A second Irish Open and the first as a professional was not to be for Shane Lowry but he is convinced that only good can come from the experiences he encountered from four up-and-down days over his home course in Co Kildare.

Three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington has re-signed with Wilson Golf in a multi-year deal that will see him continue to play Wilson Staff clubs on both tours from January.

The wisdom of the old expression of horses for courses was rarely more amply demonstrated than at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday when Graeme McDowell captured his second Tiger Woods World Challenge title in three years, and with it the winners cheque for $1m (€765,733).

Step into the entrance hall at Stackstown Golf Club in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, turn to your right, and on the wall across from the ‘Harrington Room’, an impressive homage to Pádraig’s career achievements, hangs a giant frame.

Pádraig Harrington’s bid for a third British Open Championship victory will get off to a late start on Thursday following yesterday’s draw at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Zach Johnson won a play-off for the John Deere Classic on the US PGA Tour on Sunday when he drilled a six-iron from a fairway bunker to within 12 inches of the cup.

Five days after winning the Ladies British Open Amateur title, Stephanie Meadow this afternoon steps onto the biggest stage of her career so far and rubs shoulders with the greatest professionals in the world in the US Women’s Open Championship.

Disappointment has been expressed at the announcement that the 2016 British Open is going to Troon, passing over the claims of Royal Portrush.

Pádraig Harrington returns to US Open venue that prompted him to totally transform his long game 14 years ago and take the first steps towards becoming a multiple major champion.

BOB TORRANCE will wait for prodigal pupil Pádraig Harrington to return to the fold after the three-time Major winner announced a break from his long-time coach, but the 79-year-old believes the Dubliner is heading down the wrong road in his career.

THE sing-song introductions have become as familiar as the wind and rain at British Opens since 1975, but there’s something a lot more warming and comfortable than the weather listening to veteran tournament starter Ivor Robson announce: “On the tee ...”

IT is one of those assessments that is personal to the core, a belief you attach yourself to because you’re comfortable no one can offer evidence to the contrary or shake you from your point of view.

RORY McILROY passed one difficult test with such ease three weeks ago that it would be all too easy to assume he can pass another one this weekend at Royal St George’s.

HE MAY have been written off a few times in the last couple of seasons but Pádraig Harrington remains determined to prove he has the game to add to his haul of three major championships.

WHEN Pádraig Harrington added the 2008 US PGA Championship to the British Opens of ‘07 and ‘08 many felt a wonderful era for Irish golf had reached its zenith.

ANOTHER dismal week, another slump in the world rankings.

JOHN BOYETTE’S soft, southern accent seems like the natural by-product of a life spent on either side of the Savannah River.

GREG NORMAN once said “the failure is what makes succeeding so sweet.”

RYDER Cup talk will dominate all else this week when the players assemble for the Wales Open over the 2010 course at Celtic Manor, the venue for the clash of Europe and the US on October 1-3 next.

THE BMW PGA Championship may be worth €750,000 to the winner, a major injection of world and Ryder Cup points and an untold degree of prestige.

UNFORTUNATELY, Tiger Woods played with caution. That is why one day into the 138th Open Championship, the world’s greatest player is hard to find, buried well down the leaderboard.

LICKING his wounds after another bitter disappointment is becoming all too familiar for Pádraig Harrington.

The Taoiseach and the President have both paid tribute to golfer Padraig Harrington following his victory in the USPGA Championship last night.

From a chance at three in a row to a no-show, Phil Mickelson’s life at major championships has been anything but charmed lately.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today paid tribute to the "skill, courage and nerve" of new British Open champion Padraig Harrington at a reception in Government Buildings in Dublin.

While Luke Donald ponders whether the Scottish Open is the right way for him to prepare for the British Open Championship, Ernie Els has no doubts.

THE GOOD people of Burnfoot, Co Donegal, are rarely in the limelight, going about their business quietly with no expectation of being in the news.

American David Oakley underlined the low-scoring possibilities as relatively calm conditions at last prevailed for the third round of the British Open senior championship after two days of high winds left Craig Stadler in the lead at only one under par.

THE Irish takeover of the £4m BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth continues apace.

Thomas Bjorn has been through some tough times since seeing the 2003 Open slip from his grasp.

NINETY-THREE golfers tee it up in the Masters at Augusta National today and there is a growing swell of opinion that the winner can be narrowed down to the five leading players in the world.

Gary Evans today made a spectacular start to the first round of 133rd British Open Championship at Royal Troon.

FUNKY bounces might conjure up an image of some Latino Manhattan nightclubs, but it was, in fact, the language employed by Tiger Woods to describe his opening day 72 at the 104th US Open Championship on Long Island.

GOLF'S infinite capacity to produce controversy manifested itself once again in yesterday's glorious sunshine at Heidleberg. Older devotees of the sport will remember the bitter dispute that raged through the '60s over the size of the ball.

Graeme Dott might have been stacking supermarket shelves had he carried out his threat to quit snooker at the start of the season.

Nigel Bond knocked out Ken Doherty, a UK runner-up for the past two seasons, 9-7 at the York Barbican Centre last night.

ANOTHER European Ryder Cup campaign commences this week when the points-counting tournaments for the 2004 matches at Oakland Hills near Detroit next September get under way at the European Masters in Switzerland.

SIX-TIME Major winner Nick Faldo says too many of Europe’s leading golfers lack commitment when it comes to trying to win a Major.

THE Country Club of Rochester, the venue for this week’s US Open Championship, holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Irish golfers.

IT was some achievement for Padraig Harrington to be voted Sports Personality of the Year by the people of Ireland.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is learning the hard way that it’s very difficult to please everybody all of the time.

The finest women golfers in the world have arrived at Sunningdale for the Evian Tour’s first Major championship, the £1m Weetabix Women’s British Open.