Shane Lowry will get his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open campaign underway early on Thursday as part of an illustrious group also featuring Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Russell Knox.

Patience paid dividends for Rory McIlroy, as he enjoyed a highly promising competitive comeback in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where defending champion Tommy Fleetwood shared the lead after day one.

Dermot McElroy made a superb start to the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School with a two-under 70 at El Saler, Spain.

Ireland amateur Paul McBride outgunned compatriot Paul Dunne (73) with a fine opening two-under 70 that left him four off the clubhouse lead at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

We are only halfway through this year’s US Open but with just 36 holes in the books the casualties, both mental and physical, are already mounting from this most gruelling of golfing tests.

European Ryder Cuppers Stephen Gallacher and Henrik Stenson both saw their caddies injured during practice as Chambers Bay’s extensive elevation variations and dry grass caused plenty of footing issues inside and outside the ropes.

"If you’re sharp with the driver and sharp with the putter from basically 30 yards and in, that’s going to be a big key this week.”

European Ryder Cup heroes Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson and Miguel Angel Jimenez have become the latest stars to confirm their plans to play Royal Co Down in two weeks as the entry deadline closed for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Rory McIlroy might have added Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Patrick Reed to a stellar field but the world No 1 is chasing an even bigger name for next month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open — Phil Mickelson.

Rory McIlroy has won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by three shots today after a closing round of 70 saw him finish the tournament on 22-under-par.

It is a mark of how far his come in six short years when World No. 1 Rory McIlroy says he now expects to shoot a score of 66 as he did on the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy confessed the conditions were almost too easy as he joined a host of players in cashing in on a low-scoring first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy made a solid start at the Dubai Desert Classic as he attempted to turn his recent good form into victory at Emirates Golf Club.

World number one Rory McIlroy remains winless in the UAE capital after finishing six shots adrift of South African Darren Fichardt in the one-day Abu Dhabi Invitational Pro-Am at Yas Island Links.

After more than 500 rounds of European Tour competition, Rory McIlroy recorded his first hole-in-one on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Ross Fisher sits two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard after an impressive first day at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Patrick Reed gained a small measure of revenge for last month’s Ryder Cup defeat by knocking European hero Jamie Donaldson out of the Volvo World Match Play Championship yesterday.

Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson was the only player certain of a place in the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship ahead of Friday's final group matches at The London Club.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell suffered just his third ever defeat in the Volvo World Match Play Championship yesterday, as Ryder Cup team-mate Stephen Gallacher’s singles losing streak reached double figures.

Graeme McDowell outlined a renewed commitment and some ambitious career targets after making an ideal start to the defence of his Volvo World Match Play Championship title.

Graeme McDowell believes the continuing fallout from Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles will ensure a "fairly epic" contest in two years’ time.

Five members of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team will feature in the World Matchplay Championship at the London Golf Club tomorrow.

The European Tour heads to the sunny Algarve next week, but with an end of season chill now in the air, we asked four golf writers to review 2014, from McIlroy’s Majors to McGinley’s Ryder Cup — and everything else in between.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry set the clubhouse target on a difficult second day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Friday.

World number one Rory McIlroy was struggling to reproduce his Ryder Cup form on the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Paul McGinley has revealed how fans have reacted to Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles and his emotions at finally getting the chance to see highlights of the action.

Ian Poulter has revealed how the European team kept their egos in check in pursuit of team glory in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

European captain Paul McGinley has revealed the United States claimed at least one victory over his side at Gleneagles – albeit in the wrong sport.

Between them, Paul McGinley, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell ensured that Europe’s Ryder Cup success over the United States had ‘Made In Ireland’ stamped all over it.

World number one Rory McIlroy led by example as Europe won the 40th Ryder Cup after being given an early scare at Gleneagles.

Live updates from the final day of the Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy and his European teammates are bracing themselves for the mother all warnings against complacency from captain Paul McGinley ahead of tomorrow's pivotal Ryder Cup singles matches.

United States captain Tom Watson put his faith in his three youngest players to kickstart his side’s bid for an unlikely Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles on Sunday.

You can’t say that Tom Watson doesn’t change with the times.

For once, Ian Poulter talked the talk but couldn’t walk the walk.

United States Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson conceded his team were outplayed on the opening day at Gleneagles but defended his decisions on pairings.

Paul McGinley has turned to Rory McIlroy to get beaten and bruised Ian Poulter back into Ryder Cup hero-mode after reuniting the pair for this morning’s fourballs session at Gleneagles.

Check out our spoiler-free guide to what’s good to watch on the box tonight.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley admits he will worry about making the right decisions over the next three days but is confident his experience will mean he gets more right than wrong.

Rory McIlroy got the partner and the match-up he wanted as opposing captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson served up a fascinating opening session to the 2014 Ryder Cup this morning.

Over the past 30 years Europe more often than not have found a way to disrupt golf’s natural order in the Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy will stride into the Ryder Cup arena a changed man from his last appearance for Europe two years ago.

Rory McIlroy has the chance to let his golf do the talking against Phil Mickelson in the opening session of the Ryder Cup, in a match US captain Tom Watson predicted should be a “barn-burner”.

European captain Paul McGinley looked to have settled on a number of his pairings on the final day of practice for the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell displayed all the signs of being star-struck by Team Europe’s evening with Alex Ferguson, but not so much as to ignore the potential benefits for this weekend’s Ryder Cup defence.

Graeme McDowell already has his place in Ryder Cup history but the hero of Celtic Manor would love a repeat at Gleneagles.

Players aside, this week’s Ryder Cup is expected to be the most commercially successful ever.

European vice-captain Sam Torrance has backed his side’s rookies to thrive under the pressure of the Ryder Cup and make the most of the “huge” advantage of playing at home.

Shane Lowry carded a flawless 65 to claim a one-shot lead over Nicolas Colsaerts and Joost Luiten, with former champion Thongchai Jaidee and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari another shot back, in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.