NO punches will be pulled when Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the European Tour players committee, and three times major champion Pádraig Harrington meet in the Algarve prior to this week’s Portugal Masters at the Oceânico Victoria Club in Vilamoura.

DESPITE failing to land his first European Tour victory in Switzerland on Sunday, 19-year-old Rory McIlroy from Holywood, Co Down has improved 61 places to 111th in the world rankings.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is on course to become Ireland’s top-earning sportsman of all time after his latest win in one of golf’s biggest competitions.

IRISH property development firm Oceanico has made its first move into the American market with the purchase of a North Carolina golf resort in a $500 million (€338m) deal.

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton is to visit Bobby Robson tomorrow to assess whether he will be fit to take up his duties against Holland next week.

Stephen Carr’s 10-month international exile is over after the Newcastle defender was named in a 24-man Republic of Ireland squad to face Holland in a friendly at Lansdowne Road next Wednesday.

THE Irish developers of one of Europe’s most prestigious golf resorts believe it will be hosting European tour events within a decade.

IRISH property is bad value and close to being over-priced, a leading Irish player in the Algarve claimed yesterday.