Padraig Harrington crosses a bridge during his third round at the Thailand Open in Bangkok. Padraig Harrington’s hopes of a first tournament win for more than two years ended when he carded a three over 75 in the third round of the Thailand Open to slip 11 shots off the pace.

Pádraig Harrington appears to be gaining in confidence on the greens. Picture via OneAsia.asiaPadraig Harrington continues to experiment with his glasses in a bid to find his putting touch but still has both eyes firmly fixed on a special St Patrick’s Day celebration in Bangkok on Sunday.

Chris Wood punches the air after holing the eagle putt that gave him a one-stroke win in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.com/www.golffile.ieShane Lowry was one of the first to tweet his congratulations to pal Chris Wood after the lanky Englishman brilliantly eagled the final hole to win his maiden European Tour title by one shot at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Chris Wood has a three shot lead with a round to play in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Picture Getty ImagesIreland’s trio of hopefuls slipped out of the picture as Chris Wood carded a brilliant eight under par round to take into a three stroke lead into the final round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Winner alright. Darren Clarke won for the first time in three years. Credit: golffile.ieInspired by a wartime quote by Winston Churchill, Darren Clarke emerged from the wilderness to claim his 13th European Tour title at the Iberdrola Open on a windy final day at Pula Golf Club in Mallorca.

“Never give in,” the English statesman told the boys of Harrow School in 1941 as the threat of Nazi Germany loomed large. “Never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

A tad dramatic where golf is concerned but it served Clarke well on a difficult day as he came from four strokes behind stablemate Chris Wood to card a one under par 69 and win by three for his first victory since the 2008 KLM Open.

“This is a monkey off my back after three years without winning,” Clarke said. “I have had a few chances and spurned them but today I just ground it out. Things are coming back in place. This is a stepping stone for me.”

As an added bonus, he also leapt 36 places to 88th in the world.

If Saturday is moving day, Shane Lowry hit warp speed in Mallorca when he blasted a course record equalling 63 to race into contention for his first tour win as a professional in the Iberdrola Open.

Tied for 30th and 10 shots off the lead when he went to bed on Friday night, Lowry’s putting and patience finally came together on the same day as he racked up an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey in a seven under par effort.

By day’s end the 2009 Irish Open champion was tied for second with Darren Clarke, who bogeyed the last for an even par 70, and just four strokes adrift of leader Chris Woods on five under par.

Padraig Harrington salved the wounds of the Kingdom’s All Ireland football championship demise when he produced another of his trademark battling performances to thrill the Kerry galleries and keep the home challenge for the 3 Irish Open on track at blustery Killarney.

Gareth Maybin had to settle for second best behind Chris Wood in the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year stakes.

Wood, who turns 22 on Thursday, was the highest ranked newcomer in the Race to Dubai standings, finishing in 44th place with earnings of €679,559.