Being Ryder Cup captain means showing faith in your big gun and both 2014 skipper Paul McGinley and 2016 European boss Darren Clarke had sympathy for a struggling Rory McIlroy.

Hoylake is a course with a fond record for Irish golf but only those who stay out of the deep rough at a lush, green Royal Liverpool will have any chance of winning The Open next week.

Graeme McDowell achieved a career first and heads into next week’s British Open in the best possible frame of mind after virtually being handed a successful defence of his French Open title in Versailles.

Never mind the Irish pros and their majors, there is plenty of homegrown talent poised to follow them on the road to stardom if the form of Ireland’s leading amateurs is anything to go by.

When Jack Nicklaus said that Merion “acre for acre may be the best test of golf in the world”, he certainly wasn’t considering the course from the point of view of tournament logistics.

One of Ireland’s Masters contingent this week will be Alan Dunbar, using his exemption as British Amateur champion.

Ireland captain Pádraig Hogan believes a strong start against hosts Scotland tomorrow will be key to success in the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes.

Darren Clarke’s Open Championship title defence was brought to a premature end last night after the Irishman failed to make the halfway cut at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Irish Open drew to a disappointing close yesterday — at least for those willing an Irishman to victory.

British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar is considering abandoning the perks of his newly-won status by turning professional at the end of the year.

THE Montgomerie Course at Carton House will host next year’s European Amateur Golf Championships, with the August 8-11 event coming to this country for the first time in its 25-year history.

The Golfing Union of Ireland has announced Ireland will host the International European Amateur Championship in 2012.

HAVING made life difficult for himself on Thursday, 3 Irish Open champion Shane Lowry demonstrated his increasing maturing yesterday by shooting an admirable six under par 65 to maintain his interest into the weekend.

Ireland's Damien McGrane set about chasing down first round clubhouse leaders Pablo Larrazabal and Liang Wenchong at the Volvo China Open today.

Two days after telling Jack Nicklaus that Augusta National had become too tough for him, 60-year-old Tom Watson revived memories of last year’s Open with a brilliant start to the 2010 Masters.

Little Sam Hutsby took a giant step forward in his European Tour career today with a brilliant seven under par 63 at the Andalucian Open in Malaga.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.

JOSE Maria Olazabal has agreed to be assistant to captain Colin Montgomerie at next year’s Ryder Cup in Wales — but only if he does not qualify for the side.

Jose Maria Olazabal has agreed to be assistant to captain Colin Montgomerie at next year’s Ryder Cup in Wales, but only if he does not qualify for the side.

New Zealand amateur Danny Lee served notice to the golfing world of his outstanding talent at the Johnnie Walker Classic on Sunday, before boldly stating his ambitious goal of outstripping the achievements of Tiger Woods.

Paul Casey opened the door to his Order of Merit rivals with a terrible finish to his second round in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Padraig Harrington took advantage today as Paul Casey opened the door to his Order of Merit rivals with a terrible finish to his second round in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

European number one David Howell believes it is “silly” to class him as a contender for this week’s British Open at Hoylake.

David Howell knows he is capable of winning any tournament he plays now. But just to do himself justice for once is the bottom line when it comes to the British Open championship.

Teen star Rory McIlroy today became the first player since Joe Carr in 1965 to retain the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Teenager Rory McIlroy came of age when he successfully defended the Radisson SAS West of Ireland Championship with a brilliant putting display at Rosses Point.

Donegal's Brian McElhinney has announced his decision to turn professional at the end of the month.

Ross Fisher shot a three-under-par 70 to put him top of leaderboard for the second consecutive day in the South African Airways Open.

SOUTH KOREAN Jeong Jang was the player to catch at the midway stage of the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.

DUBLINER Peter Lawrie shot outstanding rounds of 65 and 67 over the New and Old courses at Sunningdale yesterday to become the sixth Irishman through to the British Open Championship at St Andrews next month.

BRIAN MCELHINNEY became the first Republic of Ireland golfer to win the British Amateur championship since the late and great Joe Carr captured the trophy for a third time in 1960.