in exotic locations like Barbados and the Seychelles, the European Tour moves on from South Africa to Thailand, and the Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok on Thursday.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy make their seasonal debuts while Peter Lawrie tees it up for the third successive week having failed to capitalise on making the cut in two of the year's opening events, in South Africa. Although tied for the lead after 36 holes in the Dunhill Championship at the Houghton club over the weekend, the 2003 Rookie of the year picked up a mere €12,347 in the two weeks and stands 31st in the Volvo order of merit.