WHEN Rory McIlroy created global headlines by winning the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, few could have imagined he would be without a tournament success 12 months later.

SOUTH Roscommon man Eugene Fayne was elected president of the Golfing Union of Ireland at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting at Carton House, Co Kildare.

Pat Murray (Limerick) will seek to defend the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship title at The Royal Dublin Golf Club from June 19-23.

RORY McILROY, who has risen from 39th to ninth position in the official world rankings in his second season on tour, has been voted the ‘Professional of the Year’ in the 2009 Irish Golf Writers’ Association Awards, sponsored by AIB Bank.

UNDER normal circumstances, Albert Lee would have been across the Irish Sea in a flash to watch Pádraig Harrington defend his British Open title but, in the end, he decided he had no other option but to remain at home in Mullingar perched on his own couch.

ALL over Ireland this week, there will be youngsters begging lifts to the nearest golf course in the hope of emulating Pádraig Harrington, and the British Open champion’s own alma mater in Stackstown will be among the busiest hives of activity.

Ireland retained the European Amateur Team Championship for the first time in 41 years on Saturday.

Eric Clapton has recruited a clutch of his guitar great pals to perform at his second Crossroads Guitar Festival this summer.

BILL MURPHY of Fermoy is the new chairman of the Munster GUI Branch. He was elected in a secret ballot at the annual delegate's meeting in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, last night in a two man contest with Alan McIlraith of Tramore.

Geoff Dixon has resigned as national coach to the GUI after just 12 months in the job.

THE Golfing Union of Ireland’s plans to move its headquarters from Glencar House in Dublin to a state of the art centre at Carton House, in Maynooth, were outlined by president elect Albert Lee at last night’s meeting of Munster Branch delegates in Mallow.