Rory McIlroy is by a distance the Irish sportsperson of the decade, writes Kieran Shannon.

For something widely described as the worst-kept secret in golf, Pádraig Harrington’s eventual unveiling as Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain surprised us in just how pleasant and important a reminder it was of what a special golf nation this is, and what a special sportsperson Harrington is.

Even with ample reason to think about what might have been, Paul Azinger prefers to wonder what’s next.

Nick Edmund is counting down the days to the end of his Wild Atlantic Way walk, writes Kevin Markham.

What makes the Masters Green Jacket the most desirable piece of clothing in sport, wonders Kevin Markham. 

Jason Day threw away his chance of a second US PGA title with "one crazy decision" according to six-time major winner Nick Faldo.

Nothing comes easy at Augusta, but some puzzles are more difficult to solve than others. Kevin Markham tackles the Masters toughest tests...

Jordan Spieth might have found a new way to finish the front nine at the Masters. He’s just worried about trying it when anyone is looking.

The walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee at Augusta National takes less than a minute, but the significance of that brief period of time on April 10, 1997, cannot be underestimated.

The blame game is par for the course in the Ryder Cup, writes Kevin Markham.

Rivalries are nothing new in sport. They are on every corner but few have the importance or the commercial impact of the three-day match play tournament which biennially pits the best players from both the US and Europe against each other: the Ryder Cup.

Jordan Spieth’s Masters meltdown at Augusta National joined the list of memorable collapses when the heat of a major tournament is on.

Paul Casey might not be available for Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team but the Cheltenham thoroughbred could change his mind if he wins the Masters.

Confidence is key. Just ask Pádraig Harrington, who shot four sub-par rounds in Italy last week and still finished a modest 33rd in the Italian Open.

Great athletes are a curious breed. For those who don’t know them in many circumstances, they appear single-minded, aloof and even obnoxious.

No doubt Dustin Johnson slept soundly on Thursday night. 

Ask five golfers for the keys to success around St Andrews’ Old Course, host to this week’s 144th Open Championship, and you’re likely to get five different answers.

Andrew Redington has been photographing The Open Championship for Getty Images for more than two decades and was hard at work yet again at St Andrews ahead of this week’s renewal in the Auld Grey Toon.

Nick Faldo will miss the chance to see a Rory McIlroy duel with Jordan Spieth at this week’s Open but the man who tamed St Andrews 25 years ago also believes the current world number one has missed a serious opportunity to add to his major haul after his football injury.

He has twice lifted the Claret Jug, made a reservation for a place in golf’s Hall of Fame and etched his success into the collective memory of Irish sports fans.

Sam Torrance has criticised Nick Faldo for labelling Sergio Garcia “useless” on the eve of September’s Ryder Cup, branding the Englishman “an arsehole”.

Sam Torrance has criticised Nick Faldo for labelling Sergio Garcia “useless” on the eve of September’s Ryder Cup.

Ted Bishop spent Tuesday trying to salvage whatever was left of his legacy as the 38th president of the PGA of America.

Ted Bishop has been sacked as PGA of America president after making "insensitive gender-based statements" about Ian Poulter.

When Europe needed him most, Rory McIlroy stepped up to the mark and delivered.

His hands had been back on the Wanamaker Trophy barely two hours, but Rory McIlroy was already keenly aware of his place in golfing history and, more importantly, the next landmarks he wanted to reach in the game.

Rory McIlroy feels as prepared as he ever has going into an Open Championship but it will be how he readies himself mentally for Friday’s second round that will determine whether he lifts the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy admitted he was shell-shocked after another frightful Friday saw him tumble down the leaderboard in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

34-year-old now beside an illustrious winners’ list

While torrential rain stalled Graeme McDowell’s RBC Heritage Classic defence, his goal of making this year’s Ryder Cup team remains on track as he believes his best two chances of collecting another Major will come at he US and British Opens.

Adam Scott’s Masters victory a year ago was met with near delirium in his native Australia as the so-called Lucky Country finally got a green-jacketed champion its proud golfing tradition deserved.

It was written in the stars. With their powerful long games, silky smooth swings and superstar swagger, it was simply a question of when, not if, they would win the Masters.

Although it mightn’t seem like it at first, but today’s column is about Rory McIlroy.

Graeme McDowell is relishing next week’s visit to Oak Hills and the PGA Championship.

The emotion of the moment was all too clear in his face as Phil Mickelson sank the winning birdie putt, bowed his head, clenched his fists and raised his hands above his head to acknowledge the acclaim he just become Open champion.

Five weeks after suffering the heartache of a record sixth runners-up finish in the US Open, Phil Mickelson today won the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield in thrilling fashion.

If Rory is to avoid any major long-term slump in form, he must accept some “tough love” from those around him trying to offer good advice. He must address the obvious flaws.

Somebody call the shrink. Rory McIlroy pronounced himself “brain dead” on the golf course after a terrible opening round at the British Open yesterday and admitted he may need to turn to a sports psychologist to help him climb out of his current slump.

A fired up Rory McIlroy will clock in for The Open Championship today insisting he is as hard-working as anyone in golf after rubbishing Nick Faldo’s claims he needs to focus more.

Two-time Muirfield winner Nick Faldo has told Rory McIlroy he must not be distracted by non-golfing issues if he wishes to rediscover his form this and become Open champion.

Pádraig Harrington returns to Muirfield next week and the venue for this year’s British Open on a course that continues to be the “gold standard” of performance for the triple Major champion.

Justin Rose’s magnificent US Open triumph was a victory for the good guy, the hard-worker, the gentleman and the good son.

Graeme McDowell has dispelled fears of complacency heading to next month’s US Open after his historic victory in the Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria.

Tiger Woods today said he understood and accepted the decision of Masters officials to hand him a two-shot penalty for taking an incorrect drop during yesterday’s second round.