Fun factor gets Gavin Moynihan back on course

Playing with pals helped Gavin Moynihan rediscover his mojo and put himself in position to battle for his European Tour survival in Portugal this week. The Portrane native admits he was at a low ebb just a month ago, missing cuts by narrow margins or failing to perform on payday.

But after feeding off his love of golf’s tougher tests to finish a career-best tied fifth in the Open de France in Paris on Sunday, the 25-year-old Dubliner is upbeat about what lies ahead. Having risen to 140th in the Race to Dubai, he knows he must finish solo fourth or better in this week’s Portugal Masters to avoid a return to the Qualifying School.