Graeme McDowell will get Ireland’s challenge at the 2014 Masters up and running tomorrow at Augusta National when he tees off in the opening round of the year’s first major championship at 2.35pm Irish time.

Jason Dufner had sat in the media centre two years previously at Atlanta Athletic Club as the disappointed yet philosophical PGA Championship runner-up. Sunday night he was back on stage at Oak Hill as a newly-minted Major champion.

Rory McIlroy saw his hopes of a successful PGA Championship title defence hit the rocks last night as Jason Dufner was attempting to protect a two-shot lead down the stretch at Oak Hill.

Keegan Bradley may not have been born for Ryder Cup battle but he has certainly been groomed for it from a very early age.