Paul McGinley fully acknowledges he is widely regarded as a red-hot favourite to become the first Irish captain of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team.

Rory McIlroy’s return yesterday to the top of the world rankings even though he only tied for 40th in the Masters and didn’t play at all last week has many people mystified as to how this could possibly happen.

Those who believe everything comes and goes in cycles have had that view well and truly confirmed by events in Irish rugby over the past 20 years.

These are testing times for Munster.

The presence of Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke provides Ireland with its strongest hand at the Masters at Augusta National.

Even the sizeable Leinster contingent in the full house at Thomond Park on Saturday departed believing they had been short changed.

Graeme McDowell began the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday one stroke behind Tiger Woods but confident of overcoming the American in head-to-head combat as he had done in the Chevron World Challenge in California two years ago.

More than 7,000 fans watched Connacht battle with Munster in Galway on Saturday night.

Those who believe Declan Kidney will be quickly able to find alternatives and back-up support for Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Tom Court, the trio who have carried the scrummaging responsibilities throughout the RBS 6 Nations Championship, will have to think again.

Pádraig Harrington may have failed to build on his career best 61 recorded in the opening round of the Transitions Championship in Florida but that Thursday display is a massive confidence booster for the three times Major champion who has slipped to 91st in the world rankings.