The European Tour could tomorrow confirm Paul McGinley’s successor as 2016 Ryder Cup captain.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy carded contrasting days at day two of the Irish Open in Fota Island.

Roy McIlroy is desperate to join the Masters legends for breakfast in the Champions’ Locker Room.

Shane Lowry secured his best finish in nearly a year but two crowd distractions over the closing holes in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews cost him victory.

The age old adage that you should be careful what you wish for is certainly holding true for Darren Clarke, just eight months after what was described as an “unseemly” politicking for the Ryder Cup captaincy.

It’s 14 years since a European donned one of Augusta National’s famous green jackets and was proclaimed Masters champion.

Despite their pre-Ryder Cup captaincy differences, Darren Clarke has quickly thrown his support in favour of 2014 European Team leader, Paul McGinley.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley closed in on the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy last night after one of his key rivals, compatriot Darren Clarke admitted: “As much as I would dearly love to be captain, this may not be my time.”

Paul McGinley to captain Europe at Gleneagles in 2014 followed by Darren Clarke at Hazeltine in 2016.

Pádraig Harrington has his last chance of making the European Ryder Cup team when he travels to Kiawah Island this week in search of a second US PGA Championship.

Despite his many fine performances in recent weeks, including top 10 finishes in the Masters along with the US and Irish Opens, Pádraig Harrington is still a long way off clinching one of the automatic 10 places in Europe’s Ryder Cup team to face the United States at Medinah in October.