Ryder Cup hopeful Martin Kaymer, paired with fellow German Bernhard Langer for the first time in competition, almost eagled his second hole of the BMW International in Munich today.

IT remains one of golf’s great mysteries, the failure of a whole host of great European golfers to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin at Hazeltine 38 years ago.

Justin Hicks got his second US Open off to a much better start than his first on Thursday at Torrey Pines to hold a one-stroke lead over Rocco Mediate and four over the returning Tiger Woods.

Between them, European Tour rookies Robert Dinwiddie and Ross McGowan have made no fewer than 17 attempts to get into the Open and not succeeded once.

Rory McIlroy hit a hole-in-one in the pro-am at this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open – but he was far more impressed with the form of one of his playing partners.

Ever since Tiger Woods was beaten by Gary Wolstenholme at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 Britain and Ireland’s amateurs have gone into the Walker Cup with high hopes and believing anything is possible.

Seven weeks after being a star of the Open Championship 18-year-old Rory McIlroy brings down the curtain on his glittering amateur career this weekend.

WHILE they celebrated at Clandeboye Golf Club last night after the inclusion of Jonathan Caldwell in the British & Irish team to play the US in the Walker Cup at Royal Co Down on September 9 and 10, there was disappointment at Banbridge when Richard Kilpatrick was omitted.

Teenager Rory McIlroy was today named in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to face the United States next month.

Baltray's Simon Ward scorched to a six under par 66 to lead the Irish

Rory McIlroy struggled to a six-over par 78 in the first round of the Brabazon Trophy at the Forest of Arden.

Demand is certain to exceed supply after the decision to put a crowd limit of 10,000 on Britain and Ireland’s attempt to regain the Walker Cup – the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup – at Royal County Down in the North on September 8-9.

Rory McIlroy had a nightmare finish as Scotland's Lloyd Saltman captured the prestigious Lytham Trophy by three shots.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Scotland's Lloyd Saltman look set for a head-to-head battle for the Lytham Trophy over the final 36-holes on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy celebrated his 18th birthday in style today by firing a four under par 67 to trail leader Lloyd Saltman by two shots after the first round of the Lytham Trophy.

Ireland's slim hopes of winning the Men's Home Internationals evaporated when they lost to 9-6 to England at Pyle and Kenfig in Wales today.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell qualified today for next week’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Holywood's Rory McIlroy continued his impressive start to the season when he finished tied for eighth in the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton in Yorkshire on Sunday.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy was top scorer, finishing with four points out of five, as Europe beat Asia-Pacific 18-14 to regain the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy in New Zealand.

Rory McIlroy lost his unbeaten record as Asia-Pacific took a one-point lead over Europe into the final day of the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy in New Zealand.

Teen star Rory McIlroy notched two wins on the opening day of the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy in New Zealand.

A FEW readers didn’t like my description of Phil Mickelson as “syrupy” after his recent victory in the Masters at Augusta.

Gary Wolstenholme has tipped Walker Cup team-mates Oliver Fisher and Lloyd Saltman for bright futures in the professional game – and he believes they might leave the amateur ranks before long.

Gary Wolstenholme has set his sights on yet another Walker Cup appearance after Great Britain & Ireland’s narrow defeat to the US at Chicago Golf Club yesterday.

Twelve places in next week’s Open will be determined this weekend – and 384 players are fighting for them.

BRIAN McELHINNEY is the only Irish player on the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago.

Brian McElhinney is the sole Irish representative in the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago on August 13 and 14.

Phil Casey

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the top two seeds, were both sent tumbling out of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today.

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the top two seeds, were both sent tumbling out of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today.

JAMES HEATH fired a four-under-par 68 to put England in a strong position after the first round of the World Amateur Team Championship in Puerto Rico.

GARY WOLSTENHOLME, the only Britain and Ireland amateur to feature on four winning Walker Cup teams, has been named in a provisional 29-strong squad for next August’s defence of the trophy in Chicago.

R&A selection chairman Peter McEvoy has named an initial squad of 29 players for next August's 40th Walker Cup, to be held at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois.

GREAT BRITAIN & Ireland Curtis Cup captain, Monkstown’s Ada O’Sullivan, is planning to use the spectre of playing against teenage sensation Michelle Wie to motivate her eight-member squad.

A total of 27 countries are represented in the draw for the Amateur championship starting at St Andrews in Scotland on Monday week.

A week that promised so much turned sour for former Ryder Cup Scot Andrew Coltart today when he slumped to an 81 – a round that included a two-stroke penalty for hitting himself.

US Masters Leaderboard

US Masters Leaderboard

US Masters Leaderboard

US Masters Leaderboard

US Masters Leaderboard

Justin Rose, without a single top 20 finish all year, raised his game when it mattered most today, setting a superb early clubhouse target in the first round of the Masters.

Justin Rose will forever be able to talk about the day he led the Masters after opening with a 30-foot birdie putt at Augusta today.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON could well have one of the biggest galleries in the first two rounds after the US Masters draw paired him with world number two Vijay Singh and John Daly.