PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON IS five shots off the lead after the opening round of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour in UAE.
Harrington carded a four-under 68 which included five birdies and one bogey to keep him in touch with leader Marcus Armitage who is one nine-under after a round of 63.
Conor Purcell is also in action in what is his first tournament of the 2025 season, sitting on even par after scoring 72 with two birdies and two bogeys.
Tom McKibbin is further back on four-over after a difficult round which featured a double bogey on the third. His round was also hampered by a bogey on the seventh followed by three more dropped shots on the 13th, 15th and 16th holes.
McKibbin impressed at the Dubai Desert Classic last weekend, earning a share of sixth place with a brilliant 11-under performance.
Headline should read: Gary Lineker states the obvious.
@adrian brogan: obvious to us yes but lineker has always been an eternal optimist when it comes to england.
The way Argentina struggled to just about qualify and Messi who will want to finally do what has always alluded him, leads me to believe that this will be Argentina’s WC.
@GITBTSWORDS: I think manager needs to step up and make changes, to have a chance they need to start Icardi and dybala along with Messi, would be an unstoppable trio.
Kante has hit his peak already, Two very good seasons, So so this year!!
@Ciarán: bullshit hes still only 26 and he was out for 6 weeks injured, you obviously don’t watch any chelsea games cause if you did you wouldn’t make that comment. Did you watch chelsea v united? He was the best midfielder on the park by a mile!!!
France come with one caveat…..
They also have an uncanny ability to row with each other and cock it all up… the Benzema affair wasn’t all that long ago….
They need zero camp rows if they go all the way…
World cups are not predicted by just looking at who has the best players on paper…
Germany will kick up a few gears as will Brazil….
France, Germany and Brazil all have a decent shout, I wouldn’t completely rule out Belgium or Argentina either but I reckon Spain are the real deal.
I saw them play Italy a few months back and although we have seen that Italy are pretty poor, Spain tore them to shreds. The last few years they relied on Xavi and iniesta but with Isco, Thiago and Morata they have a new breed of superstars. They are also coming in under the radar in comparison to France, Brazil and even Belgium are being talked about more!
Brazil @ 5/1 .Get your coppers on it .
It will be either Germany, Brazil, France,Portugal, Spain or Argentina….