Pádraig Harrington’s Portugal Masters victory hasn’t just reignited his desire to play another Ryder Cup, it’s also reinforced his belief that he can still intimidate the opposition and win at least one more major.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

There’s still a chance he could be persuaded to change his mind but as the USA celebrated its first Ryder Cup win for eight years, Pádraig Harrington insisted he was not the man to skipper a new generation of European stars in the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris.

Rory McIlroy’s presentation speech hit all the right notes but a “see you soon” as a sign off will be music to the ears of of Dubai Duty Free chiefs.

Ryder Cup hopefuls, including newly crowned champion Shane Lowry, will face a dilemma next season after the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was withdrawn from the European Tour schedule.

Graeme McDowell wasn’t ringing any Open Championship alarm bells as he looks certain to drop outside the World’s Top 50 for a first time in more than five years after missing the halfway cut in the defence of his French Open title.

When John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote “With a Little Help from My Friends” they never have imagined it would become one of the biggest sellers of all time. 

Defending champion Graeme McDowell strangely launched into a vigorous defence of guaranteed Ryder Cup rookie Victor Dubuisson after the second round of the French Open.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell was fearing the worst after his golf ball struck a spectator in the neck on the opening day of the French Open outside of Versailles.

While a limited playing schedule this season has him well outside of qualifying for the Ryder Cup, Graeme McDowell is quietly confident five events in the next six weeks will lift him into Paul McGinley’s team.

Graeme McDowell has firmed up as a favourite for next week’s British Open with a commanding victory in the French Open in Versailles.

Graeme McDowell looks set to end his recent poor form after shooting a two under par 69 on the opening day of the French Open on the outskirts of Versailles.

Former champion Thomas Levet today suffered a nightmare start to his first round as the Alstom Open de France got under way in Paris.

A plan aiming to restore Killarney’s reputation as one of the premier parkland golf resorts in the country has just been launched.

Germany’s Marcel Siem ended an eight-year winless drought to capture the French Open as Ireland’s Peter Lawrie had a tale of misfortune to tell after an incident involving a Versailles marshal.

Graeme McDowell paid a heavy French Open price after the enjoyment of taking in the sights of Paris.

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.

England’s James Morrison leads the Alstom French Open, two days after he nearly pulled out of it through illness.

Graeme Storm returned to the scene of his one European Tour victory today and shared the early first-round lead.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON insists his goal is to play in the 2018 Ryder Cup at the age of 47.

FRANCE won the right to host the 2018 Ryder Cup after presenting a bid described by European Tour chief executive George O’Grady as both exceptional and risk-free.

France have been selected as hosts of the 2018 Ryder Cup, it was announced today.

The host country for the 2018 Ryder Cup will be announced at Wentworth today with the illustrious competition set to be held in continental Europe for the first time since 1997, and only the second time in its history.

FIVE countries will discover today which of them is to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Five countries will discover tomorrow which of them is to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup.

SEVE BALLESTEROS has called for the Ryder Cup to be extended from three to four days and for every team member to be allowed to play on the opening day of the competition.

The venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup – a fight between France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands – will be announced on May 17.

THERE was a time when it seemed Tiger Woods would never be deposed as the world’s number one golfer.

Miguel Angel Jimenez became the oldest-ever winner of continental Europe’s oldest golf title in Paris today – but he did it the hard way after making a real mess of the final hole.

Spaniard Alejandro Canizares went into the water twice on the last three holes tonight to toss away a three-stroke lead at the Alstom French Open in Paris.

RORY McILROY warmed-up for the British Open with a three-under par on day one of the French Open and then suggested Paul McGinley be considered a Ryder Cup Vice-Captain.

TRIPLE Ryder Cup-winner Paul McGinley has strongly hinted for the first time his interest in being a European Ryder Cup vice-captain later this year at Celtic Manor.

FIVE countries are left in the race to host the 2018 Ryder Cup after Sweden pulled out of contention last night.

Five countries are left in the race to host the 2018 Ryder Cup after Sweden pulled out today.

THE IRISH-owned Oceânico Group on Portugal’s Algarve has submitted a bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup. Its acclaimed Victoria course in Vilamoura is one of seven courses in the Oceânico portfolio and is regarded as one of the finest in Europe.

THE six nations bidding for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Europe have been invited to come together at a Heathrow hotel on January 13 to share opinions, information and questions.

The six nations bidding for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Europe have been invited to come together at a Heathrow hotel on January 13 to share opinions, information and questions.

ARGENTINA’S Ricardo Gonzalez, without a top 10 finish all season, grabbed his fourth European Tour title in stunning fashion in Malmo yesterday.

EUROPEAN TOUR rookie Shane Lowry had every reason to be pleased yesterday, putting himself in superb position to make a first pay cheque after a two under par 69 on the opening day of the French Open in Versailles.

IT WAS triple Major-winning Padraig Harrington who made the effort to break from his practice and congratulate Shane Lowry on last month’s 3 Irish Open success yesterday.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has just over a fortnight before he defends his British Open title but the struggling triple Major winner declared there is no turning back from the changes he is introducing into his game.

Retief Goosen would not be his first choice as somebody to try to catch, but Bernhard Langer has another chance this weekend to become the oldest champion in European Tour history.