Darren Clarke kept his head after a nightmare quadruple bogey eight threatened to wreck his chances of another Open Championship win to lead the Irish challenge at sun-scorched Muirfield.

Like the old joke about the man who complained it was “fierce slippy out there” on the ice rink, Ireland’s sextet of stars could have no complaints about the R&A set-up as they slithered off the leaderboard on day one of The Open.

Graeme McDowell is not the only in-form Irishman teeing it up at Muirfield this week.

Despite his obvious disappointment, Pádraig Harrington could see a plus in missing the halfway cut in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Gareth Maybin will tee up in the British Open at Muirfield next month after producing two splendid rounds in the international final qualifying at Sunningdale yesterday.

While the game seems effortless for world No 1 Rory McIlroy, if he could only inspect the hands of his Spanish Ryder Cup captain he would understand the pain Jose Maria Olazabal is putting himself through as he attempts to end a seven-year winless drought.

Seven Irish players contest this week’s Scottish Open but while Pádraig Harrington will tee up on the acclaimed Castle Stuart course to the east of Inverness with the comfort of a British Open tee time, it won’t be the same for six others.

David Higgins matched the best finish by a modern PGA regional professional at the BMW PGA Championship and credited new-found mental strength for his return to the big time.

It may be an unlikely Irish challenge heading into today’s third round of the BMW PGA Championship but Peter Lawrie, David Higgins and Gareth Maybin are each focusing on keeping their form together as Wentworth prepares to bare its teeth over the weekend.

Damien McGrane let slip the chance to shine in the dull conditions on the second day of the Volvo China Open.

Rory McIlroy’s return yesterday to the top of the world rankings even though he only tied for 40th in the Masters and didn’t play at all last week has many people mystified as to how this could possibly happen.

Rory McIlroy claimed an opening round victory in his ‘Star Wars’ showdown with Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Rory McIlroy produced most of the early fireworks in his eagerly-awaited clash with Tiger Woods and Luke Donald in Abu Dhabi today.

THE vast wealth of a Dubai company called DP World and their willingness to pour a major share of their riches into this week’s Dubai World Championship means Rory McIlroy could still emerge as Europe’s number one golfer.

SUPER agent Conor Ridge experienced an emotional Sunday at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

ONE of the first aspects on the agenda of Horizon Sports Conor Ridge in managing the affairs of Rory McIlroy has been to curb the ‘madness’ of his client’s heavy end-of-season schedule.

THREE-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington revealed more delight in the efforts of Gareth Maybin than co-leader Rory McIlroy on the opening round of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

HOLDER Graeme McDowell is chasing his first tournament success of 2011. Peter Lawrie is bidding to put his place in the Race to Dubai order of merit on the European Tour beyond any further doubt. Shane Lowry badly needs a big finish to get back among the top 60 who make it to the Emirates for the cash rich Dubai World Championship in December.

THIS time last year, Graeme McDowell was the toast of the golfing world.

DARREN CLARKE has enjoyed something of a golfing honeymoon since his magnificent victory in the Open Championship at Royal St Georges in July.

SOUTH AFRICA’S James Kingston was on top of the pile at eight under par 64 after day one of the Portugal Masters saw 31 players achieve a score of five under or better.

South Africa’s James Kingston was on top of the pile at eight under par after day one of the Portugal Masters saw 31 players achieve a score of five under or better.

Gareth Maybin heads the Irish challenge after day two of the Madrid Masters at El Encin Golf Hotel today.

LUKE DONALD dethroned Lee Westwood as world number one in the most dramatic way possible yesterday – beating him in a play-off to win the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth.

A POOR putt for par on the final hole robbed Peter Lawrie of finishing second on his own at the close of the Volvo China Open in Chenghu.

WITHOUT a European Tour win since 2008, Pádraig Harrington’s long wait for a title may be extended after a modest opening 71 left him seven shots off the pace on a day of low scoring at the Volvo China Open.

GARETH MAYBIN has plenty of extra incentive to charge into contention on the European Tour this year after signing a sponsorship deal that includes performance-related bonuses of up to $50m (€35.5m).

RORY McILROY and his European Tour colleagues will be pleased Martin Kaymer has taken out U.S. Tour membership after the German began his new season with a resounding eight-stroke victory in the defence of his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title.

GRAEME MCDOWELL believes he can win this week’s Dubai World Championship and be crowned Europe’s number one golfer.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON suffered a recurrence of a long running neck injury but shrugged off the concern despite an adventurous first round in the Barclays Singapore Open.

The Irish trio of Gareth Maybin, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell have all enjoyed impressive starts to the Singapore Masters at Sentosa Golf Club today.

IRISH golfers have known their fair share of success over the years in the south of Spain and specifically at Valderrama where Ronan Rafferty and Paul McGinley have both captured the season-ending Volvo Masters.

GRAEME McDOWELL emerged from what he described as a war of attrition at Valderrama yesterday to capture his third title of a momentous season and appreciably narrow the gap between himself and the German Martin Kaymer in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai order of merit.

Europe’s Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell will break into the top 10 in tomorrow’s world golf rankings after clinching the Andalucia Valderrama Masters today.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell saw his two-stroke overnight advantage over compatriot Gareth Maybin evaporate over the first nine holes of his third round at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters today.

THEY’RE both from the North of Ireland, they’re both members of the Horizon Sports Management team – and they’ll be playing together in the last match on the course in today’s third round of the Andalucia Masters.

THERE is a delightfully green hue to the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, with the final match in today’s third round involving Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Gareth Maybin.

MEATH native Damien McGrane capped an outstanding day for the eight-strong Irish contingent in the first round of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama when he birdied the 18th for a three under par 68 to join Graeme McDowell in 2nd place in the €€3 million event.

MICHAEL HOEY is seeing the same foot specialist that works with Chelsea F C in a goal to rid himself of continuing aching feet.

IT’S that time of year again when Europe’s professional elite have arange of considerations to occupy their thoughts.

SUPER-CONFIDENT Martin Kaymer lived up to his own hype with a four-shot win in the KLM Open at Hilversum yesterday – the fifth victory in-a-row by a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON and his European-born US Tour colleagues should no longer have to face any embarrassment or controversy by not returning to Europe and seek to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup team.

DARREN CLARKE’S attempts to end a two-year winless drought finished with a St Andrews ‘consolation prize’ after letting slip victory in the Barclays Scottish Open.

US Open leader Graeme McDowell will start his third round at Pebble Beach trying to temper his dreams of major championship glory with a heavy dose of realism.