Dermot McElroy hopes to celebrate his call-up to the St Andrews Trophy squad by challenging for his first amateur major when the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open gets under way at Rosses Point today.

Waterford amateur Kevin Phelan produced a sensational display of control and intelligence to leave a host of superstars in the shade in the first round of the US Open at Merion.

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan produced sensational short game magic to grab a crucial singles win and help Great Britain and Ireland take a 7-5 lead over the Continent of Europe into the final day of the St Andrews Trophy at Portmarnock.

A decision by Shane Lowry not to let the Alpine course overshadow him paid dividends, with the Esker Hills star producing his equal-best round in four appearances in the Omega European Masters.

PAUL CUTLER will aim this week to build on his early-season success and keep his name very much to the forefront of the minds of Great Britain and Ireland selectors as they prepare to put together the St Andrews Trophy side for later in the summer.

IRISH stars Jonathan Caldwell and Shane Lowry played a key role in helping Great Britain and Ireland establish a comfortable first-day advantage against the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy match at Kingsbarns yesterday.

GARETH SHAW is destined to bow out from collegiate golf with the coveted status of an All-American after reaching the final round of the 111th Men’s NCAA Division I Championships in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Irish golfer Danielle McVeigh made her mark among the best young women players in America as she scored a top-15 finish at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Seventeen-year-olds Rory McIlroy and Oliver Fisher are both in the Britain and Ireland team for the St Andrews Trophy match against Continental Europe in the Czech Republic on September 1-2.

Former Scottish champion Colin Dalgleish will captain Britain and Ireland when they try to win back the Walker Cup from the US at Royal County Down in September 2007.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON takes a week off before partnering Paul McGinley in next week’s $4m World Cup in Seville, Darren Clarke sets out for South Africa via Japan for a money-spinning end to his season — and 168 hopefuls make their way to San Roque in Spain for the European Tour’s final qualifying school, simply hoping to be able to rub shoulders with the stars in 2005 (the top 35 and ties will do so).

CRAIG SMITH, a 6 foot 7 inch tall, 23 year-old from Cardiff, became the third overseas winner of the AIB Irish Amateur Open Championship since the event was revived in 1995 by mounting a highly impressive rearguard action over the Montgomerie course at Carton House, Co Kildare.

Former milkman Craig Smith won the AIB Irish Amateur Open by a shot from Co Sligo’s Sean McTernan at Carton House.

THE posturing and the propaganda have abated and a year later than scheduled, the 34th Ryder Cup is all set to start today at 8am.

ALTHOUGH there has been a serious drain to the professional ranks, especially where outstanding players like Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey and Stephen Browne are concerned, Irish captain Eddie Dunne is positive where his team’s prospects in this week’s home international at Royal St David’s, Harlech, are concerned.

The BBC and R&A have agreed a new multi-million pound deal to televise the Open championship for the next five years.