It’s torture and in a way he’s tortured, but Pádraig Harrington has the good grace and awareness to realise he’s still one of the lucky ones.

Ruaidhrí McGee and Kevin Phelan are one step away from securing a European Tour card after both qualified from second stage events in Spain.

Donegal’s Ruaidhri McGee is on the verge of progressing through to the final European Tour Qualifying School event next weekend after another superb round at Las Colinas in Spain.

Waterville’s David Higgins was left ruing a bizarre mistake in a British Open Local Final qualifier at the North Berwick club after missing out in a play-off as he was carrying 15 clubs.

An ailing Rory McIlroy will be looking to the horizon and hoping continuing Singapore storms abate just long enough to leave the way clear for him to secure the Race to Dubai title.

Mark Murphy’s Q School dreams were shattered yesterday after he sustained a nasty injury competing at the Las Colinas course.

Irish amateur star Alan Dunbar finished just one shot off the bottom of the leaderboard after yesterday’s first round of European Tour second stage qualifying at Lumine Golf & Beach Club in north-east Spain.

It was agony and ecstasy for two of England’s stars at golf’s richest event today.

MUNSTER golfers Cian McNamara, Aaron O’Callaghan and David Higgins yesterday played themselves into promising positions after the first day of the second qualifying stage of the European Tour School at four venues in Spain.

YOU could be forgiven for thinking the end of the competitive golf season had finally arrived now we are almost into the month of December.

NIALL TURNER flies into Spain today to prepare for what he describes as the biggest pressure week of the professional golfing year.

PAUL CUTLER crashed out of the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying dream last night after a thoroughly disappointing few days at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

NIALL TURNER, the former Muskerry golfer was last night left to rue four bogeys he simply couldn’t afford to concede if he was to come through yesterday’s final qualifying rounds for the British Open Championship.

COLM MORIARTY will lead a seven-strong Irish challenge bidding for just 12 spots in the British Open at Sandwich when 36-hole Local Final Qualifying takes place at four venues in Kent today.

WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days ago, 28-year-old Colm Moriarty from Athlone was relying on invitations to Challenge Tour events as he attempted to get his career back on track after a dismal 2006 season.

Warrenpoint’s Jim Carvill got his title defence off to a winning start in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch today.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy cruised into the last 16 of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close at The European Club.

Odd couple Rory McIlroy and Adrian Morrow survived the carnage to lead after the first qualifying round of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship at the European Club.

Holywood's Rory McIlroy and Portmarnock veteran Adrian Morrow share the clubhouse lead in the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship at the European Club.

Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll came from seven shots behind overnight to snatch the East of Ireland Championship in brilliant fashion at Baltray today.

Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell found his putting touch to lead at the halfway stage in the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray.

Sixteen-year-old Rory McIlroy (Holywood), who successfully defended the West of Ireland

Defending champion Rory McIlroy is still on course for the Radisson SAS West of Ireland title at Rosses Point after producing a stellar performance to beat Scrabo’s Ryan Boal with a birdie at the 20th in the first round.

GRANTS totalling €65,000 were awarded by the Irish Sports Council to leading Irish golfers.

Pre-Championship favourites Ulster captured the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial

Teenage prodigy Rory McIlroy is through to the semi-finals of the Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Irish Amateur Close Championship at Westport Golf Club

Swedish raider Rikard Karlberg carded a sensational course record 65 to grab the first round lead in the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

BALLYLIFFIN’S Brendan McCarroll shot a round-of-the-day 71 to win the Nissan Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Hermitage by four strokes from Karl Gilbert (Malone).

COLM MORIARTY (Athlone) and Justin Kehoe (Birr) have been selected to compete in the Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship and the NSW Medal and Amateur Championship in Australia early in the New Year.