Rory McIlroy might feel he has unfinished business at this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open but there’s no doubt in Paul McGinley’s mind that the young Ulster man has nothing to prove at Royal County Down.

The great Australian professional Bruce Crampton might never have won a major, but with four runner-up finishes to his credit, he still knew a thing or two about the game and what makes a golfer tick.

US Ryder Cup star Rickie Fowler is keen on a Walker Cup reunion with Rory McIlroy at next season’s Irish Open at Royal County Down.

Rory McIlroy hopes his decision to host the Irish Open at Royal County Down next year will help restore the event to its former glory.

It will be back to work for Open champion Rory McIlroy this week as he gets on with the business of being a multiple Major winner.

He does not just win at a canter, you know.

The predicted thunderstorms failed to materialise, but Rory McIlroy provided the fireworks to take a stranglehold on the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn insists he’s heard only rumours about an Irish Open move to Royal County Down but wonders if it’s time there was a Northern Irish Open.

When it came to feuds, Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods made all the headlines last week at the US Open, with the Spaniard apologising for his “fried chicken” remark made a few weeks earlier at a dinner before the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour at Wentworth.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods ducked and weaved as best they could but tough gal Merion continued to land her punches in what’s turning out to be a fascinating US Open.

Australian Marcus Fraser led the way on a day of low scoring when the BMW International Open began in Cologne.

Back-to-form Swede Henrik Stenson set the first-day pace at the BMW International Open in Munich today – and even managed to finish with a full set of clubs.

Rory McIlroy gave the world’s top three golfers a tough act to follow when he opened the Omega Dubai Desert Classic with a seven-under-par 65 today.

St Andrews, the Home of Golf, could tomorrow see Lee Westwood crowned as the new world number one - and little-known John Parry as the shock winner of one of Europe's richest events.

England's John Parry left nine of Europe's Ryder Cup side trailing in his wake at St Andrews today - in an event he was not qualified for until he won his first European Tour title two weeks ago.

Padraig Harrington had a spring in his step again as he moved on from France to Wales for the Ryder Cup.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON delivered the European Ryder Cup team a timely boost in producing an impressive eight under par 64 on the final day of the Vivendi Cup in Chambourcy.

England’s John Parry – a team-mate of Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup - today became the third rookie to win on this season’s European Tour.

England’s John Parry will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Vivendi Cup in Paris.

Padraig Harrington, much to his relief, has two more rounds to try to get his game in shape for the Ryder Cup.

Padraig Harrington is a massive 11 shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the low-key Vivendi Trophy in Paris – but at least he is still in it.

WHEN you’re young and impressionable, there’s always the danger that you might say something you later regret.

Scottish Open champion Edoardo Molinari made a great start to the Nordea Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm today – and that was bad news for England’s Luke Donald.

Englishman David Horsey pulled off the unlikeliest of maiden European Tour victories – in Germany of all places – today when he came from five behind to lift the BMW International Open.

Lee Westwood may be no fan of Wentworth’s new closing stretch, but there was something on the first hole he did not like either when he resumed the BMW PGA Championship today.

The first results are in at Wentworth – and when it comes to the new-look 18th hole the critics appear to have won the day.

GARETH MAYBIN played the 17th and18th in yesterday’s first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in eight shots.

Rory McIlroy has left Danny Willett trailing in his wake since they were team-mates at the 2007 Walker Cup – but today at Wentworth it was very different.

Padraig Harrington had to settle for a level par 71 after running up a triple bogey eight on the long 17th in today's first round at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.

The name of Rhys Davies can be added to the list of British players making their mark in the world of golf.

Darren Clarke, David Lynn and Charl Schwartzel were sharing top spot when rain interrupted the Joburg Open yet again today.

World number eight Sergio Garcia had the spotlight taken off by him by world number 1,076 Manuel Quiros when the Madrid Masters began today.

It was another case of what might have been for Darren Clarke in Spain today.

PAUL LAWRIE has a chance this weekend to achieve something which has even eluded Tiger Woods so far.

Just when he wanted to be at his healthiest, Lee Westwood sounded and looked anything but today – and it showed in his golf.

There was no doubt who England’s David Horsey thought of first after taking a share of the first-round lead in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth today.

Shane Lowry will not be at Wentworth this week for the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship – but that does not mean the new Irish Open champion is staying amateur until after September’s Walker Cup.

Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish today insisted he was hopeful that new golf sensation Shane Lowry will stay amateur until he has competed against the Americans in September.

There were some anxious moments for Irish golfers this week as both the University of Minnesota and East Tennessee State needed play-off victories to reach the men's national collegiate golf finals.

Strong performances from Irish golfers Gareth Shaw and Seamus Power helped drive East Tennessee State University into America’s top 10 team rankings this week.

Cork golfer Aaron O’Callaghan kicked off his spring campaign in style with a victory at the 54-hole Rice Intercollegiate tournament in Texas.

The pros may have their majors to aim for but if you’re a student golfer on the American college circuit, there is no bigger tournament than the NCAA Championships.