Sicilian Open Daylight for Jacquelin

Raphaël Jacquelin 

Raphaël Jacquelin held off a spirited challenge from Anthony Wall to win his third European Tour title at the Sicilian Open.

A two-and-a-half hour delay for dangerous weather conditions on Sunday forced a Monday finish at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA, with the leading pair resuming with just one shot separating them and six holes to play.

Wall twice wiped out the deficit, only to find water at the penultimate hole and run up a double bogey as 36 year old Jacquelin walked away with the €166,660 first prize.

Jacquelin closed with a three under par round of 68 for a 12 under par total, finishing one shot clear of Wall after his playing partner birdied the last.

“It feels great – as you would expect it to feel,” said Jacquelin, who climbs back into the world’s top 100 with his victory. “But it was not easy – Anthony made a couple of birdies and put the pressure on me right from the start.

“I actually felt a little bit tired this morning and my ball-striking wasn’t as good as it has been but I suppose with a 5am wake-up call then I was expecting that.

“But I stayed patient and made a good birdie on the 14th which was perfect and then he made a mistake on 17 and that was it, although I had to make a good four at the last.

“It was a good fight between the two of us and I think that helped us to play the way we did because we were always close and playing together made it a good fight. I enjoyed it and there can only be one winner – I am glad it was me.”

Teeing off at 7am, Wall was immediately level when he birdied the par three 13th.

But - as he had when Wall birdied the first hole of the final round to draw level - Jacquelin responded with a gain of his own at the very next hole.

Wall - whose only previous European Tour title was 11 years ago - looked to have forced a play-off when he picked up another shot at the par five 16th.

But he failed to capitalise on his momentum, and his six at the 421 yard 17th proved costly, his gain at the last only enough to reduce the arrears.

“I have to say that I am disappointed,” admitted Wall. “We pushed each other all the way and you have to say that it was a fitting way to end the tournament and good to watch.

“I thought I had hit the green on the 17th and it was just a yard short and pitched on top of the slope and pitched straight left in the water.

“It was tough because if it had landed anywhere else it would have just come to rest on the edge of the green so that was a tough one to take.

“I came and birdied, then he hit back and it was good to watch I’d imagine. Raph and I are decent friends and have a lot of respect for each other because we have known each other a long time and came out on Tour the same year so I think we both enjoyed the battle.

“I often restart very well and I did it again today which was pleasing but at the end of the day it came down to one bad swing, or half a bad swing I should say. It was a good test all week and I just failed ever so slightly which is a real shame for me.

“At least I asked the question at the last and to be fair to him he has responded and did what he had to do on the hardest hole on the course. But I am pleased with my game and the mind is in good shape generally so I am reasonably happy looking forward. I feel there are wins in me and I take a lot of positives from the week.”

Spaniard José Manuel Lara - who was only two behind Jacquelin with three to play overnight - also had a double bogey, his at the last, as he tied with Swede Joel Sjöholm for third on seven under.

Sicilian Open Results

Jacquelin finishes Sicilian Job

Raphaël Jacquelin held off a spirited challenge from Anthony Wall to win his third European Tour title at the Sicilian Open.

A two-and-a-half hour delay for dangerous weather conditions on Sunday forced a Monday finish at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA, with the leading pair resuming with just one shot separating them and six holes to play.

Wall twice wiped out the deficit, only to double bogey the penultimate hole as 36 year old Jacquelin walked away with the €166,660 first prize.

Jacquelin closed with a three under par round of 68 for a 12 under par total, finishing one shot clear of Wall after his playing partner birdied the last.

Teeing off at 7am, Wall was immediately level when he birdied the par three 13th.

But - as he had when Wall birdied the first hole of the final round to draw level - Jacquelin responded with a gain of his own at the very next hole.

Wall - whose only previous European Tour title was 11 years ago - looked to have forced a play-off when he picked up another shot at the par five 16th.

But he failed to capitalise on his momentum, and his six at the 421 yard 17th proved costly, his gain at the last only enough to reduce the arrears.

Spaniard José Manuel Lara - who was only two behind Jacquelin with three to play overnight - also had a double bogey, his at the last, as he tied with Swede Joel Sjöholm for third on seven under.

Jacquelin Leads Sicilian into Monday Finish

Raphaël Jacquelin

Raphaël Jacquelin had his lead at the Sicilian Open reduced from three to one late in the day as the final round spilled into Monday.

Two and a half hours of dangerous weather before the leaders had even teed off led to a Monday finish, and it promises to be an exciting one after the Frenchman bogeyed his final hole of the day.

The 36 year old had been making serene progress in his search for a first European Tour title since 2007 up until that point, but his miss from six feet at the par five 12th could prove crucial in the race to the €166,660 prize.

Anthony Wall remains Jacquelin’s nearest challenger at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA, the Englishman reaching ten under for the week with a birdie at the 12th before play was halted for the day.

Wall began the day by wiping out Jacquelin's one stroke overnight lead with a birdie at the first.

But his playing partner was back in front with a gain of his own at the second. 

Jacquelin then birdied the fifth and splashed his third shot from the sand to four feet at the par five seventh.

Wall also birdied the seventh, but gave the shot back two holes later.

However, in rapidly deteriorating light there was a two shot swing, leaving everything to play for over the closing six holes.

“It was a little bit frustrating to bogey the 12th before we finished there but it was actually a good bogey so I can’t have too many complaints,” said Jacquelin.

“I am two under for the round and have a one shot lead so we will come back and do it all again in the morning. I played well though and holed more putts today even though it was difficult to get the pace of the greens because of the weather.”

Speaking of the delay which kept the leading groups off the course until mid-afternoon he added: “It was okay. It was long but the main thing that affects you in that situation is that fact that you are playing a round that you know you have no chance to finish.

“That is the toughest thing to deal with but I did that pretty well. 14 years on Tour makes you accept most of these things. I’ll be okay.”

Wall admitted that the late change of momentum had given him renewed hope.

“That was very important to have that two shot swing because Raph has been exemplary for the last two days,” said Wall.

“He is striking the ball very well. He is on the money every time and I have to be honest and tell you that I am feeling a little bit rusty having had the last three weeks off.

“I have let two or three shots go which is unlike me so for him to hit that hook on the 12th helped me a lot because he hasn’t had many like that.”

Wall, who has been aided with his putting by a 59 pence iphone application this week, admitted he has spent even less on a psychology lesson.

“I had a good chat to the wife this morning and she told me where I could improve in a couple of areas,” he added.

“She pointed a couple of things out and she was right and I think it helped me. I’m doing it on the cheap aren’t I? But it has helped and hopefully will do tomorrow.”

Lara was four under for his final round, thanks largely to a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, but the Spaniard has just three holes left to play.

Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm is in fourth - and the clubhouse lead - on seven under par after a 69.

Peter Lawrie completed his final round carding 73 to sing for a two under par total.

Damien McGrane picked up four birdies and dropping just one shot on Sunday to finish with a 68 for a one over par total.

Siclian Open leader board

Peter Lawrie Takes Route 66 in Sicily

Peter Lawrie 

Peter Lawrie played flawless golf on Saturday at the Sicilian Open reaching the halfway stage in a four under par 31 setting the fastest pace of the day along with Peter Whiteford of Scotland - and then adding another birdie on the 13th to finish with a round of 66 to secure a share of 14th place on four under overall.

Damien McGrane ended his third round with out a birdie and dropping three shots in total to sign for a round of 73 which included a double bogey on the par three 8th to finish four over par - thirteen shots off the lead.

At the top of the leader board Raphaël Jacquelin takes a one-shot lead into the final round after overhauling long-time leader Anthony Wall in the closing stages of day three.

Jacquelin and Wall had threatened to turn the event into a two-horse race when they pulled clear of the chasing pack at the Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA.

However, both men dropped shots down the stretch to leave the tournament wide open ahead of Sunday’s play, which will begin with 13 players within four shots of the lead.

Veteran Welshman Phillip Price and England’s Jamie Elson are tied for third on six under. Price fired seven birdies and three bogeys in an eventful 67, while Elson birdied the 16th and 17th holes to vault up the leaderboard.

Jacquelin’s bogey at 16 was the only blemish in an otherwise faultless round of 69 for the Frenchman, who claimed his last European Tour victory at the 2007 BMW Asian Open.

He picked up shots at the first and fourth holes en route to a front nine of 33, which overnight leader Wall would have matched were it not for a bogey at the short eighth.

Jacquelin moved level with his rival with another birdie at the 12th and Wall then dropped another shot at 15 before both men bogeyed the following hole.

“I was just trying to concentrate only on my game and I am really pleased with the way that I am hitting the ball at the moment,” said Jacquelin.

“I’m hitting my new driver really well and staying patient on the greens which you have to do here. I just have to try and keep going and stay patient tomorrow and make some good opportunities for birdies. That’s the aim anyway."

The 36-year-old insists he does not feel burdened by extra pressure as he looks to end his winning drought.

“I don’t think about it,” he added. "If I win, I win, if not then it doesn’t really matter. Obviously I want to win and came here to win but we are all here to win and there are a lot of guys playing each week and there can only be one winner.

“If I win it would be cool but if not I will still be really happy to have a good result and to enjoy the way that I am playing because I am having a lot of fun out there.”

Wall rued his failure to capitalise on an encouraging start.

“I played well actually but then kind of hit a brick wall around the turn,” he said. "I just felt that I should have probably been two or three shots better off at that point and I just lost a bit of momentum.

“I felt that I should have been six ahead of the field and then was seeing that other guys were getting closer to me.

“I should have dealt with it better because I have a lot of experience but I didn’t do too well with that mentally. I lost a bit of concentration because I got a bit down on myself.”

Price was pleased with his efforts after battling to shoot 71 and 69 in the opening two rounds.

“I struggled on the first day, I hit the ball really poorly and I was kind of thinking ‘where’s my coach’ but I managed to make a good job of it,” he explained.

“Yesterday was better and (it was) probably even better again today so it’s improved every day.

“I think the course probably suits me. It’s a bit of a windy, fiddly course and my experience gives me some help.”

When asked about a possible victory push on Sunday, Price replied: “If I play like I did today, I’ve got a chance.”

Scotland’s Peter Whiteford and England’s Simon Dyson fired rounds of 66 and 67 respectively to move into the group of nine players at five under.

Richard Green, who started the day alongside Jacquelin on seven under, was also on that score after a disappointing start that saw him double bogey the first and bogey the second.

Montgomerie was once again hampered by the flu during his round and said: “Considering I spent 21 hours in bed before going out there today, I played okay! I have to say that I feel rotten and am going back to bed right now. It certainly feels like the flu – I am just achy all over.

“It is disappointing in the sense that this flu has caused me to miss an opportunity today – I felt that I had a chance to make a move and get into contention for the final round. I played okay but you can’t do much when you feel as weak as I do now.”

Sicilian Open leader board

Lowry and Maybin Suffer Sicilian Cut

Gareth Maybin at Sicilian Open

Peter Lawrie was the leading Irish player after day two of the Sicilian Open finishing with a level par 71 at the Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA carding two birdies and bogeys on Friday to to remain one over par overall.

Damien McGrane is also one over par for the tournament after signing for a two over par 73 following bogeys on holes 3 and 14 to share 46th place ahead of the weekend.

Gareth Maybin however reached the clubhouse on Friday with a round of 79 having bogeyed three holes on the front nine, followed by more trouble after the turn with two double bogeys on the back nine and a triple on the par four 18th hole - missing the cut on 8 over par overall.

Shane Lowry's first appearance since his pre Christmas wrist injury also ended on Friday after reaching the turn in 44 shots and signing for an eight over par total of 79 - 9 over par overall some seven shots off the cut mark.

Dan Gaunt of Australia was unable to match the opening day 67, when he holed some lengthy putts,  and finished with a four over par 75 on Friday to drop back to a share of 35th place and 

level par for the tournament.

At the top of the leaderboard Anthony Wall’s second round 67 put him in pole position to win €166,660 at the Sicilian Open – with the help of a 59p investment.

The Englishman attributed his bogey-free effort, which saw him reach the halfway stage nine under par, to improved putting, aided by an iphone application.

“There are two things here,” said Wall. “The first one is that I asked Tony Johnstone to have a look at my stroke when I was at Sunningdale last week and he gave me a nice lesson and a couple of tips that have really helped me.

“And then I bought a Dave Stockton iphone app about reading greens and that is the best 59 pence I have ever spent because his tips have really simplified a few things for me.

“I have just been looking at the low side of every putt for the last two days – really concentrating on the last third of the putt as opposed to the whole putt and that has definitely helped me. I haven’t holed everything but I have hit my putts a lot better.

“It was a bargain, I have to say – you don’t get many valuable lessons for 59 pence these days! The thing about Dave Stockton is that he is and always was an amazing putter and you tend to listen to those guys a bit more.”

Wall, whose only European Tour title came back in 2000, carded two birdies on the front nine and added an eagle at the par five 12th.

“I have played great for the last two days so they have been relatively easy,” he said. “This is a tough golf course and I have played really well again today.

“I haven’t really had a tough par putt for the last two days and that tells you how well I have been playing. If I can stay strong mentally then I should have a good chance to win here.”

Wall leads Australian Richard Green and France's Raphaël Jacquelin by two shots at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA.

Left-hander Green - at 64th the highest ranked player in the field this week - had six birdies in his 67 but a double bogey at the tenth denied him a share of the lead

Jacquelin played 32 holes without dropping a shot, but when he did he lost two with a double bogey at the sixth. However, he closed with two birdies in his last three holes to remain well in contention.

All three took advantage of more benign morning conditions, with first round joint-leader Stephen Dodd’s 72 giving him a share of fourth with Swede Oscar Floren, Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares, England's Jamie Elson and Marco Crespi – who looks to be carrying home hopes into the weekend.

Colin Montgomerie also looks on course for his best finish since Captaining Europe to Ryder Cup glory.

The eight-time Order of Merit winner was bogey-free as he completed a second-straight 69 to claim a share of tenth on four under.

The Scot has not had a top-ten finish since the 2008 Open de France ALSTOM, and his efforts were all the more impressive considering he was under the weather.

“Not feeling very well - terrible flu so I did well today,” he said. “That was ok to not drop a shot.

“I haven’t dropped a shot since the first two holes of round one, things are looking up.

“I’m never ill, never ill. Never missed a game because I’ve been ill. I’ve missed a tournament because I had a bad back but never through illness and I’m not going to start now.

“I’ve never missed a day’s work through illness - typical Scot. I’ve not started this year but beginning to feel it’s coming back again.”

Dodd and Lara Share Sicilian lead

Stephen Dodd leads Sicilian Open on Thursday

Damien McGrane was the best of the four Irish players at the Sicilian Open signing for a one under par round of 70 at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA finishing the opening day sevens shots off the leader Jose Manuel Lara of Spain.

Gareth Maybin played his first round in regulayion singing for a first round 71.

Shane Lowry started his comeback with a 72  dropping two shots when he doubled the par five 15th hole and was joined in 64th place by Peter Lawrie who also ended the day one over par.

José Manuel Lara overcame an early double bogey to finish day one of the Sicilian Open tied for the lead with Stephen Dodd.

The Spaniard produced nine birdies to finish with a six under par 65, matching Dodd’s earlier effort at Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA.

The 33 year old Lara was in danger of losing his card six months ago, but victory at the Austrian GolfOpen presented by Botarin restored his self-belief.

“It changed everything for me,” he said. “Before I won there I thought I was going to lose my card and didn’t know what I was really going to do but after winning there I have been able to look to the future.”

After picking up a shot at the third Lara’s round threatened to unravel when he took six at the 422 yard next.

“It was a strange one,” he added. “I basically got a flier from the rough and the ball just went so far – straight behind a tree and I couldn’t do anything from there.”

However he responded with a birdie at the next and by coming home in a five under 31 the World Number 342 - who missed 21 cuts prior to his victory last year - was able to claim a share of the lead.

He was joined by Welsh veteran Dodd, who mixed six birdies with two bogeys before a late eagle on the par five 16th.

The 44 year old has won three times on The European Tour, but not since 2006 and has not finished better than 40th in four events this season.

“I did a lot of good things out there today,” Dodd said. “I kept in play most of the time, hit some good iron shots and I putted well which is always a key for any good round.”

France’s Rapahaël Jacquelin and England’s Anthony Wall sit a shot further back on five under, ahead of Wall’s compatriots Chris Wood and Steve Webster and Australian duo Daniel Gaunt and Matthew Zions.

Challenge Tour graduate Gaunt led for most of the morning after starting his day with a hattrick of birdies en route to an outward 30. 

But his progress was checked with three bogeys on the back nine, including one at the last, as he signed for a 67.

“Got off to a good start, drove the ball ok for the first few holes,” said Gaunt. “I’ve been hitting it really good in previous tournaments not holing putts and not getting a score so I’m pretty happy with the way I putted.” 

Wood - still searching for a first European Tour title after 14 top-ten finishes - had five birdies and one dropped shot at the difficult 16th, while Zions eagled both par fives on the back nine.

Former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie gave himself every chance of a first top-ten finish for three years with a two under 69, but former Open Champion Paul Lawrie shot a one over 72.

“I fought back well – it could have been 76 in a hurry that but I managed to follow Raphaël [Jacquelin, his playing partner] a little bit and got the four birdies to his five so it was good,” said Montgomerie.

“We enjoyed it out there. Tomorrow’s forecast isn’t great so I think the best thing to do is go and get some sleep and get out there early tomorrow and try and keep it going.”

Sicilian Open Leader board

Stephen Dodd Sets Early Sicilian Pace

Stephen Dodd at Sicilian Open

Stephen Dodd's six under par 65 gave him a two shot clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Sicilian Open.

The Welsh veteran mixed six birdies with two bogeys before a late eagle on the par five 16th saw him move clear of Australian pair Daniel Gaunt and Matthew Zions and England's Chris Woods.

Dodd, 44, has won three times on The European Tour but not since 2006 and his best finish in four events this season is a 40th-place finish in Qatar.

Challenge Tour graduate Gaunt led for most of the morning after starting his day with a hattrick of birdies en route to an outward 30.

But his progress was checked with three bogeys on the back nine, including one at the last, as he signed for a 67.

Wood - still searching for a first European Tour title after 14 top-ten finishes - had five birdies and one dropped shot at the difficult 16th, while Zions eagled both par fives on the back nine at the Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA layout.

Amongst those just teeing off in the afternoon session were eight-time Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie and Scotland's former Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie - although both were over par after three holes.

Sicilian Open Leader board

SSP LIkes the Winning Feeling

SSP Chowrasia

India’s SSP Chowrasia returns to Europe and the Sicilian Open with a fresh injection of confidence after a heroic victory in his homeland and the chance to rub shoulders with the very best in the business at last week’s World Golf Championship in Miami.

It was three years ago that Chowrasia burst onto the scene with victory in the Indian Masters, but his planned assault on Europe failed to materialise as he struggled to make the transition from Asia to Europe and the starkly contrasting cultures and conditions between the two varied continents.

With his European Tour exemption about to come to an end, Chowrasia looked likely to be restricted by limited starts on Tour this year but that all changed last month with his storming performance at the Avantha Masters, where he gave Indian golf a huge shot of adrenaline by taking the title at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

“I had a couple of starts in South Africa, but I missed the cut at both,” SSP recalled as he prepared to tackle the Donnafugata Golf Resort and SPA over the coming days.

“Then suddenly everything clicked at the Avantha Masters. I’m not sure why it happened there or exactly what clicked – maybe it was the fact there was no pressure on me. Everybody was looking at others and I could relax and play my game but whatever the reason was I managed to play well and win a full card for almost three years, which means my career has changed again.

“I am going to play as much as possible in Europe. This is my chance to put to use all that I learnt while playing these last three years in Europe. I know which courses suit me and I know that I can succeed there.

“I also got a chance to get to the WGC event in Miami last week and that was great to play with the very best in the world. I want to get into the Majors and play more WGCs and playing more in Europe will help me achieve that.”

Chowrasia’s victory in India was huge news in his homeland, another chapter in the inspirational tale of a former caddie who came from a poverty-stricken background and battled his way to massive success and untold riches.

His financial rewards for his two European Tour victories have changed the lives of himself and his family beyond recognition and he still pinches himself at the realisation of being a European Tour champion for the second time.

“With all the earlier money I got a house for my parents and myself and invested some of it. I think I will be investing the money I won at the Avantha Masters, but it is not just the money, but also the confidence in my game is back. It feels nice to know that I can win in a high quality field.

“Naturally my family and friends, who backed me even when I was not winning or doing too well during the last couple of seasons, are very happy and I am glad I was able to fulfil their faith in me. Hopefully I can keep going, keep winning and keep celebrating with them by winning outside of India – that is the next target and I hope it starts this week in Sicily.”

Montgomerie Keen to get Back on Top

Colin Montgomerie in Sicilian Open Preview

Former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie insists he is capable of returning to the game's elite - and wants to start proving it at this week's Sicilian Open.

Montgomerie last recorded a top-ten finish on The European Tour in June 2008 and he has not won for four years.

But the 47 year old feels he is capable of getting back to the big time now he is concentrating on his own game, having orchestrated Europe's thrilling victory at The Celtic Manor Resort last October.

"I believe that I can win again - I need to win again because I want to get back into the top 50 in the world and I want to compete at the very highest level again," said the Scot.

"The quickest way to do that is by winning and that is certainly the aim, hopefully this is the start of me making my way back.

"And it would be nice to win in Italy for the first time - I have been coming here for 23 years and have never won in this country so it's about time I started!"

The eight-time European Order of Merit winner also endorsed the new Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA venue, as The European Tour breaks new ground on the return to its home continent for the first time in 2011.

"The course is very good - a very good layout and we have a discovered a great new destination for The European Tour here in Sicily," added Montgomerie.

"It was very, very windy today in the pro-am so difficult to get a sense of scoring conditions for the tournament but I am very much looking forward to the week ahead and trying to get that win that I need."

Another player hoping to rediscover his best form is Dane Søren Hansen.

A Ryder Cup star in 2009, Hansen is now 135th in the Official Golf World Ranking and, like Montgomerie, has not won since 2007 - although he did have his confidence boosted by a sixth-place finish in Qatar last month.

"The course seems very scoreable as long as the conditions are favourable," said Hansen - who is hoping to mark his 37th birthday with victory on Sunday.

"The course is great, good lay-out and I think that Gary Player has done a very good job here. There is a lot of undulation but Gary has done a great job fitting in the holes properly. When you look around it might not look impressive but it is very enjoyable to play.

"I have had three weeks off, watching the other boys playing in America which was fantastic but it is nice to be back out and have the chance to try and climb back up those rankings and get back into those major events."

Sicilian Open - Facts & Figures

II Picciolo Golf Club

The Sicilian Golf Open will be the first European Tour event staged on the island.

• The European Senior Tour went to Sicily in 2010 for the Sicilian Senior Open won by Domingo Hospital, played at the II Picciolo Golf Club.

• There are seven golf clubs on the island of Sicily. They are: Disio Resort, Donnafugata Golf & Spa Resort (venue for the Sicilian Open), II Picciolo Golf Club, Le Madonie Golf Resort, Pantalleria Golf Club, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort and Villa Airoldi Golf Club.

• II Picciolo Golf Club, opened in 1989 was the first golf course in Sicily.

• The Sicilian Open is one of three new events on the 2011 European Tour International Schedule. They are: Volvo Golf Champions, Sicilian Open and Iskandar Johor Open.

• Sicily becomes the 42nd different destination to play host to a European Tour event.

Sicilian Open - Event Information

Milkha Singh Rows with Airport Officials

Jeev Milkha Singh 

Jeev Milkha Singh was involved in a row with Italian airport officials after his coach was asked to remove his turban before boarding a flight to this week's European Tour event in Sicily.

The pair were set to fly from Milan airport to Sicily when the three-time European Tour winner's coach, Amritinder Singh, said he was forced to take off his turban for security reasons.

"My father wears a turban and I would be horrified if he was told to remove it unnecessarily and unrespectfully in front of hundreds of people," said Jeev Milkha, who reportedly told his coach to stand his ground and refuse to comply with the demand.

Personal insult

Amritinder later released a statement which said: "It is a personal insult as I have travelled all over the world and even though security officials put their detectors around my turban, I have never had to remove it.

"For me it is like being asked to strip in public. I also told them that they could look at my passport and see that I am a sportsperson and have never been humiliated like this but they refused to comply.

"I even told them that this is not security but harassment. I belong to a country whose prime minister wears a turban, and I feel that my nation should take up such issues with other countries."

Singh is India's most famous golfer having collected three European Tour wins, including the 2006 Volvo Masters, and six Asian Tour titles.

His father, Jeev Milkha, said this was the second such incident to have happened in Italy.

Jeev Milkha represented India in the 1960 Olympics in Rome and led the final of the 400m before finishing just outside the medals in fourth place.

Four Irish Players in Sicilian Action

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.

Sicilian Open Entry List