Boys fly off to Brazil

Two Irishmen have had their SOS messages answered for this week's first European Tour event to take place in Brazil. Padraig Harrington, desperate to discover some form before his US Masters debut in two weeks, and Philip Walton, currently without a tour card, have received sponsors' invitations to play in the Brazil "500 Years" Open in Rio de Janeiro, which starts on Thursday.

But there has been no change of mind from Paul McGinley, who has decided not to alter his schedule and will bypass the two Brazilian tournaments, after which the British and Irish team for next month's inaugural Seve Ballesteros Trophy at Sunningdale will be decided.

It means he can't possibly catch Welshman Philip Price for the sole automatic place available from this year's Order of Merit and must now await captain Colin Montgomerie's decision on a "wild card".

"I haven't spoken to Colin about it, it's his decision and I won't try to influence it at all," said McGinley, who lives in Sunningdale.

"Personally I hope he goes down to the next man in the Order of Merit for the wild card, which hopefully will be me.

"I think I have a strong case as I've been in good form recently, with three top 10s in the last three events before Madeira.

"I know Sunningdale very well - I'm playing in the Sunningdale foursomes this week - and I would love to play in the event."

Gary Murphy is also in this week's field in Brazil.

Elsewhere, Christy O'Connor Jnr returns to the US Seniors Tour in the Emerald Classic - won by David Duval's father, Bob, last year - at Milton in Florida, starting on Friday.

Meanwhile, Conor Mallon, who turned professional after winning his card on the development tour last year, finished in tied-54th place in the Hooters Classic at Pebble Creek, South Carolina, to earn a cheque for $744. Richard Coughlan, however, missed the cut.