WIDE fairways, light rough and little wind combined to leave Killarney’s Lackabane course at the mercy of the field in yesterday’s opening round of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge tournament.

THE DONALD Steel-designed Lackabane course at Killarney hosts the first European Challenge Tour event in the Republic of Ireland over the next four days with the arrival of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge.

CUSTOMS officers are to have their armoury bolstered in the battle against the drugs trade with the addition of a €1.6 million vessel which will be used to patrol the coast.

IRELAND’S Darren Clarke returns to the scene of his greatest triumph this week when he contests the $5 million Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa in California.

DARREN CLARKE is set to play a minimum of 11 tournaments in America this year but is adamant that he will not be joining the US Tour full-time.

AT precisely the same time as Pádraig Harrington was banking well in excess of $2 million from his globetrotting activities, four young Irishmen were using him as the ideal role model as they set out on their own professional careers

LITTLE progress is reported in the search for a sponsor prepared to maintain the status and reputation of the Irish Open.

IRELAND’S hopes of winning their first Amateur Home International title for 11 years were scuppered in the sunshine at Royal St David’s Harlech yesterday when Wales overcame them 8.1/2 to 6.1/2 in a contest even closer than the scoreline suggests.

ALTHOUGH there has been a serious drain to the professional ranks, especially where outstanding players like Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey and Stephen Browne are concerned, Irish captain Eddie Dunne is positive where his team’s prospects in this week’s home international at Royal St David’s, Harlech, are concerned.

The Ireland team to contest this year's Home Internationals sees five new caps.

THERE was a time when the South of Ireland was known as one of Ireland's premier sporting exports.

IT'S as you were as far as the Irish representation in the British Open beginning at Muirfield on Thursday is concerned.

FIVE Irish golfers have made it through to final qualifying for next week's British Open at Muirfield.