Naas amateur Jack Hume might have missed the cut in his first professional event but he’s gained confidence for a crucial summer run that could earn him a Walker Cup call up.

Old reliables John Kelly and Gary Hurley took up where they left off at Fota Island last year to lead the PGA-GUI challenge in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at windswept Royal County Down.

Feeling comfortable in one’s surroundings is the key to success in many things in life and for Irish golfer Kevin Phelan life is pretty good heading into an Irish Open at Royal County Down midway through a successful second season on the European Tour.

European Ryder Cup heroes Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson and Miguel Angel Jimenez have become the latest stars to confirm their plans to play Royal Co Down in two weeks as the entry deadline closed for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Michael McDermott’s consistent season on the Irish PGA circuit in 2014 has earned him a debut appearance at this year’s Dubai Irish Open. 

Pádraig Harrington muscled his way towards ending a six-year winless drought and then revealed he has set himself a goal of representing Ireland in the 2016 Olympics.

Legends like Harry Bradshaw, Fred Daly, Christy O’Connor Senior, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington have won the Irish PGA Championship over its 104-year history.

The favourite to take over from Alan Mulholland as Galway manager, Kevin Walsh, saw his Micheal Breathnach side crash out of the Galway SFC yesterday as Salthill/Knocknacarra prevailed on a of 3-10 to 0-13 scoreline in atrocious conditions at Moycullen.

It’s been a very busy week on the PGA Irish Region circuit with five events staged across seven days in four counties.

Adare Manor will host this year’s Irish PGA Championship from October 2-5.

Three birdies and one bogey in 15 holes keeps Padraig Harrington within three shots of the lead so far and well placed for the weekend.

Play is underway at Day Two of the Irish Open in Fota Island.

There have been too many examples over the years of promising young Irish amateur golfers losing the run of themselves and turning professional without considering all the implications.

Mikko Ilonan of Finland is now the outright leader of the Irish Open leading the field at six-under-par.

A year ago on the eve of his 27th birthday, Cian McNamara gazed at the Irish Open scoreboard during the first round at Carton House with stars in his eyes.

In a thrilling finish to the Cassidy Golf 103rd €30,000 PGA Irish Championship at Roganstown yesterday, Michael McGeady snatched the title by a whisker from Damian Mooney and Cian McNamara.

Belfast’s Ruaidhri McGee returned to the top of the leaderboard on the European Tour qualifying school in Cheshire yesterday — and looks certain to move into the second stage.

Irish golf has never produced as many players willing to chase the ultimate dream of a place on the game’s major tours. Whether they can afford to follow their dreams is another matter altogether.

Paul McGinley continues to make it clear that he will be his own man when attempting to mastermind Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Gleneagles next year.

The butterflies were on the point of bursting out of Cian McNamara’s stomach as he stood on the first tee at Carton House at 7.50am yesterday.

Given the financial rewards accrued by our top golfers, it is little surprise that many of the country’s outstanding amateurs have aspirations of someday sharing in the massive riches available from the professional game.

Even though the country’s four Major champions, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy — along with 2009 champion Shane Lowry — are in the field, the Irish Open at Carton House on June 27 continues without a title sponsor this year.

Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe showed again he is a talent worth monitoring after sharing top spot in the Munster PGA’s inaugural Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy at Monkstown GC.

Limerick’s Tim Rice did what his three fellow countrymen couldn’t in northern France yesterday — progress to the next stage of European Tour qualifying.

Three Irish golfers, Peter O’Keeffe (Muskerry), Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) and Mark Staunton (Ballinasloe), take part in the first European Tour School at the Roxburghe Hotel, Kelso, Scotland today.

Ireland’s Paul Cutler sits just one shot off the pace at the EuroPro Tour’s Audi Cork Irish Masters with plenty of Irishmen still in contention heading into today’s third and final round at Fota Island.

Michael Collins is making the most of his 888poker.com EuroPro Tour experience at Fota Island Resort this week as he targets a shot at the European Tour Qualifying School this autumn.

Having withstood the worst the wet weather can throw at it, Fota Island’s Deerpark course welcomes the return of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour today for the second Audi Cork Irish Masters.

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

A FINAL hole bogey and a brilliant finish by Austrian Hans Peter Bacher ended David Higgins’ dream of a Tour return at the European Tour Qualifying School Finals at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

DAVID HIGGINS suffered a huge reverse in his bid to win back his tour card when he crashed to a four over 74 in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Catalunya Resort.

DAVID HIGGINS believes his vast experience will stand to him as he bids to end his seven-year itch and clinch his return to the European Tour at the “dreaded” Qualifying School Finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

THERE was joy in southern Spain last night for four Irishmen who battled their way through Stage 2 of the European Tour qualifying process and now go forward to the marathon six-round decider beginning at Catalunya, Girona, on Saturday.

THE MAJORITY of the 13-strong Irish contingent at the second stage of the European Tour School in Spain remain in contention for places in next week’s final Tour School.

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.

SIMON DYSON has his sights on a third KLM Open title in six years after a 65 at Hilversum on a day delayed first by vandals and then by floods in the Netherlands.

THE golf industry may be in a state of flux in the current economic climate but three young Irishmen are managing to find their way in some of the most ideal circumstances — an exclusive country club in America’s Deep South.

ALL-IRELAND JFC FINAL

NICE work, this professional golf!

LEINSTER include the three outstanding players of the amateur season so far — Shane Lowry, Niall Kearney and Paul O’Hanlon — in their side for the Interprovincial Championship getting under way at Athlone tomorrow.

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.

Gareth Shaw is destined to bow out from collegiate golf with the coveted status of an All-American after reaching the final round of the 111th Men’s NCAA Division I Championships in West Lafayette, Indiana.