There are seven Irish players currently down to play in the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura this week with the list including Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin – none of whom made cut at the Alfred Dunhill Links last Saturday.
The seventh is Shane Lowry who was one of the four Irish players to finish at St. Andrews on Sunday.
Simon Thornton is currently sixth reserve and looks set to travel given the withdrawals on Monday - to become the eighth player - as he chases another fifty thousand euro needed to keep his playing rights for next season.
Thornton is currently 142nd in the Race to Dubai.
Lee Westwood will not defend his Portugal Masters title having withdrawn after suffering a recurrence in Scotland last week of the injury that kept him out of the game for seven weeks ahead of the Ryder Cup.
Ross Fisher of England, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and the Italian Molinari brothers – Edoardo and Francesco - make up the Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes set to play at the Oceanico Vitoria Course in Vilamoura from October 14th -17th.
Also in the field for the €3million event will be the third of Montgomerie’s Vice Captains – Thomas Björn of Denmark.
