The continuing development of the Irish Open has been given a huge boost by Dubai Duty Free’s agreement with the European Tour to extend its title sponsorship of the tournament.

Paul McGinley reckons Paul Dunne’s first two years as a professional golfer may have already eclipsed Rory McIlroy’s.

Nice moves Jamie.

Tournament host Sergio Garcia dedicated victory in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters to wife Angela and unborn child after claiming a sixth victory on home soil.

Horse racing mogul JP McManus opened up for the first time about his dream to host the Ryder Cup at Adare in 2026.

Paul McGinley has outlined his concerns for Rory McIlroy’s Masters prospects next month if the Irish superstar is unable to quieten “the noise” created by his golf date with President Donald Trump.

Gavin Moynihan was inches away from leaving the K Club in a €145,000 BMW but while he narrowly missed out on the required ace, the Irish rookie was happy just to have made his first Irish Open cut.

Asking what’s wrong with Rory McIlroy is a bit like that old joke about George Best, Miss World and the bed in £50 notes. When a player racks up six Top-10 finishes from nine stroke-play starts, there really shouldn’t be any reason to start pressing any alarm bells.

Shane Lowry proved golf is the game played on the six inch course between the ears when he put three average rounds behind him to move up from fifth to third in the Race to Dubai after the closing 66 in the Turkish Airlines Open.

Paul Dunne managed to fight his way to a narrow points decision over the famed Old Course but the rookie professional could still face another career-defining day during tomorrow’s final day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Another year, another Irish Open and the debates continue as to the best venue and time of year to play one of the most popular tournaments on the European Tour.

Graeme McDowell will tee up for his third round at Royal County Down this morning eight shots behind the leaders but convinced the Irish Open title is within his grasp.

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.

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.

A clash of egos can sometimes be a beautiful thing, in politics, perhaps. But in a stylish endeavour such as golf, it produces ugly theatre.

Knowing when to call time on your career is one of the hardest decisions for a professional sportsman or woman to make.

Former Open champion Darren Clarke remains a strong favourite to be named European Ryder Cup captain for 2016 on Wednesday.

The world of golf is looking for a player to step up to the plate and challenge Rory McIlroy for supremacy this year and that certain someone could be Tiger Woods, said Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

Darren Clarke would insist he’s not a vain man but he was horrified that his svelte new-look had Twitter wags comparing him to former "Stars in Their Eyes" TV host Matthew Kelly, famous for his white stubbled chin as contestants impersonated showbiz stars for mass TV.

After an eighth Ryder Cup loss in 10 meetings, the American media were divided over what was behind their latest defeat and split over whether Phil Mickelson was right to publicly question the leadership of captain Tom Watson.

Updates from Day 2 of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

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.

Welcome to your Friday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

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.

Darren Clarke pleaded the fifth on the exact state of the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, but when it comes to Holywood star McIlroy’s role in the Ryder Cup this week, Clarke is certain the world No. 1 can be Europe’s leading man.

Paul McGinley will use a pod system similar to the one that helped Paul Azinger win at Valhalla to take on a wounded US side at Gleneagles next week.

Rory McIlroy is approaching the same level of dominance that saw Tiger Woods complete the Tiger Slam in 2001 and Colin Montgomerie sees the rest playing for second in this week’s US PGA at Valhalla.

Dustin Johnson has shocked the golf world by announcing he is to take an immediate leave of absence from the game.

Shane Lowry was well entitled to a wry smile over the last day or two as he heard just about everybody talk up Ireland’s prospects of a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games now that Rory McIlroy has declared for Ireland and Graeme McDowell has confirmed he will wear the green, white and orange in Rio.

Paul McGinley will resist any move at this week’s Players Committee meeting in Portugal to make it compulsory for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to compete in the Seve Trophy.

There were easily far more officials and photographers gathered around the Wales Open first tee than paying spectators when Paul McGinley hit the opening tee shot of the 2014 Ryder Cup qualifying campaign.

The next time Paul McGinley visits Gleneagles it will be by steam train in a month’s time and in the company of rival USA captain, Tom Watson to mark ‘A Year To Go’ celebrations to the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Paul McGinley has strongly hinted his three European Team wildcard picks could very well go to those who play well this weekend at Gleneagles, the host venue for this week’s Johnnie Walker Championship.

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.

Golf fans in 75 countries around the world will find out if they have bagged a ticket for next year’s Ryder Cup today, after record demand.

Medinah miracle worker Jose Maria Olazabal has heaped praise on his successor as Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley.

Paul McGinley has been chosen to lead Europe in their defence of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland next year.

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.”

Pádraig Harrington may be languishing 59th in the world rankings right now but he begins his 2013 campaign in the €2m Volvo Champions event at Durban Country Club, South Africa with confidence.

Colin Montgomerie would be mad to entertain the thought of returning as Europe’s captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup, according to triple Major winner Pádraig Harrington.

The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will not feature on the European Tour in 2014 due to the venue’s staging of the Ryder Cup.

Apparel-maker Oakley has sued Rory McIlroy and Nike, insisting the world No 1 and the equipment giant breached his existing contract with Oakley when he recently signed a new deal with Nike estimated to be worth $250m.

Tom Watson has been named as United States captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the PGA of America has confirmed on its Twitter feed. At 63 Watson is the oldest captain in the competition’s history.

Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald have backed Paul McGinley to captain Europe at the 2014 Ryder Cup.