THE Montgomerie Course at Carton House will host next year’s European Amateur Golf Championships, with the August 8-11 event coming to this country for the first time in its 25-year history.

The Golfing Union of Ireland has announced Ireland will host the International European Amateur Championship in 2012.

WHEN Brian McElhinney saw a then 14-year-old Rory McIlroy represent Ulster Youths at the Interprovincials in Lahinch in 2003, he knew he was witnessing a special talent and trusted his instincts, placing £300 on the prodigy to win a major by 2020, at odds of 66/1.

THE failure of any Irish player to win a card at the European Tour School suggests that the well that has provided this country with a steady stream of outstanding players for many years is finally running dry.

COACH Neil Manchip put one over on pupil Shane Lowry when he outscored the European Tour star by three shots in the opening round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA.

RATHMORE’S Wayne Telford (27) continues to wait for a first men’s senior cap despite claiming the Magners North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush last year.

IRELAND’S hopes of having their first Amateur Champion since Brian McElhinney five years ago were dashed at Muirfield yesterday when Paul Cutler fell by the wayside in the quarter-finals.

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.

OF the 12 Irishmen who have competed in the Masters, the best finishes were achieved by Pádraig Harrington, tied fifth in 2002, and Darren Clarke, who shared eighth place in 1998.

THE Team Ireland Golf Trust yesterday announced grants worth €217,000 to 17 aspiring men and women pursuing careers on professional tours around the world.

WHILE deriving a degree of satisfaction from winning the Irish Professional Championship for the sixth time and the third year in a row, at the European Club on Saturday, Pádraig Harrington admitted that he’s “still clutching at straws” with regard to getting his game into shape for a successful defence of the Open Championship at Turnberry this week.

Padraig Harrington coasted to a third successive Irish PGA title today in what he hopes proves a lucky omen yet again.

A HOLE-IN-ONE at Esjberg in Denmark yesterday took in-form Irish international Paul Cutler to within sight of the European Amateur Individual title and a second gold medal this summer.

OPTIMISM is high a successful season for professional golf in this country will be maintained, in the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland tournament, starting over the picturesque Christy O’Connor Junior-designed Glasson course near Athlone this morning.

Defending champion Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) will contest the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Belvoir Park Golf Club from June 7-11.

Neil Walker clinched a dramatic one-shot victory on the final day of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour tournament.

Talented golfer Christopher Hanson maintained his fine start to the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour by leading after day one of the latest event.

Wind expert Brian McElhinney stormed out of the pack to grab his first professional win on the PGA Europro Tour.

Teenager Rory McIlroy will play next year's Open Championship at Carnoustie following his sensational three-shot win in the European Individual Amateur Championship in Italy.

Rory McIlroy scorched to an incredible eight under par 65 to share the first round lead in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Italy.

The five players selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland to compete in the European Individual Championship at Biella Golf Club, Italy from 23rd-26th August have been announced.

THIRTY seven Irishmen, including six amateurs, feature in the €130,000 Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge teeing off over the Mahony’s Point course at Killarney this morning.

Rory McIlroy (Holywood), ranked fifth in the world amateur golf rankings, will defend the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at The European Club from June 10 to 14.

Teenager Rory McIlroy came of age when he successfully defended the Radisson SAS West of Ireland Championship with a brilliant putting display at Rosses Point.

Donegal's Brian McElhinney has announced his decision to turn professional at the end of the month.

Colin Montgomerie is sitting out the weekend for the sixth tournament running - this time all because American Chad Campbell sank a 15-foot putt.

Pádraig Harrington staged a brave comeback to keep in touch with leader Vijay Singh on the opening day of the 70th Masters at Augusta last night.

AUGUSTA National's revamped opening hole proved no friend of the Irish trio Brian McElhinney, Pádraig Harrington and especially Paul McGinley in yesterday's first round of the Masters.

For very different reasons Vijay Singh and Tom Lehman were in the spotlight on the opening day of the 70th Masters at Augusta today.

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman scored a first round 76 in the Masters today and then relived one of the scariest moments of his life.

Despite hardly a breath of wind, just one man managed to birdie the 455-yard opening hole in the first three hours of the Masters today – 70-year-old Gary Player.

BELIEVE the bookmakers, and the 70th Masters is a straight fight between the United States and South Africa.

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.

The biggest day of Irish golfer Brian McElhinney’s life is just a week away now – and he has had a notable victory as the Masters approaches.

IT’S a holiday tradition like no other: Masters invitations are in the mail.

PAUL McGinley has been rewarded for a year that saw him win the Volvo Masters and rise from 68th in the world rankings to a career-high 18th by being named the O2 Irish Golf Writers’ Association ‘Professional Player of the Year’ for 2005.

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

MICHAEL McGEADY'S tears told their own story minutes after North West had clinched the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup at Rosslare on Saturday.

A BITTERLY disappointing week for sport in the west worsened still further yesterday with Galway Golf Club’s defeat by North West in the semi-final of the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup.

TODAY’S Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields programme at Rosslare sees the big guns go into action in the Irish Senior Cup.

THIS is a huge week for golf in Ireland and Britain with at least four major tournaments down for decision.

IRISH teenager Rory McIlroy failed in his brave bid for a medal in the European amateur individual championship over Antwerp’s Rinkven course at the weekend.

IRISH teenage superstar Rory McIlroy stayed in contention for the European Amateur individual title with a second successive sub-par round over the Rinkven course at Antwerp in Belgium yesterday.