All smiles. Rory McIlroy is No 1 on both sides of the pond. Picture by Getty ImagesIt’s little wonder the European Tour is looking to revamp its end of season schedule with a play-off series after Rory McIlroy became the youngest European No 1 for 31 years and Ireland’s first since Padraig Harrington in 2006.

Matteo Manassero kisses the Singapore Open trophy. Picture by Getty ImagesRory McIlroy finished third to clinch the Race to Dubai title as Matteo Manassero defied heat, humidity and fatigue to win the Barclays Singapore Open after a play-off with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

Padraig Harrington sports a moustache for “Movember” in Singapore. Picture: Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington has become used to shaving the lip in recent years but not even a Fu Man Chu style moustache grown to raise awareness of male cancer month Movember could prevent another bad day on the greens in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Rory McIlroy insists he has not yet committed to a new club sponsor for 2013.

Padraig Harrinton is in Singapore this week. Next week he will be back at one of his favourite venues (above) for the UBS Kong Open. Picture © Getty ImagesPadraig Harrington was once asked if he felt he was “special” - a breed apart.

“Complicated,” was his reply.

The jet that ferried Harrington around the world for nearly two years.Padraig Harrington does not believe that splashing out on his own private sent his career into a tailspin.

Rory McIlroy hits off in front of a giant image of a Tiger Woods Nike shoe in China. Picture by golffile.ieRory McIlroy shot a five-under 67 to beat Tiger Woods by one stroke in a head-to-head, 18-hole exhibition match at the Jinsha Lake Golf Club in central China on Monday.

Planet Lowry. Shane celebrates his second European Tour win. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieShane Lowry is not normally one for changing but his thrilling Portugal Masters victory has convinced him to shelve plans to tee it up in the PGA Tour Qualifying School next week and seek his place in the elite through the top 50 in the world rankings.

Graeme McDowell shelters from the heat during the final round of the Barclays Singapore Open. Picture by Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieGraeme McDowell and Shane Lowry headed for Japan in positive mood after finishing tied 13th in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Paul Cutler was delighted with his second round 64 in Singapore. Pictue by Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePortstewart’s Paul Cutler made his first cut in the pro ranks when he fired a sensational seven under 64 to qualify on the mark in the weather-reduced Barclays Singapore Open - but Padraig Harrington failed by seven shots after a baffling 77.

Frustrating as it must be for Irish golf fans to watch Padraig Harrington head for his seventh missed cut of the season, Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry gave them plenty to cheer in the second round of the weather-delayed Barclays Singapore Open.

Padraig Harrington shares a joke with his caddie as he warms up on the driving range in Singapore. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieThe road ahead keeps getting steeper for Padraig Harrington. Stagnant in the world rankings and under pressure just to qualify for the Dubai World Championship and next year’s Ryder Cup team, the genial Dubliner made life even harder for himself when he took 34 putts in an opening 69 in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Graeme McDowell has one eye on 2012 and the Ryder Cup in Chicago.Ryder Cup fever is kicking in for Graeme McDowell 320 days before Europe defends the trophy in Chicago.

The hero of the 2010 matches at Celtic Manor is determined to win his third cap and do battle for skipper Jose Maria Olazabal at Medinah.

Padraig Harrington is accustomed to firsts. In 2007 he became the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win the Open, then the following year at Royal Birkdale he became the first European since James Braid in 1906 to retain the Claret Jug.

Paul McGinley had his best finish of the season in the KLM Open. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley breathed a sigh of relief when he got the all clear on his crocked right wrist and discovered that his season is not over just yet.

Graeme McDowell dug deep to grab a share of third behind Adam Scott in the weather delayed Barclays Singapore Open - slashing Martin Kamyer’s Race to Dubai lead to just €367,600 with two events remaining.

Graeme McDowell’s hopes of putting another big dent in Martin Kaymer’s Race to Dubai lead suffered a blow when he slipped five shots behind Adam Scott in the weather-delayed Barclays Singapore Open.

Padraig Harrington missed his seventh cut of the season in Singapore.Australian Adam Scott leads the Barclays Singapore Open by a stroke from defending champion Ian Poulter and Korea’s Kyung-nam Kang. But the Terminator is just behind them.

Graeme McDowell was shoved out of the limelight by Adam Scott and Ian Poulter as they hogged the top two spots in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Graeme McDowell gave his Race to Dubai chances a massive lift when he blasted five birdies in an amazing six hole stretch before play was suspended in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Graeme McDowell reckons the Race to Dubai has become a four-way dogfight following Francesco Molinari’s wire-to-wire win in Shanghai.

Derek Murray will be keeping a close eye on the progress of client Gary Murphy this week.Gary Murphy hopes some magic sticks will help him save his tour card with a last gasp Singapore fling.

Gary Murphy has been handed what could prove to be a vital sponsor’s invitation for next week’s $6m Barclays Singapore Open.

Purple reign - Padraig Harrington ended a two-year wait for tour success in MalaysiaPadraig Harrington shook a monkey off his back with his first win for two years and immediately set his sights on a season-ending lucky streak

The Dubliner, 39, confessed he had “the luck of the Irish” as he hit a 69 to cruise to a three-shot victory in the $1.25m Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia for his first tour triumph since the US PGA nearly 800 days ago.

Now he’s hoping his luck has changed after a horror run and he’s gunning to turn a disappointing season into a bumper year by chasing victory in Shanghai, Singapore and Dubai next month.