Graeme McDowell was able to laugh over missed putts as other golfers took to Twitter to praise Fota Island, The Irish Open and the fans.

Taking Martin Kaymer’s US Open victory as his inspiration, Mikko Ilonen celebrated his wire-to-wire Irish Open win last night as a major progression along the road to his career goals.

34-year-old now beside an illustrious winners’ list

GOOD DAY

Ryder Cup watch; Irish Open winner Mikko Ilonen has put himself in the Ryder Cup conversation thanks to his stress-free, wire-to-wire victory at Fota Island.

There was a time, not too long ago, when Irish professional golfers were considered the underdogs when it came to winning events.

The 97,000 fans who thronged the magnificent Fota Island Resort over the last four days had it all. The weather, the big names, the course looking better than an airbrushed postcard.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen remained on course for a wire-to-wire victory midway through the final round of the Irish Open today.

Mikko Ilonen has increased his lead to three shots in the final round of the Irish Open at Fota Island.

Graeme McDowell birdied two of his last three holes to give the fans hope of a home victory at the Irish Open on Sunday at Fota Island.

The Irish Open has not one but three homegrown contenders at Fota Island Resort as Graeme McDowell leads the pursuit of halfway leader Mikko Ilonen.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy carded contrasting days at day two of the Irish Open in Fota Island.

Graeme McDowell set about improving his poor Irish Open record as the second round got under way in more glorious sunshine on Friday.

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

As with all great sporting events, the anticipation often surpasses the reality.

Jet-lagged Graeme McDowell is hoping a good night’s sleep will help him mount a charge in pursuit of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen as the second round of the Irish Open gets under way at Fota Island Resort today.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen leads the Irish Open in Fota Island after round one.

After 15 holes Graeme McDowell is at three-under at the Irish Open in Fota Island, putting him just four shots off leader Mikko Ilonen.

Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy blamed a “sloppy” short game for an opening round of 74 which left him facing a battle to avoid another early exit from the Irish Open.

A year after being denied the chance to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in dramatic circumstances, Sergio Garcia finally got his hands on the trophy on Saturday.

A year after being denied the chance to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in dramatic circumstances, Sergio Garcia finally got his hands on the trophy today.

Captain Paul McGinley today struck the very first shot in the Ryder Cup qualifying race – and 10 minutes later carded the first bogey in the year-long process.

England’s Justin Rose, twice a runner-up in the BMW PGA Championship, today wasted little time in getting to the top of the leaderboard as the European Tour’s flagship event got under way at Wentworth.

Rory McIlroy missed two good chances to get among the early leaders when the BMW PGA Championship got under way at a chilly Wentworth today.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen claimed the clubhouse lead at the Portugal Masters today after a second-round 68.

The latest Italian to make the Ryder Cup was outshone in Switzerland today by the 17-year-old very likely to be the next one.

A timely chip-in pushed Finland's Mikko Ilonen into a slender one-shot lead ahead of Korean duo YE Yang and Kim Do-hoon and Jamie Donaldson midway through a see-saw third round at the Volvo China Open today.

England's Ross McGowan lies second in the Ryder Cup race after capturing his first European Tour title by three shots today.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen, who has failed to qualify for the Open Championship five of the last six years, took a huge step towards Turnberry today with an opening six under par 65 in the 36-hole Asian qualifier in Singapore.

Former Scottish Open winner Peter O’Malley secured a one-stroke lead at the end of the opening round of the BMW Asian Open after today carding a five-under-par 67 at the Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

England’s Oliver Wilson continued his recent good form to card a four-under-par 68 and take a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round of the BMW Asian Open.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Australia’s Tony Carolan shared the lead following the opening round of the Ballantine’s Championship after five-under-par rounds of 67.

Colin Montgomerie, who has lost only three of his last 22 Ryder Cup games going back 10 years, this afternoon suffered his third defeat in three matches at this week’s Seve Trophy in Ireland.

Colin Montgomerie, who has lost only three of his last 22 Ryder Cup games, this afternoon suffered his third defeat in three matches at this week’s Seve Trophy in Ireland.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen today claimed his second European Tour victory of the year in the Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm.

Mikko Ilonen and Martin Kaymer were locked together at the top of the leaderboard midway through today’s final round of the Scandinavian Masters.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley is tied for second place at the Scottish Open.

Mikko Ilonen hopes becoming the first Finn to win on the European Tour will do wonders for the sport in his homeland.

Mikko Ilonen fired a closing-round 70 to claim victory in the weather-interrupted Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open today, becoming the first player from Finland to win on the European Tour.

Veteran Frankie Minoza of the Philippines held a slender one-stroke advantage at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open when he was forced off the 18th green by a thunderstorm this afternoon.

Veteran Frankie Minoza of the Philippines moved to the top of the leaderboard midway through the third round of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open today.

European Tour rookie Andrew Tampion is “having a ball” on the circuit, having today moved to the top of the leaderboard in the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Australian Andrew Tampion share the lead at the end of the second day of the weather-interrupted Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.

Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol carded a six-under-par 65 to take the lead midway through the opening round of the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.