McGrane for Dubai World Championship

Damien McGrane will make the journey to Dubai for this week's Dubai World Championship in good spirits after an excellent display at the UBS Hong Kong open last weekend. McGrane finished on 15 under par after rounds of 65, 70, 67 and an excellent closing round of 63 for a share of 11th place and a cheque for €30,295.91. The Kells golfer finished seven shots behind England's Ian Poulter who claimed the title by one stroke from his compatriot Simon Dyson and young Italian protege Matteo Mannasero. McGrane has finished the regular season in 35th place having played 30 tournaments and amassed prizemoney of €766,879. This means he comfortably qualifies for this week's event which takes place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth course in Dubai. The event has a reduced field of the top 60 money-winners on the European Tour for 2010. The Meath player's stroke average for the year was 70.57 which was comfortably his best since he joined the tour full-time in 2003. He has also moved up to 121 in the official World Golf rankings, his highest placing to date. McGrane's best performance of the year came in last month's Andalucian Masters at Valderrama where he finished in a tie for second place behind Graeme McDowell. There are seven Irish golfers competing in Dubai this week, McGrane, McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrinton, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin.