Open Champion Shane Lowry won’t take things easy in the Dunhill Links despite the relaxed pro am format… the Irishman wants to win the Race to Dubai. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SHANE Lowry will tee it up at the Home of Golf for the first time as Open Champion this week when the Irishman features in a star-studded field of golfers and celebrities at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 32-year-old claimed his maiden Major title at Royal Portrush two months ago, and has been riding the crest of a wave of positivity and celebration since.

He posted a tied 11^th place finish in his first European Tour appearance since becoming Champion Golfer of the Year at last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

And now he is relishing a return to links golf – which has provided him with two of his stand-out achievements thus far, his famous Irish Open victory as an amateur in 2009 as well as his Open Championship triumph.

Lowry said: “It feels like every tournament I play now is a big event.

“Obviously I had a decent week at Wentworth last week, so I was happy enough with that and hopefully I can take that form into this week and have a good week here.

“It is relaxed here but we’re all very competitive people – I know I am – and I desperately want to go out there this week and do well.

“I want to consolidate my place at the top of the Race to Dubai but I have a couple of months to do that and there are going to be some big tournaments.

“There are some great players behind me but if I can do my own business hopefully I’ll do OK.

“I am playing in every tournament I was going to play in before I won the Open so my schedule hasn’t changed at all.

“I’m playing in everything – Dubai and one of the other two as usual – so I’m just trying to go out there and shoot the best scores I can and if I do that I feel like I’ll have a good end to the season.

“Obviously I’ve some recent success on links terrain so any time you come here – especially on days like today at St Andrews, the home of golf – it’s just special.

“So I’m going out for a game this afternoon and I’m looking forward to it.”

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard returns as defending champion in a pro-am format event which takes in St Andrews Old Course, Kingsbarns Golf Links and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Bjerregaard said: “It’s really nice being back, some fond memories of last year even though it was very cold.

“I’ve not been playing as well as I’d like the last couple of months so hopefully some of those good memories can spark a little something in my game.

“It’s little things here and there, it’s not quite come together. It’s not far away and that’s what’s been frustrating.

“It feels like it’s right there and I just can’t really put it all together at once. Hopefully I’ll figure it out this week.

“Becoming a father has helped me mature a lot as a person but also as a golfer. It’s helped me in a lot of ways.

“It’s nice to have them around, they weren’t here last year but they’ve come here this year. It’s a great place and fun town with some good restaurants so we’ll have a brilliant week.”

Former Walker Cup player Robert MacIntyre will lead the home hopes, aiming to become the first Scottish winner of the event since Colin Montgomerie took the title back in 2005.

McIntyre, who was a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team two years ago, said: “It’s great to be here, but it’s not just about being at St Andrews, being in front of a home crowd the support will be good again and hopefully we can have a good week.

“You’re out here with stars, celebrities, but it’s just about me being here to play golf and enjoy myself. Having a chat on the way round as well, which I like.

“It’s been a quick year. At the start I was just trying to keep my card and then after the British Masters you sit back and go well, now I need to push on and try to win.

“Going from just trying to keep your card to trying to win on the European Tour is a drastic move, but I’m enjoying myself.

“I’ve not reflected too much, which is probably a good thing. We just keep going. You’re turning up trying to win at the end of the day, but we just try to enjoy ourselves, especially this week on home soil and this kind of format.”

All the players in the field play each course once, before the cut falls at the conclusion of round three on Saturday, and the battle for the title returns to St Andrews for the final day.

Among the Walker Cup players who have turned pro since GB&I lost to America at Hoylake earlier this month, Somerset’s Tom Plumb, West Cornwall’s Harry Hall and Scot Euan Walker, from Kilmarnock (Barassie), have been handed invites to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links.

Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan, a winner on the Challenge Tour, and Remedy Oak’s Jack Singh-Brar, the former Hampshire Junior Champion, are the other two members of the 2017 Walker Cup team to get invites this week – along with Frenchman Romain Langasque, who won the Amateur Championship at Carnoustie, in 2015.

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Denmark’s Lucas Bjerrregard overcame Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace to reach the last 32 of the WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play, at Austin Country Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

A RECORD-breaking eight Europeans progressed to the last 32 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after another fascinating day at Austin Country Club.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard was the only debutant in the field to top his group – setting up a clash against fellow Scandinavian Henrik Stenson.

Bjerregard’s match with England’s Matt Wallace went all the way to the 18^th hole, but the 27 year old battled to a one up victory to join nine other European Tour members in the final 16.

The Great Dane, who won the 2018 Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews, revealed: “I had not seen anything from Justin’s match.

“My caddie is the one who told me when I missed the one on 18 that he had halved. I just knew that I had to win. It’s been a couple of stressful days but I’m happy to come out and go through.

“It should be fun. I like Henrik. I don’t think I’ve ever played with him, actually. But it should be fun.

“And he’s obviously been playing well too. So we should have a good game, and I’ll tease him a little. We’ll have a little bit of Swedish-Danish thing going on.”

Stenson, meanwhile, beat 2020 Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk 5&4 to make it three successive victories.

The Swede, who won the WGC World Match Play back in 2007, said: “That’s the best round of golf I’ve played all year for certain. I’m very pleased to put it together.

“It was called the group of death and I guess I managed to bring it to the other guys. It was always going to be a tough group.

“I think that was really inspiring on my end, being up against such great players. I just happened to bring my best game.

“I’m trying to keep expectations low. I haven’t had a great start to the year. I’ve been working hard to try to get it to the right place.

“Certainly today I had some beautiful iron shots. I think I hit it within a foot four times on my approaches, which is good on any day anywhere.

“So I’m very pleased with that and just trying to take it one day, one match at a time.”

The 2018 Race to Dubai Champion Francesco Molinari also retained his 100 per cent record with a 2&1 triumph over Webb Simpson, as did Branden Grace.

The South African overcame Chez Reavie 2&1 to set up a showdown with Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia, who progressed despite a 2&1 defeat to Patrick Reed.

Garcia, whose best finish in the WGC event was fourth back in 2010, despite his enviable Ryder Cup pedigree, said: “Obviously that was the goal, to get through.

“In the perfect world, I would have loved to win today and I probably had my chances to do it.

“But you also have to give credit to Patrick, he played really well, mainly the back nine. He shot five-under in eight holes.

“So when someone does that to you and you don’t take a couple of chances that you had, it’s going to be difficult.

“But we’re through tomorrow. That’s the main thing on this round-robin thing. And now tomorrow it’s a brand new tournament.”

The first day of the knockout stages has thrown up numerous mouth-watering matches in Texas, with Molinari taking on his 2018 Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey – who beat Cameron Smith 4&3 to top his group – while Hampshire’s World No. 2 Justin Rose ground out a victory by one hole over Gary Woodland to remain unbeaten.

He will face Kevin Na in the first knockout stage.

Surrey-raised Casey, looking to win back-to-back titles and his first WGC belt said: “I’ve got to think I had a little bit of luck there with Cam three-putting right there.

“But I feel really good about the game. The only thing I’m trying to do is save the energy, because the win last week at Valspar, that was hard work on Sunday.

“It took a lot out of us. Johnny and I were really tired Monday and Tuesday. I guess the key is play as few holes as possible, I’m just trying to do that.”

Rose, last year’s Fed Ex Champion, said: “I was delighted to get through that match. It wasn’t really pretty, to be honest with you.

“I think I classed it as a pillow fight and then turned into a bit of a dogfight to the end.

“Gary actually played pure off the tee, especially. I think he let me in a little on the front nine.

“I felt like he could be two or three-up on me early, but fortunately I think I went one-up through eight.

“So that was the key moment in the match, about six, seven, eight – just really keeping myself in it or being let back into the match.

“And then I got a little bit of momentum up, and birdieing 12 and 13 got me two-up.

“At that point I was just trying to get it into the clubhouse and get through.

“Kevin is a gritty player. I think this golf course is his type of golf course. Length is not a big deal here. He’s got a great short game.

“He can walk putts in with the best of them. So I’m going to need to find something a little bit better than what I had today.”

China’s Haotong Li overcame Sweden’s Alex Noren in a play-off to squeeze through and he will come up against last year’s runner-up Kevin Kisner, who beat Ian Poulter on the third play-off hole to win his group.

Harleyford’s Tyrrell Hatton beat his English compatriot Lee Westwood 3&1 and he will face Matt Kuchar in the Round of 16, while Louis Oosthuizen triumphed over 2017 European Tour No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood to set up a clash with Marc Leishman.

All eyes in Texas though, are likely to be on the 8:30am match which pitches World No. 4 Rory McIlroy against 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods.

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Kevin Kisner put the disappointment of last year’s final defeat to beat Matt Kuchar in the WGC-Dell Technologies World Match Play Final. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

KEVIN Kisner claimed a maiden World Golf Championships title after triumphing over Matt Kuchar in the final of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

In the consolation match European No. 1 Francesco Molinari overcame Lucas Bjerregaard in an all-European battle to finish third.

Kisner, who finished runner-up to Bubba Watson in this event last year, went one better at Austin Country Club with a 3&2 win over his American compatriot.

That made it six wins in seven matches, and in the process became the first player to lift the trophy after losing his first match of the week.

Georgian native Kisner said: “I was thinking out there it might be the hardest match just because you have the physical aspect more than any other week.

“It was grueling, definitely, with the winds and the temperature today. Overall it was a long week, but I prevailed and I’m a World Golf champion.

“I just learned a lot from last year. I learned about preparation. I learned not to get too amped up for that final.

“You still have to come out and play golf. I don’t think either one of us played our best golf. But I drove it great all week with my Callaway driver, and it was a great week.”

Kisner’s opening defeat came to Englishman Ian Poulter, whom he later beat in a play-off decider to emerge from the group stage, and he had to beat another Ryder Cup hero – Molinari – in the semi-final to earn his place in the decider.

Having been two down with three to play, the reigning Race to Dubai Champion birdied the 16^th and 17^th holes to bring the match down the 18^th all square.

But a disappointing three-putt on the last ended the Italian’s hopes of a maiden World Golf Championships victory.

European No. 1 Francesco Molinari in action in the third and fourth place play-off match at Austin Country Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Molinari said: “Obviously it was a very good start and then I think we were both really struggling for energy a little bit on the back nine.

“It was a very long week but we tried to keep going. And I think I played very well on the front nine this afternoon, so maybe a bit of consolation after this morning.

“It’s just one of those days, too many mental mistakes and some really weird shots around the greens. But all in all it’s a positive week.

“Obviously it’s bittersweet right now. I think going into Augusta, it’s a good week. Clearly I need to get my short game a little bit sharper than this morning, but otherwise it seems pretty good.

“It was definitely a positive week. Just a shame about this morning on the back nine.

“I didn’t play my best game and made too many mistakes, and kind of gave it away once, and then managed to fight my way back and then gave it away again.

“But it’s golf and it’s a long week, and with seven rounds it can happen to be slightly off for a few holes. So, it’s positive in general.”

Kuchar, meanwhile, dispatched of Bjerregaard on the 18^th hole in a tight semi-final match in which the Dane was never ahead but was never more than one hole down.

The American’s birdie at the par five 16^th put him one ahead with two to play and, although Bjerregaard held his nerve with a birdie putt at the penultimate hole to take it down the last, a pair of closing pars meant Kuchar progressed.

Having been embroiled in a row with Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who swiped at a tap in and missed before Kuchar could give him the nod for a concession, which ultimately cost the European in Saturday’s quarter-final, the 2013 World Match Play champion was disappointed not to  become the first player since Tiger Woods to win the title twice.

Kuchar, who already has two wins in the 2019 season under his belt, said after losing to Kisner: “It was certainly not what I’m looking for. It’s tough to maintain the high level of play the entire tournament.

“You hope to do it and I feel like I’ve kind of built a game that I could rely on playing some good, steady golf.

“But I gave too many holes away. It’s one of the things I pride myself on is not ever giving holes away.

“I knew against Kisner I couldn’t do it, and he just plodded along and played good, steady golf, and let me make mistakes. And that was good playing by Kevin.”

Both Molinari and Bjerregaard – who beat 14-time Major winner Tiger Woods in the quarter-final – could take consolation from their best respective finishes in a World Golf Championships event.

Big-hitting Bjerregaard, the last man in the field, was unhappy after coming down hard from his high after beating Tiger Woods to make the last four.

“There’s a lot of confidence from this. Today sucks, I’ll be honest with you. I had a lot of confidence from yesterday and the group play.

“But today really sucks – I didn’t bring my game today, unfortunately and I just kept making mistakes all day.

“Fran made it hard. I didn’t put pressure on him, but he put a lot of pressure on me right from the start.

“It was not really my match. It’s been a brilliant week. Of course, I can’t stand here and say it’s been a bad week.

“We were 64 to start and I’m in the last four. But to lose twice in a day, that hurts.

“I had a good match against Kooch this morning, and gave him a little bit for his money down the last few holes, and unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that against Frankie today.”

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Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregard holed a monster eagle on 16 before Tiger Woods’ missed par putt put him in the last four. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LUCAS Bjerregaard showed nerves of steel to beat his childhood hero Tiger Woods in an enthralling quarter-final and reach the last four of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club.

European No. 1 Francesco Molinari also progressed after another day of domination for the Italian.

Dane Bjerregard was fearless under the most intense of pressure as he faced his very first experience playing alongside the 14-time Major Champion in front of sell-out crowds in Texas,

He had already overcome his fellow Scandinavian Henrik Stenson in the round of 16 earlier in the day.

It was a rip-roaring afternoon encounter, as Bjerregaard showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion, opening with a birdie to go one up.

Woods picked up three successive birdies to take a two-hole lead by the fifth, but the 27-year-old pulled it back to all square by the 10th.

A double-bogey at the 11^th set him back again but the real turning point came at the par five 16^th, where Bjerregaard drained a monster eagle putt to level the match going down the par three 17^th.

He stood firm again to hole a tricky putt and match Woods’ tap-in birdie before the game went down the final hole.

After the American found the bunker with his second, Bjerregaard gave himself an 18-footer to win.

Although he missed, it was game-set-match when Woods’ six-foot par putt slipped by. Bjerregaard will face Matt Kuchar in Sunday morning’s semi-final after he dispatched of Sergio Garcia in the quarter-final.

The 2018 Alfred Dunhill Links champion said: “It’s up there with my best days, that’s for sure. We had a great match, it’s a shame it had to end like this.

“It really didn’t deserve that. Obviously I’m happy to come out on the winning side. But we had a great match and I really, really enjoyed playing with him today.

“I’ve never played with him before, so it was a cool experience for me and obviously to say I’ve beaten Tiger, there’s not a lot of guys that can say that, so it’s up there.

“It’s so different to what I’ve ever experienced before. And I’ve played with some good golfers before.

“But I’ve never heard so many yell his name and all the stuff all the way around. And it was really cool to experience.

“I actually thought it was really enjoyable. But it must be hard, as well, doing that every day.

“The support out there was great. A lot of people yelling my name as well, and having a bit of fun with it. So there was support for me as well.”

Molinari, meanwhile, continued his remarkable week by beating Kevin Na 6&5, meaning all but one of his victories this week finished before the 16^th hole.

He has not yet played the 18^th this week. The reigning Race to Dubai Champion, who had beaten Paul Casey 5&4 to reach the last 16, will face last year’s runner-up Kevin Kisner – who took out Louis Oosthuizen in the quarter-finals – in the final four.

Last year’s Open Champion said: “I just played very well from the start. Kevin birdied the first and then after that just played very well and made a few putts, and didn’t make too many mistakes.

“It was playing tricky this afternoon. I’m glad it’s over now. I played great today, given the conditions. I would say a lot better than this morning.

“He birdied the first and then after that just started birdieing a few holes in a row, and just tried to keep pushing, like this morning.

“I think it’s really important at this level, even if you’re three or four up early, to keep going because matches can turn very easily.

“So again, I did that very well and I’m very happy with my performance.

“I’m just trying to play my own game as much as possible, not look too much at what they’re doing. I think in the past one of the mistakes I made was to get too hung up on what the other guy was doing on the course.

“In the end if you hit fairways, hit greens, make a few putts here and there, try not to drop any easy shots, you’re going to be pretty hard to beat.”

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