LOWRY HOPING WENTWORTH WAY LEADS TO DUBAI

SHANE LOWRY is looking to make a massive leap up the Race to Dubai rankings in the $7million BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Open champion had planned five weeks off following his missed cut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, but with huge Race to Dubai points up for grabs, he couldn’t resist the call of the old Burma Road where he’s had seven top-15 finishes in just nine starts.

“It’s always a good feeling driving into Wentworth,” said Lowry, who tees it up with defending champion Danny Willett and the in-form Tommy Fleetwood, and currently ranked 40th, behind Patrick Reed, in the Race to Dubai.

“I really love this tournament and this golf course and I’m looking to play well again this week. I entered because I wanted to show my support to the Tour in challenging times and there’s also Race to Dubai points. A good week here this week and then a good showing in the Masters could put me right up there on the points table.”

Lowry is looking forward to playing with Willett and Fleetwood before playing the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas next week as part of his build-up to the Augusta, where action gets under way on November 12.

Unclear

“It’s still a bit unclear after that ahead of the Masters, but I’m just looking forward to having a good week here at Wentworth,” added Lowry, who is joined by Pádraig Harrington (7.45am with Branden Grace and Andy Sullivan), and Graeme McDowell (8.15am with John Catlin and Erik van Rooyen).

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and PGA champion Collin Morikawa headline the $7m PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

But Irish eyes will be focused on the KPMG Women’s PGA at Aronimink in Pennsylvania, where Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow are expecting a serious Major championship examination.

“It’s a great golf course, a typical Donald Ross design with lots of back-to-front greens and run-offs,” said Maguire, who plays with Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda (12.54pm Irish time) ranked No 1 for putting on the LPGA Tour.

Meadow plays with Malaysia’s Kelly Tan and Canada’s Alena Sharp (5.23pm) searching for form on the greens.

“I worked on that yesterday with my coach Terry Rowles, changing grip and putting a new putter in the bag so hopefully that will make a difference,” Meadow said.

BMW PGA Championship

Live, Sky Sports, 11.30

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Live, Sky Sports, 5.45

KPMG Women’s PGA

Live, Sky Sports, 5.45