Rory McIlroy hopes to silence doubters at DP World Tour Championship

Rory McIlroy is coming to terms with being out of the race to be European No 1 as he prepares to defend his DP World Tour Championship title in Dubai.

The 24-year-old added the Race to Dubai crown to his PGA Tour Money List title when he birdied the last five holes to clinch a two-shot win over Justin Rose at Jumeirah Golf Estates 12 months ago. But McIlroy has endured a horrific 2013 campaign which has so far failed to yield a victory and has been blighted by issues both on and off the course.

"It's been an interesting year," said the world No 6, who is languishing at 46th in the Race to Dubai standings ahead of the season finale. "Obviously a lot of stuff has gone on, both on and off the course. Every year that I've come here, apart from 2010, I've been in the mix to win the Race to Dubai. "It's a little bit different coming in this week and not having much to play for in terms of that, but I still want to try and finish the season off really strongly. "I feel like this course really suits my game. I know it would be a great way to cap off the European season with a win." McIlroy has struggled since switching to Nike equipment in January, while an ongoing legal battle with his former management company has also been an unwelcome distraction. "There's definitely been a few things that have impacted (on my performance on the course)," McIlroy added. "I've had a few different things to think about and different things that occupy your head that really shouldn't. "It's something that will be sorted out hopefully sooner rather than later. That's the way it is and comes with the territory I guess.

Adversity

"I've got people to handle that sort of stuff for me and I only see a fraction of it, the stuff that I really want to see. But again it's something that shouldn't be in my mind. It's something that I don't really think any athlete or anyone should ever go through. "I've seen more lawyers this year than I care to see in my entire life. It's not something I ever want to go through again and I'm making sure that I won't ever go through it again." McIlroy was in danger of missing out on this week's event until finishing sixth in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, only his third top-10 finish on the European Tour this season. But the Ryder Cup star feels he is on the right track and remains determined to defy his critics in Dubai this week. "I guess I learnt last year how to deal with the hype and this year I've learned to deal with criticism," he added. "Every year for me is still a new experience. "I feel I've always thrived on adversity. I think back to the times when I had the collapse at the Masters and I came back and won the US Open because I wanted to prove to myself and other people that wasn't who I am and that's not the way I play under pressure. "Last year at the US PGA was the same sort of thing. I went through a little lull of three or four months and people started to question things and I like proving people wrong. "It's something that I have to keep doing every year and hopefully I do that again this year as well." Live coverage of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship starts at 8am on Sky Sports 4

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European Tour honour Justin Rose following US Open victory

Justin Rose has been awarded honorary life membership of the European Tour in recognition of his US Open Championship victory in June.

"This is really an incredible honour," said the Englishman, who held off Phil Mickelson and Jason Day to record his first major triumph at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

"For a kid who started his career with 21 missed cuts, I guess this means an awful lot really. And the whole journey could not have been done without all the hard work of The European Tour. "It's great to be back here and great to have a chance to be playing for the Race to Dubai. Like I said, this truly does mean a lot to me. "It's been a great journey. There are many, many fantastic players who have done so much for European golf who have received this honour, so it would be wonderful for me to be able to do the same.

Honour "I've got a lot of great golf ahead of me, I hope, and a lot of great golf on the European Tour ahead of me. So I look forward to living up to this honour." Tour chief executive George O'Grady praised Rose, who has won six European Tour events since bursting onto the scene at the Open Championship in 1998, where he won the silver medal as an 18-year-old. "When we have one of Europe's own enjoying the season that Justin has had, and specifically winning the US Open Championship, we would be honoured if he would accept Honorary Membership of The European Tour," he said ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. "He will now join a very illustrious band of major championship winners and others who have contributed hugely to the growth of the European Tour."

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European Tour Qualifying School: James Morrison and Jens Dantorp set the pace

James Morrison surged to the top of the leaderboard after a stunning third round at the European Tour's Qualifying School in Spain.

The 28-year-old Englishman shot a seven-under-par 63 on the Tour Course at the PGA Catalunya Resort to springboard into a share of the lead alongside Sweden's Jens Dantorp.

The top 70 after Wednesday's fourth round will advance to the final 36 holes on Thursday and Friday, following which the top 25 will win a spot on next year's European Tour.

Morrison began the day seven shots off the lead but got to the turn in 31 and further birdies at 10 and 11 had him closing in on the leaders.

A bogey at the 12th stalled his progress but further birdies at 16 and 18 ensured he would have a share of the lead going into Wednesday.

Dantorp's round was less spectacular as he fired a second consecutive 68 to maintain his consistent form with just four shots dropped in his opening three rounds.

Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti and Argentina's Estanislao Goya sit a further shot back ahead of a large group on eight under including England's Simon Wakefield and Gary Lockerbie and Scot Jack Doherty.

Bogeys

American John Hahn looked like maintaining his overnight lead as he reached 12 under after 10 holes but three bogeys and a closing double sent him tumbling to a three-over 73.

That left him in the group at seven under alongside Scotland's Alastair Forsyth and English duo Richard Finch and Daniel Brooks.

Par is currently good enough to get players into the final two days on the Stadium Course and among those struggling to make it could be 2011 Czech Open winner Oliver Fisher, who sits two over, and former Ryder Cup star Phillip Price, a further shot back.

A trio of three-time European Tour winners have struggled: Peter Hedblom finished on five over, Nick Dougherty six over and Johan Edfors seven over.

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Tiger Woods confident of capturing a 15th major championship in 2014

Tiger Woods believes next year's host venues give him a great chance to end his five-year major championship drought.

The 37-year-old was the last player to win a major at both Hoylake and Valhalla - the courses set to host the Open and USPGA respectively in 2014 - while he has finished third and second in the last two US Opens held at Pinehurst No. 2.

Speaking after finishing tied for third at the Turkish Airlines Open, Woods said: "Next year is a really good one. "Pinehurst, I've had a third and a second, and hopefully it will keep improving like it has. "I'm looking forward to the four venues - I like them and I've obviously played well on them." Although he has been unable to add to his tally of 14 Majors in 2013, Woods feels his game is in much better shape having collected five victories this year, including two World Golf Championships. "A couple of years ago there were a lot of guys saying I could never win again," he added. "I've got eight wins since then, so it's been good and I'm very happy with the progress I've made. "I've won on some venues that were very tough this year, and obviously winning the Presidents Cup with Freddie (Couples, the US captain) was another special moment."

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Stacy Lewis leads LPGA Tour team to championship

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) -- Stacy Lewis shot 7-under 65 to lead the LPGA Tour team to the

championship of the 3Tour Challenge on Tuesday.

The LPGA Tour combined for a score of 17 under, edging the Champions Tour by one stroke and beating the PGA Tour by nine strokes. Lewis (31-34) had eight birdies, including six birdies on the first nine holes at the Rio Secco Golf Club, and one bogey to pace the LPGA Tour toward its first 3Tour win since 2009. Natalie Gulbis, with four birdies and two bogeys, was next for the LPGA Tour at 2 under. Cristie Kerr, the LPGA's third golfer, didn't have her score count on five holes in this two-player, best-ball format that allowed each team to discard one score per hole. Kenny Perry missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole that would have sent the match into a playoff with the LPGA Tour team for the Champions Tour Team. Perry and Bernhard Langer didn't score on all 18 holes for the Champions Tour, who were led by Fred Funk at 4 under. Billy Horschel and Boo Weekley paced the PGA Tour team, which also included Jason Day, by having their scores count on 17 of 18 holes.

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Cancer survivor to return to golf after 20 months

When Jarrod Lyle returns to golf after a 20-month layoff at the Australian Masters, he expects some teary eyes on the tee. His among them.

Lyle is 32 years old and will be playing his first tournament since his second fight with myeloid leukemia - his first came at 17. This time, he'll have his wife and young daughter with him Thursday when he starts a tournament that he's not sure he's physically ready to finish should he make the 36-hole cut. ''Just walking to that first tee and teeing the ball up and trying to hit it - that's probably going to be the hardest thing,'' Lyle said Tuesday at Royal Melbourne. ''It's just going to let a whole lot of stuff out. Hopefully when that ball flies I can just get on to playing golf and put everything behind me and just get back to the golfer that I am.'' Lyle, then a regular on the U.S. PGA Tour, was diagnosed with his second bout of leukemia in March 2012 just before the birth of his daughter, Lusi. Lyle's wife, Briony, became pregnant despite medical advice that Lyle's first bout of cancer and the resulting chemotherapy would leave him sterile. With a medical exemption to return to the PGA Tour whenever he feels he's ready - and it might not be until late in 2014 - Lyle has found his second bout of cancer illuminating. On the positive side, he knew what to expect, and anti-nausea drugs to counteract the chemotherapy had improved in the 15 years between his illnesses. On the downside, because he had the disease once, it was harder to overcome twice. The first time, he spent two to three weeks at a stretch in the hospital. The second time, it often was four or five weeks or more. He's lost weight, and his strength. And he's still not out of the usual five-year cancer-free time frame, as he thought he had done as a teenager. Briony and Lusi, nearly 2, will be among a big group of friends and family supporting him at Royal Melbourne on Thursday on Friday. And against all odds, maybe the weekend. Lyle will tee off just after midday on the first hole Thursday with two veterans to help him along - fellow Australian and 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, and Brendon de Jonge, the Zimbabwean who represented the International team at the recent Presidents Cup. Many of Lyle's fans will be wearing specially designed yellow shirts and hats to support his involvement in the children's cancer charity Challenge. When Tiger Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2012, he was wearing a ''Leuk the Duck'' pin on his cap. The cartoon duck is a mascot for kids who come through the Challenge charity, and Woods wore it out of respect for Lyle, as did many players in the field not long after Lyle's second cancer fight was known. ''To have the support of all those guys, guys that I am not really close with as well, it is nice,'' Lyle said at the time. ''It is nice to know they still care and want to know how you are going.'' On Thursday, Lyle won't forget that support and knows where his heart will be. ''I'm going to dedicate this first tee shot to everybody that's done that over the years or over the last 20 months,'' he said. ''Everyone who has got in contact with us and given us support.''

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Beach Boys

OHL Mayakoba Classic

El Camaleon Golf Club

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

El Camaleon

Twitter: @MayakobaGolf

Yards: 6,987 as per the scorecard

Par: 71 (36-35)

Greens: Sea Isle Paspalum; over 7,000 square feet on average.

Stimpmeter: 10.5’

Rough: Sea Isle Paspalum at 1.5”

Bunkers: 34

Water Hazards: Canals everywhere throughout the course

Course Architects: Greg Norman (2006)

Purse: $6,000,000

Winner’s Share: $1,080,000

FexExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Defending Champion: It took John Huh eight holes and eight pars to see off Robert Allenby in February of last year.

Dates: November 14-17

Notes: Stroke play; Top 70 and ties advance to the weekend

History Lessons

After winning 31 of 40 tournaments in 2013, the USA is now five from five as 2013-14 begins. Last week at The McGladrey Classic, American Chris Kirk joined Jimmy Walker, Webb Simpson, Ryan Moore and Dustin Johnson as the winners this year. #USA, There were 12, first-time winners in the 2013 season and just six players with multiple victories (Woods, Mickelson, Kuchar, Snedeker, Scott and Stenson. In five events to kick of 2013-14, there have been no repeat winners (no surprise) and only one, first-time winner, Jimmy Walker, at Frys.com. This is the seventh edition of the OHL Mayakoba Classic. Here are the six winners. Let’s see if you can spot a common thread between them:

2007: Fred Funk – 266 (par 70)

2008: Brian Gay – 264 (par 70)

2009: Mark Wilson – 267 (par 70)

2010: Cameron Beckman – 269 (par 71)

2011: Johnson Wagner – 267 (par 71)

2012: John Huh – 271 (par 71)

Give up?

Fred Funk: 193rd in driving distance, second in driving accuracy, 40th in total putting in 2007 season.

Brian Gay: 196th in driving distance, 17th in driving accuracy, 11th in total putting in the 2008 season.

Mark Wilson: 118th in driving distance, 28th in driving accuracy, 57th in total putting in the 2009 season.

Cameron Beckman: 115th in driving distance, 96th in driving accuracy, 121st in total putting in the 2010 season.

Johnson Wagner: 160th in driving distance, 23rd in driving accuracy, 73rd in total putting in the 2011 season.

John Huh: 113th in driving distance, 11th in driving accuracy, 34th in total putting.

They are all in the field this week.

In six events, three have ended in playoffs.

John Huh is the only rookie to lift the trophy.

Funk, Wagner and Huh won in their first time on this course.

Gay, Beckman and Wilson had played here previously.

The best finish for a defending champion is T12, Cameron Beckman in 2011.

John Huh closed with 63 and Robert Allenby 65 (double bogey on the 72nd hole) last year.

Inside the Ropes

Another week on TOUR, another week that birdies will be needed to contend and win as El Camaleon is the destination this week on the Caribbean Sea. The Chameleon traverses through and around jungle, mangroves and skirts up against the sea as well. There’s water everywhere so accurate players, as highlighted above, have shown to be in favor on this course over the first six years. The first three editions this course played par 70 but it was stretched to par 71 with the 2010 edition and has remained par 71 since.

Mayakoba is the host of this event and this is the first time that they have hosted the tournament outside February so we’ll see how this time of year affects the weather. The Greg Norman design, since moving to par 71, has rated No. 30, No. 27 and No. 17 last year. John Huh fired a final round 63 to make the playoff at 13-under. Remember, 54-hole leader Daniel Summerhays was 12-under before his final round 73.

With large greens, similar to Seaside last week, players who knock it anywhere near the fairway will have solid chances to score because of said greens and rough that grows only 1.5 inches. Water is the key deterrent this week and multiple canals and mangroves protect the otherwise short and easy track. Once on the greens, Sea Isle Paspalum running around 11 on the Stimpmeter, should allow players to be aggressive in getting putts to the hole. Sounds like another putting contest again this week but guys who bang fairways and greens will also have a say this week. Guys who spray it better keep it out of the jungle, mangroves and canals!

The Chalk

Harris English: The man who enjoys tight courses because they keep his attention should feel at home this week with plenty of danger to avoid off the tees. English can stripe irons and can really putt it as well as he proved in his first victory last season at TPC Southwind in Memphis. He made 21 of 26 cuts last season and has already racked up a T7 overseas at the CIMB. Oh, he went to Georgia as well! It’s his first travels to Mexico and this event but his pedigree will be plenty to carry him this week.

Tim Clark: Even though it’s his first time in Mexico, I cannot ignore his closing-round 62 last weekend at The McGladrey. He did EVERYTHING but win the tournament as he rolled in 20 birdies and finished second in fairways and greens. He was also third in putts per GIR. That’s the EXACT recipe for winning this week at Mayakoba. Clark now has 12 runner-up finishes and has had one each of the last 11 years in addition to his PLAYERS championship.

Brian Gay: The 2008 champion also has a T5 and T20 in five trips south of the border and is coming off T4 last week in St. Simons Island. Some will be chased away by his big GIR number but, similar to last week, the greens at El Camaleon are quite large on average so I don’t see this being as issue. His course knowledge, current form (20 birdies as well last week) and hot putter makes for a tasty combination this week.

Brendon Todd: I’m not sure what’s in the water in Athens but here’s another former UGA Bulldog in a rich vein of form. He’s been in the preview column in all three starts in 2013-14 and his finishes of T26, T12 and T16 have not sent me running for the exits. He’s seen the course once before in 2009 but registered a MC. I’M STILL NOT DETERRED!

J.J. Henry: He’s three-for-three to start the new season and opened with T16 at Frys.com and T15 in Las Vegas before T48 last week in Georgia. Henry is known for his ball-striking off the tee and from the fairway and the formula has worked for him at Mayakoba. He’s finished in the top 10 twice in four starts and also has a T19 to show for his efforts. Only two of his 16 rounds here have been over par.

Ryan Moore: Last time Moore was involved he was beating Gary Woodland in a playoff at the CIMB in Malaysia. Now that his jet lag is gone, Moore is another player that sets up great on this course as his strengths are driving the golf ball and holing putts. He was very solid in his backyard with T9 at the Shriners the week before his win. He’s known to play well in bunches so point leaving him out.

Brian Harman: Another ‘Dawg who played well last week, Harman, I believe, is ready to take the next step here in season No. 3. He already banged two top 10s to start things off on the right foot and he posted a 65 in round three last year in his first tournament at Mayakoba. He was T10 last week and had two doubles on the card. Shhhhhhhhhhhh.

Daniel Summerhays/Chris Stroud: I should really couple these last two players because of their similar flight paths since the last time they played here. Summerhays led Stroud by a shot and fired 73 on Sunday to miss the playoff by three shots as he was passed by Allenby and Huh. Summerhays rallied to put himself in position last summer at the JDC and Sanderson Farms but couldn’t close the deals. The more guys put themselves in position the more scar tissue they form and I think that’s healthy at a young age. Stroud went close last summer at the Travelers where he fell in a playoff to Ken Duke and battled Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland before falling short in Malaysia. This will be event No. 7 in a row in Mexico for Stroud and he finished T5 last year, fourth in 2011 and T12 in 2008. He’s seen the weekend on his last five visits as well.

Horses-for-Courses and Heat Checks

Briny Baird: The man with two brand-new shoulders has only found one round over par from 12 this season and his worse finish in the last five seasons at this event is T12, twice. He was T2 last week after co-leading after 54 holes. The only hesitation I have this week with him is how he bounces back after being SO CLOSE to winning for the first time in 365 events.

Charles Howell III: He’s finished T38, T20, T13 and T16 last season so I’m having trouble writing him off for this year. Since he’s posted T5 and T7 in half of his starts in 2013-14 it makes him easy to add to this column.

Scott Brown: The trump here is Brown has been holing everything and pinging fairways. His T3 at Frys.com and T4 last week have seen him collect almost half of his 2013 winnings in just four events this season. In a non-premium field, this is where you fire guys like this!

Kevin Stadler: His ball-striking prowess has been the formula here to post four top 20s in six tries and all six cuts made but his putter will be the club that has to put him over the top. He’ll be looking to bounce back from his double-birdie-bogey finish on Sunday that saw him finish T10 at McGladrey. Very close.

Greg Chalmers: He’s began his 2013-14 with seven of eight rounds in the 60s including his final round 64 last week on St. Simons Island to hit T10. Combined with his T15 to open in Las Vegas, the Aussie is off to a great start. Chalmers fits the winner’s profile to a T as he’s an accurate driver and a wonderful putter. Plus his form is nothing to sneeze at.

John Senden: He got off to a flying start in Las Vegas (65-66) before closing 71-77. He got off to a flying start last week at The McGladrey (66-67) and closed well (68-67) to hit the top 10 for the first time since 2012. He played the final five holes in four under and that will never hurt. It’s his first time playing in Mexico but his recent for screams PAY ATTENTION. Senden was fifth and eighth in the putting categories last week and that’s encouraging as well as we all know he can get the ball in the fairway.

George McNeill: In three tournaments this season he’s managed to fire 62 in TWO of them so that qualifies as HOT where I come from. His T7 in Vegas and T22 last week offset his T62 in Las Vegas. His history at El Camaleon is nothing to write about but he is accurate off the tee and he’s played in three events here.

Cameron Beckman: He needs to make the most of these starts and this would be the course to get his season jump-started. The 2010 champ also has finishes of seventh, 12th and T15 and has played in all six events. Horse-for-course.

John Huh: The defending champ obviously should feel at home this week especially after closing with 63 last year and winning in an eight-hole playoff for his first career win. He’s been having some problems on the weekend this year with 75 on Sunday and the Frys.com and 77 last Sunday at The McGladrey. Remember, the defending champ’s best finish in this event is T12 by Beckman. Not strong history to dovetail there.

Heath Slocum: His 69-66 finish at McGladrey should give him momentum heading south of the border this week. His head should be in a good spot as well as he’s posted T3, T13 and T37 to Mexico in three trips.

Jason Bohn: Did someone say birdies will be necessary? LIGHT UP THE BOHN PHONE. In his one visit to the Mexican Riviera, Bohn found a 68-65 sandwich between 72 and 71 to finish T19. Sure, he shot 77 his last time out but he did make THREE doubles on Friday at McGladrey. He’s an accurate driver of the golf ball and can get the putter rolling as evidenced by his 2013 birdie average, 21st on TOUR.

Russell Knox: After opening with 74 here last year, he played his final three rounds under par so that tells me he made the adjustments. Knox, who has seen all three weekends in the tournaments he’s entered this season, had his worst finish in the last three months last week at the McGladrey (T32). Since the middle of June, when he’s made the cut, he’s finished no worse than T32. That’s what happens when you hit every fairway and most of the greens. Now, that putter…

The Man with His Own Column

Matt Every: After finding the 60s only once in his trip to Malaysia, Every returned to the TOUR last week to fire four rounds in the 60s to hit the top 10 for the third time in his last six events. His finish on Sunday would have been even better if he wouldn’t have bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 coming home. Every is a birdie or better converting machine even though his putting and ball-striking stats don’t stand out. He just finds ways to get the ball in the hole. He has his own column this week because he’s extremely high risk and high reward. He’s a streaky player and I’d take the risk this week.

Jordan Spieth of the Week Last Week

The column was taken over and thrashed by the kid from Texas last year. Out of respect, I’m not changing the title of it for 2013-14. It will remind me just how good Spieth was in the last three months of the season. This year, we’ll still identify an up-and-coming player and/or rookie that fantasy players should have on their radar.

Frys.com: Hideki Matsuyama, T3; Brooks Koepka, T3; Max Homa, T9.

SHCO: Ryo Ishikawa is only 22, don’t forget, T2; Chesson Hadley, T5.

CIMB: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, 24, might have enough money after this week to earn Special Temporary Membership. Pay attention!

WGC-HSBC: Jordan Spieth was 17th. Tommy Fleetwood (T18) is only 22 and plays in Europe. Matsuyama WD with a bad back.

McGladrey: Scott Langley turned 24 last April and is in his second season on TOUR. He finished T22 last week and No. 124 last season. #slimpickinngsthisweek

One-and-Done

SEASON TOTAL: ($6,689,685 in 2013; $269,414 in 2013-14)

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Pettersen closing in fast on LPGA awards

Just more than three months ago, Inbee Park went to St. Andrews with a shot at becoming the first golfer to win four straight majors in one year. She was No. 1 in women's golf by any measure - world ranking, money list - and it wasn't even close. But as the LPGA Tour goes into the final two weeks of its season, there's a chance Park won't win any of the major awards. And she might even lose her No. 1 ranking. Suzann Pettersen, who had only one win after the Women's British Open the first week in August, might have a mathematical chance to overtake Park at No. 1 in the world if she were to win the Lorena Ochoa Invitational this week in Mexico. Pettersen is only $93,613 behind on the money list with two events left, including the season-ending CME LPGA Titleholders, which pays $500,000 to the winner. The LPGA player of the year is based on points. Park leads 290-252, but with 30 points awarded for a win, that's not out of Pettersen's range. The other big award is the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Park has fallen to No. 3 behind Stacy Lewis (69.54) and Pettersen (69.59).

How did it happen?

Pettersen got hot. Park did not. The 32-year-old from Norway won the Portland Classic and two weeks later captured the Evian Championship, the fifth major of the year. She also won in Taiwan, giving her three wins in her last five tournaments. Park won for the sixth time this year at the U.S. Women's Open, her third straight major. She has played eight tournaments since then with only one top-10 finish, third place in China. Both are playing the final two weeks of the year.

Q-SCHOOL TUITION: The PGA Tour qualifying tournament is nothing like it used to be except in one respect - the entry fees. For the first time, Q-school no longer offers a player direct access to the PGA Tour. Instead, cards will be awarded only for the Web.com Tour. The entry fee, however, remains at the same level. Players who have to go to pre-qualifying pay $2,500, and then an additional $2,700 to $3,500 (depending on how close they file to the entry deadline) if they advance. The fee for the first stage is between $4,500 and $6,000. Those exempt into the second stage pay between $4,000 and $5,000, while the final stage costs $3,500 to $4,500. Even though the prize - a PGA Tour card - is not the same, it doesn't sound like the fees are coming down. ''Right now, we continue to have an entry fee at the same level,'' said Andy Pazder, the tour's chief of operations. ''One of the factors in setting that is making sure only the high-caliber player enters Q-school who legitimately is competitive at a high level. In some ways, we're making a player in his mind ask himself if his game is ready to make this kind of commitment.'' Another change this year is the prize money. D.H. Lee won Q-school last year and earned $50,000 (in addition to his PGA Tour card). The winner of this year's Q-school earns only $25,000.

SEMINOLE: These are good times for American amateurs who are good enough to be selected for the Walker Cup. Golf Digest reported on its website this week that Seminole Golf Club is the latest classic to host the Walker Cup in 2021. For Seminole, the Donald Ross design along the Atlantic Ocean in South Florida, it will be the first time for a public competition since it opened in 1929. The course is not long by modern standards - 6,836 yards all the way back - but the wind and difficult greens make it a strong test for even the pros. Ben Hogan used to prepare for the Masters every spring at Seminole. The club has a pro-member event each spring, and Rickie Fowler has the low score at 65. The Walker Cup was played this year at National Golf Links on Long Island. It previously was at Merion in 2009 and Chicago Golf Club in 2005. The next American venue will be Los Angeles Country Club (2017). When held in Britain & Ireland, it has gone to Royal County Down and Royal Aberdeen in recent years. The event next will be played in 2015 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

BIG EASY: The original field for the World Challenge that Tiger Woods hosts each year in California included Ernie Els, who had never played the unofficial event. The Big Easy has kept his streak alive. He withdrew this week to play the Nedbank Challenge in his native South Africa on Dec. 5-8. ''This tournament holds some really wonderful memories for me and my whole family,'' Els said on his website. His staff sent him a list of achievements at the Nedbank Challenge, which included his three wins, record 16 appearances, a 69.93 scoring average and 46 rounds under par. Els was replaced in the 18-man field at Sherwood Country Club by Dustin Johnson. For a tournament that counts only toward the world ranking, the World Challenge still managed to attract 18 of the top 29 players in the world. WELCOME TO THE 60s: Tiger Woods doesn't play a lot of PGA Tour events where he has all four rounds in the 60s and still doesn't win. It happened once this year at The Barclays, where he was runner-up. It happened once in 2012 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Before that, go all the way back to the Tour Championship in 2006. Part of that is because of the difficult golf courses on his schedule. There were 10 players in the 2013 season who had at least three tournaments where they shot in the 60s every round without winning. The leaders of the hard-luck category: Zach Johnson and Brendon de Jonge each had four tournaments with all four rounds in the 60s and no trophy. DIVOTS: The McGladrey Classic at Sea Island might not be hurt so much next year from missing players who were in Shanghai the previous week. Tournament officials said the 2014 event will be held Oct. 23-26, before the tour does its two-week Asia swing. Equally important for Sea Island, it will be before the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville, Fla. Sea Island is the unofficial headquarters for Georgia fans going to the game. ... Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West is stepping away from his role as executive director of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera after just more than three years. The tournament has hired former UCLA golf coach O.D. Vincent to replace him. Vincent recently was senior associate athletic director at Washington. ''My goal was to help elevate the tournament as a way to give back to the city that has given me so much,'' West said. ... Jack Nicklaus helped the Western Golf Association raise $900,000 for the Evans Scholars Foundation last week when he was honored at the WGA's annual ''Green Coat Gala'' in Chicago. STAT OF THE WEEK: Eleven Americans are in the final stage of European Tour Q-school, up from five a year ago. FINAL WORD: ''I enjoyed the summer. Everybody leaves, you see, so it's nice and quiet.'' - Lee Westwood of England, on his first summer since moving to South Florida.

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Legal worries a distraction in tough 2013, says McIlroy

Legal problems were a distraction which affected his golf this year,

former world number one Rory McIlroy said on Tuesday as he prepared to defend the World Tour Championship title he won in sizzling style last year.

The 24-year-old from Northern Ireland birdied the final five holes in Dubai 12 months ago to claim his second tour title of the year and finish top of both the European and U.S. money lists. In a barren 2013, however, he has tumbled to sixth in the world rankings. That slump followed McIlroy's sponsorship switch to Nike in January, which prompted a former sponsor, American sportswear company Oakley, to launch legal action against him. In September he terminated his contract with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management to form his own management company and the acrimonious split has now reached the courts. "It's something that I don't really think any athlete or anyone should ever go through," McIlroy told reporters. "I've seen more lawyers' offices and more lawyers this year than I care to see in my entire life. It's not something I ever want to go through again and I'm making sure that I won't ever go through it again." The twice major winner said his legal worries did not directly result in him hitting specific bad shots. "But as a golfer you want your mind as clear as possible, and it's obviously hard for that to happen if you've got other things that are going on that, firstly, you don't want to happen, and secondly you don't feel should be happening. It's been a distraction," McIlroy said. He is ranked a lowly 46th in the Race to Dubai - the European Order of Merit - and has no chance of topping the money list for a second year, but the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 U.S. PGA champion was upbeat about his prospects of claiming a first tour title of 2013 at the $8 million Dubai event. "If I can drive the ball well and drive it long and straight, it gives me a huge advantage over most of the field and it's something that when I'm on my game, I can really take advantage of, and I was able to do that last year," added McIlroy. "This is a perfect golf course for that. If you can carry it over 300 yards, you've got a huge advantage on some of the guys here, and it's something I'll be trying to do this week."

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DP World Tour Championship 2013: Rory McIlroy hopes defence of Dubai title can spur a return to No 1 spot

Rory McIlroy's game is beginning to improve as an 'interesting year' of worries for the Ulsterman draws to a close.

At the end of the year in which regular trips to the winner’s enclosures were suddenly swapped with frequent visits to the lawyers’ offices, Rory McIlroy bemoaned the off-course distractions which did so much to cause what could turn out to be a record fall in the rankings. The Ulsterman is still involved in two multi-million dollar court cases; McIlroy versus Horizon Sports Management in Ireland, Oakley versus McIlroy in the United States. The respective lawsuits have been rumbling all year and as the details emerge the picture forms of a young superstar which so much more on his mind that his profession. When he should have been thinking fades, his psyche would switch to “cuts” of a differently variety; when a draw was called off for, so the concentration would drift off to who had been drawing what. For the first time today, McIlroy acknowledged the negative implications of all the litigation. “I’ve obviously got people to handle that stuff for me and I only see a fraction of it,” he said. “But it’s something that shouldn’t be in my mind. You know, it’s something that I don’t really think and athlete or anyone should go through. "I’ve seen more lawyers offices and more lawyers this year than I care to see in my entire life. It’s not something I ever want to go through again and I’m making sure I won’t ever go through it again.” Added McIlroy: “As a golfer you want you mind as clear as possible and it’s hard for that to happen if you’ve got other things going on, that firstly, you don’t want to happen and, secondly you don’t feel should be happening. It’s been a distraction ... and obviously not what I wanted to have in my life.” The disputes could have some way to go yet, with Horizon counter-suing McIlroy and Oakley still seeking amends for the then world No1 leaving in joining Nike in a £78m deal in January. Whatever the rights and wrongs, the pity is that if McIlroy finishes the year at No6 then in the 27-year history of golf’s ranking system no healthy player who started the year at No1 would have plummeted so far. Of course, as McIlroy said here in a typically honest press conference, sixth in the world, with two top threes to his name, hardly classifies it as “a disastrous year”. But when placed alongside his finish to 2012 then it has, at the very best, been as mediocre as it was unexpected. And nowhere does this seem to apply more than here at the DP World Tour Championship and a Race To Dubai finale which McIlroy won in such mesmeric style last year. McIlroy was already assured of the Order of Merit title, and, indeed, the $1m bonus, when standing on the 14th tee three behind Justin Rose who had just posted a 62, believing he done enough to prevail in the tournament proper. McIlroy proceeded to reel off birdies on each of those final five holes for his fourth triumph in an eight-event run which had begun with an eight-shot victory at the USPGA. While McIlroy sat, undisputed on his throne, a stunned Rose went off to re-evaluate. And so the Englishman comes back as the US Open champion with the Order of Merit in his sights, while McIlroy returns in 46th in the standings with only the week itself as his target. But still, starting Thursday, it could be a week which would mean so much for McIlroy in the country where he won his first professional title. “Yeah, it’s been an interesting year,” McIlroy said. “A lot has gone on off and on the course, but the big thing for me now, the most important thing for me now, is that my game is in really good shape again. If it starts to work the way I know it can and that most people know it can, then everything else will fall into place ... It would be a great way to cap off the season with a win.” Indeed, the lawyers wouldn’t be the only winners. For the time being, anyway.

Rory's year in the rough ...

January: Misses cut in Abu Dhabi after being unveiled as the new Nike superstar in a £78m deal. Oakley has already revealed intent to sue McIlroy, the world No 1, for breach on contract.
February: Beaten in first round of World Match Play by compatriot Shane Lowry before walking off at Honda Classic midway through second round.
March: Promising performances at both Doral and at Texas Open where he finishes second.
April: Disappoints at Masters with a tie for 25th. Rumours emerge at Augusta of discord with management company.
May: Lifts hopes with a top 10 at Players, but misses cut at Wentworth. Admits to things going on' in background but refuses to discuss further.
June: Finishes outside top 40 at US Open before missing cut at Irish Open.
July: Misses the cut at Open at Muirfield and says he feels 'brain dead' on course.
August: Best major display of the year with eighth at USPGA.
September: Fails to make top 30 on PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings who advance to Tour Championship.
October: Finally announces that he has split with Horizon to set up his own management firm, Rory McIlroy Inc. Finishes second at Korean Open and then sixth in WGC event in China. Horizon announce they will counter sue as court hears details of relationship breakdown finances.
November: Oakley increase legal pressure as McIlroy, now down to world No 6, at Dubai bemoaning number of visits with lawyers.

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Ambitious Turkey eyes 2022 Ryder Cup following success of the Turkish Airlines Open

Financial muscle and the patronage of Tiger Woods, plus the success of the Turkish Airlines Open, has encouraged Turkey to make a bid to host the 2022 Ryder Cup

Having repeatedly been kicked back in its attempts to stage the Olympic Games, Turkey is confident that it can land the Ryder Cup. Discussions took place last week at the Turkish Airlines Open, with both the country’s golf federation and its ambitious airline determined to host the biennial match between Europe and America. The interest is being taken seriously by the European Tour, which appreciates the levels of finance at Turkey’s disposal. With the European economy still struggling, Turkey has proven such a welcome addition to the marketplace. It lured Tiger Woods to play in the unofficial matchplay event last year and again this year as the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek was the scene for a $7  million (£4.4 million) event which also featured in its 78-man field some of the cream of European golf. The $2.8 million (£1.75 million) paid to Woods simply to turn up should signify the intent of this fledgling golfing nation to put itself on the map, as does the fact that Turkey is favourite to take over from Dubai as the destination for the Tour’s grand season-ender when the contract runs out in two years’ time. Ahmet Agaoglu, the president of the Turkish Golf Federation, views that as the stepping stone to winning the game’s biggest event. “We are candidates for the Race to Turkey in 2016 – and what comes after that? The Ryder Cup,” he said. “We have the idea to host the Ryder Cup in 2022. We will bid for that. Either in Istanbul or Antalya.” The Tour is expected to invite formal bids soon after next year’s match at Gleneagles and when asked about Turkey’s chances of following Paris in 2018, George O’Grady, the Tour’s chief executive, was positive. “Turkey would have as good a chance as anywhere,” O’Grady said. “We have been staggered by the success of this tournament. This is a country where anything is possible.” The one stumbling block is the venue. While the Antalya region, with its vast array of hotels as well as championship courses, would be the obvious choice it is in Asia and O’Grady intimated that the Ryder Cup would almost certainly have to be held in Europe. Agaoglu does not believe this would be a problem. “Turkey is in Europe,” he said. “But if we need to, we can build a course on the European side of Istanbul.” Chubby Chandler, who was instrumental in setting up the Turkish Airlines Open, revealed that there were rich investors who wanted to see the emergence of a world-class golfing venue near the capital. “And there’s plenty of time to build one before 2022,” Chandler said. Woods’s patronage could be crucial. Telegraph Sport reported on Monday that he had signed a three-year deal with Turkish Airlines to play in its event and that the airline was considering adding Woods to its portfolio of individual sponsorships which also included the Barcelona footballer, Lionel Messi. With the financial might and the will for a country with a population of 74 million to grow the sport, Turkey would appear to tick every Ryder Cup box. Woods is not the only big-name player to be seduced by the country. The constant clicking of mobile phone cameras apart, Ian Poulter was impressed by what he encountered when tieing for fifth behind Victor Dubuisson, of France, on Sunday. “Turkey does it well,” Poulter said. “They did it well last week. Last year was a small event with only eight players, this year was much bigger and it worked. They’re prepared to do what it takes – they’ve asked us already what they need to do to make it better. It’s a great place for people to come to play golf. The hotels are fabulous. There’s quite a few golf courses now, so I can only see things getting busier over this side. “It’s exciting. Anywhere east of America that’s prepared to be putting some extra money in right now is certainly a big help for Europe with some of the tournaments that have been lost over the last couple years. It’s great that a place like Turkey is doing it good.” Poulter plays in the DP World Tour Championship pro-man on Tuesday as he prepares for the event which could see him leap from third to first in the standings and so claim the coveted Harry Vardon Trophy presented to the Order of Merit winner. Henrik Stenson, who is setting the pace in the Race to Dubai, has pulled out of the pro-am because of an injury to his right wrist. However, Stenson expects to tee up in Thursday’s first round.

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