Madride date for McIlroy

Teenager Rory McIlroy will play his third professional event at this week’s Madrid Open.

The 18-year-old finished a spectacular fifth in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday, the £147,373 (€212,664) cheque making it almost certain he will win a European Tour card for next season without having to go to the qualifying school next month.

McIlroy’s manager Andrew ’Chubby’ Chandler discovered that his top-10 finish did not on this occasion automatically qualify him for the next Tour event, but a sponsor’s invitation was still available.

The event was to have seen the return to action of Jose Maria Olazabal, who has not played since the US PGA Championship in August because of knee trouble, but the twice Masters champion has withdrawn.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie heads the entry list.