The Irishman who has been facing deportation from the US has said he was "very scared" when he was arrested.

From Sunday morning nerves to lifting the Claret Jug, Shane Lowry’s big day out at Royal Portrush turned the Irishman from nearly man into a force to be reckoned with among golf’s elite.

No man is an island, not even in a non-team sport like golf and while Shane Lowry is not one to use “we” when referring to his achievements in the style of many of his counterparts in golf’s elite, the Irishman is not afraid to give credit where it is due.

A pre-Open Championship pep talk from coach Neil Manchip propelled a previously uneasy Lowrytowards his lowest opening round in a major and the business end of the leaderboard on a rollercoaster first day at Royal Portrush. But what would Rory McIlroy have given for Lowry’s 67 at The 148th Open?

God knows there are many reasons to marvel at Tiger Woods and among the talents Pádraig Harrington has had occasion to envy was the American’s knack of finding his rhythm at major after major without recourse to anything like a tune-up coming in.

Catch up on today's news.

A 49-year-old British man has been arrested in Malaga in connection with the incident.

Rory McIlroy left Pebble Beach Golf Links with his 20th top-10 finish at a major championship, but that was small consolation for the Northern Irishman.

Graeme McDowell is relishing a return to the scene of his greatest triumph as he continues his bid to get back among the world's elite.

Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, handed Munster a crumb of comfort in the aftermath of his team’s 32-16 Champions Cup semi-final win in Coventry.

The UFC featherweight and lightweight champion has called time on his career at the age of 30.

Ranulph Fiennes has survived many tight spots as the world’s greatest living explorer, but one of the first risks he took landed him

An Irishman has reportedly been murdered in Malaysia — with local media revealing that a note was found at the scene which is believed to have been left by the killer.

To his team-mates, Ian McKinley is an inspiration, but as the Irishman turned Italian prepares to face his old friends at Soldier Field, this Saturday’s Test is not about him but the Azzurri doing themselves proud against Six Nations rivals.

If Pádraig Harrington does get the nod to lead Europe into the 2020 Ryder Cup, as many expect he will, then he could not be happier with the course that the PGA of America has chosen to host the biennial team event.

Judging by the comments of rival captains Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk during their joint press conference at Le Golf National yesterday, the knockout punch Tiger Woods delivered to Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s Tour Championship must never have happened.

DNA evidence may have solved a 33-year-old mystery over an Irishman who went missing after leaving to catch a ferry to Britain.

An Irishman has died after being struck by a lorry in the US.

Irish duo Robin Dawson and Conor Purcell were both victorious in the singles yesterday afternoon to help Great Britain and Ireland open up a 7-5 lead over the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy.

Australia full-back Israel Folau has been banned for one match for contact in the air during last Saturday's third Test defeat by Ireland.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the extradition challenge of a man accused by the US of being the world’s biggest facilitator of child pornography.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

It is understood the 43 year old had been living in the country for a number of years.

The UFC have confirmed the line-up for their year-ending events in Las Vegas, and it doesn't include Conor McGregor.

An Irishman has died while on holiday in the Maldives.

Rory McIlroy concedes his late entry into the British Masters was influenced by the desire to avoid further accusations of receiving favourable treatment.

The Government is considering using the government jet to bring home Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa from Egypt when he is released from jail.

Former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner Stephen Roche believes it would be "humanly impossible" for Chris Froome to win all three grand tour races in one year.

An Irishman caught up in the flooding in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey has posted a video of his evacuation after around two feet of water had come into his home.

Bernard Jackman could give you any number of reasons as to why he accepted the offer to coach the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Mayweather accepted that McGregor was "a lot better than I thought".

A man from Co Louth is reported to have been killed in Mexico.

Jimmy Walker fired a second round 65 to move to the top of the leaderboard in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

The father-in-law of Irishman Jason Corbett took the stand yesterday in a North Carolina courtroom describing how he repeatedly beat the 39-year-old Irishman on the head with a baseball bat in the early hours of August 2, 2015.

Rory McIlroy moved under par heading into the weekend at The Open and reminded himself to stay positive over the coming 36 holes as he bids to chase down halfway leader Jordan Spieth at Royal Birkdale.

Dan Martin jumped back up to sixth overall but conceded precious time to race leader Chris Froome in yesterday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France, the Irishman now trailing by 2:37 with four stages remaining.

Dan Martin sits just 72 seconds off the lead of the Tour de France, but the Irishman could hardly be more relaxed as he insists it is just another bike race.

When Dan Martin crashed hard on stage nine of the Tour de France last Sunday week and crossed the line 1’15” down on stage winner Rigoberto Uran, many felt his best ever chance of a podium in the sport’s greatest contest had passed him by.

Simon Lewis looks at the key areas where Warren Gatland will have a selection headache going into the first test. 

The cycling world was plunged into mourning over the weekend following the tragic death of Italian professional Michele Scarponi.

Happy, relaxed and unstressed. Rory McIlroy believes he is in the right frame of mind to finally conquer the Masters but he will also have to tame his demon holes at Augusta National and stop the hottest player in golf.

When Rory McIlroy steps onto the practice range at Augusta National today he will do so with that bounce in his stride that tells you he is a golfer with everything in place to take the final step on his road to golfing immortality.