This is the first of a weekly article coming every Monday morning reviewing the previous week’s action while also marking in the diary who’s playing where of the Irish on tour.
Rory McIlroy has a deserved week off after his thrilling victory in Dubai as he captured his fourth Dubai Desert Classic crown at Emirates Golf Club.
The Irish hopefuls on tour this week continue to stretch far and wide from the UAE, to the United States to Spain and to Australia.
DP World Tour
Heading to the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in Al Hamra Golf Club are Tom McKibbin and Pádraig Harrington.
McKibbin has brought his consistent form from last season into this with finishes of T25 and T14 across the two Dubai tournaments.
Harrington meanwhile, will be looking for better after a missed cut last week. The three-time major winner was making his first appearance since the PNC Championship in December and he has since battled pneumonia and a collapsed lung so he was understandably rusty in his season opener on the DP World Tour.
PGA Tour
Shane Lowry is in need of a big week at the Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines if he is to retain any hope of playing in the opening signature event on the PGA Tour in Pebble Beach next week.
A missed cut at The American Express was a blow to his slim hopes, the world number 43 needs to climb into the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking (through the preceding week) or land one of four sponsor exemptions earmarked for PGA TOUR members.
Lowry is joined in California by Séamus Power who withdrew prior to last week’s American Express. The Waterford man will make his third appearance of the season having returned from a hip injury during the Hawaiian swing.
LPGA Tour
Leona Maguire returns to the tournament of her first LPGA Tour victory at the Drive On Championship after opening her campaign at the Tournament of Champions with a T12 finish following a final round of 68.
Maguire is joined in the field by Stephanie Meadow who will be eager to improve on a consistent campaign last season.
Toro Tour
Robert Brazill, James Temple, Karl McCormack, John Hickey, Zak Collins and Rory Gallagher tee it up in the latest Toro tour event in La Canada Golf.
Ronan Mullarney romped to victory at the weather impacted event last week for a record fourth title.
Avondale Amateur
Hugh Foley continues his exploits down under as he tees it up in his third event in Australia. The Royal Dublin star is competing in the Avondale Amateur alongside fellow Irishman William Beaty.
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