Six PGA in Ireland professionals will compete at next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation at Portstewart.

Irish Amateur champion Colm Campbell saw both sides of tour life this week. While he could look back on his Irish Open debut and lament missing the cut after being put on the clock completely destroyed his rhythm, he will remember it fondly instead thanks to Martin Kaymer.

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.

There will be some special guests at tomorrow’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro Am at Royal County Down, as two teams of young golfers from Shannon Golf Club in Clare and Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford reap their reward for winning the inaugural Irish Open Golf Skills Challenge.

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. 

Waterville’s David Higgins was left ruing a bizarre mistake in a British Open Local Final qualifier at the North Berwick club after missing out in a play-off as he was carrying 15 clubs.

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.

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.

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.

NIALL TURNER flies into Spain today to prepare for what he describes as the biggest pressure week of the professional golfing year.

BARRIE TRAINOR’S good form has closed the gap on Irish PGA Order of Merit leader David Higgins as the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet, in association with Ping, continues.

A DOUBLE eagle blast on the back nine shot Barrie Trainor to the top of the leaderboard at Malahide in the north Dublin club’s annual pro-am tournament.

Cork’s former Southeastern Louisiana University golfer Peter O’Keeffe took a step closer to a European Tour card today when he reached this week’s Q-School final round in Spain.

Tara Delaney turned the tables in Las Vegas as she recovered from an awkward start to land her best finish of the autumn for the Kent State University women’s golf team.

Walker Cup hopefuls Simon Ward and Jonathan Caldwell will lead the chase for the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Co Louth on Saturday.