Gareth Maybin
Shane Lowry returns to action this week at the Sicilian Open following a wrist injury late last year which forced the Clara golfer to miss the ‘Desert Swing’ in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai – which he had initially targeted to be the start of his 2011 campaign.
He will be joined by fellow Irish players Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin and Damien McGrane who also return to action now that the calendar break for the two World Golf Championships events - the Accenture Match Play and the Cadillac Championship - have been completed in the USA.
Maybin will be looking to get close to the form that saw him finish 5th at the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi at the dn of January and then 18th at the Avantha Masters last month.
Peter Lawrie will play his fourth event of the season in which he has so far only missed the cut at the Qatar Masters and the HSBC Golf Championship in the Gulf Swing
Damien McGrane will play his sixth event having started his season in South Africa before Christmas at the Alfred Dunhill Championship which was followed by the South African Open Championship in late December.
The Irish contingent join Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup winning Captain, Colin Montgomerie, who headlines the field this week at Donnafugata Golf Resort and Spa where he will hope to win a remarkable 32nd European Tour event.
The 47 year old Scotsman believes new events such as the Sicilian Open are hugely important to the continuing development of The European Tour in the home continent and hopes this month’s inaugural event can help continue the development of an already booming Italian golf scene due to the continued heroics of Matteo Manassero and the Molinari brothers on the world stage.
“I’ve always been a great supporter of new events on The European Tour and I’m looking forward to visiting Sicily,” said Montgomerie.
“Italian golf is in a strong position at the moment and hopefully this tournament will help with this development.
“I’m delighted to lend my support to it and hopefully I will be able to contend as well. My game has been improving this year and this will be another opportunity for me to try to win another European Tour title.”
Montgomerie will meet stern competition from a host of European Tour winners in Sicily, with the likes of SSP Chowrasia (recent winner of the Avantha Masters), Nick Dougherty, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh among the favourites to contend for the Sicilian Open trophy.
The €1million Sicilian Open will be the first event of the 2011 International Schedule to be played on the Tour’s home continent as the European golf season warms up.
The magnificent Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA will serve as the perfect location to begin the Tour’s home run in Europe, offering two championship courses (the Parkland Signature Course designed by Gary Player and an 18-hole Championship Course designed by Franco Piras) and superb all-round facilities.
2010 European Tour card holder, Simon Thornton, is currently fourth reserve.
