Christy O’Connor Junior, who will always be remembered for the 2-iron shot at the 18th hole at The Belfry that enabled Europe to retain the 1989 Ryder Cup, believes it will be a “disgrace” and a demonstration of “anti-Irishness” if Paul McGinley isn’t appointed captain of the team to defend the trophy at Gleneagles in 2014.

The Lee Valley Scratch Cup tees off this weekend.

THE countdown to the first Solheim Cup on Irish soil is down to days and the man who invited the best lady golfers in the world to County Meath can’t wait.

THE formal ratification of Jose-Maria Olazabal as captain of the European Ryder Cup team at Medinah next year takes place shortly after lunch today.

AFTER Paul McGinley came out publicly yesterday in favour of Jose-Maria Olazabal for the job at Medinah, Chicago, in two years’ time, it is now a virtual certainty that Ireland will have to wait at least another four years before being honoured with the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team.

WHAT is it about the Irish that they are so often central to the story when Europe beat the United States for the Ryder Cup?

ACCORDING to legendary golfer Christy O’Connor Junior, the Irish Open “is more like a festival than a golf tournament”.

JUST when it appeared the Irish Seniors Open would fall by the wayside after the withdrawal of AIB’s long-standing sponsorship, support for the event at Carton House next weekend came from an unusual quarter.

CHRISTY O’CONNOR thought it was all a leg pull when he was first told of his induction to the PGA Hall of Fame. Although widely known in his native country because of his fame as simply “Himself,” it was nevertheless typical of the man that he would never believe he was worthy of such an outstanding honour.

Pádraig Harrington did not hesitate when the inevitable question was asked: Is the Irish Open the title you would most like to win on the European Tour? In one word came a very definite response: YES.

Four new stamps celebrating the contribution of Irish golfers to the Ryder Cup were launched today ahead of Ireland hosting the event next year.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON confirmed last night that he will play in next week’s Masters tournament at Augusta National.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON may have taken the last two weeks off from competitive golf, but that doesn’t mean he was failing to prepare himself mentally and physically for arguably the most important month of his season.

TO add insult to the injury of losing Sunday’s play-off with Doug Tewell for the Farmers Charity Classic on the US Champion’s Tour, Eamonn Darcy has not found a place in this week’s $2.5 million US Seniors Open.

Eamon Darcy has withdrawn from the AIB Irish Seniors Open at Adare Manor starting on Thursday.

IT has been another wonderful weekend for Irish golfers Peter Lawrie and Denis O’Sullivan. Lawrie made sure of his card on the main European Tour for next year, while O’Sullivan claimed his fifth title on the European Seniors circuit.

THE younger generation may have gained the impression that the misbehaviour which marred the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline was the first sign of trouble in a competition launched by wealthy British seed merchant Samuel Ryder back in 1927 to foster good relations between the people of the United States and Britain.

THE campaign to ensure there will be an Irish captain when the Ryder Cup comes to Ireland in 2006 goes on unabated.