Belfast’s Ruaidhri McGee returned to the top of the leaderboard on the European Tour qualifying school in Cheshire yesterday — and looks certain to move into the second stage.

Paul McGinley continues to make it clear that he will be his own man when attempting to mastermind Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Gleneagles next year.

GARDENERS in the far south need no reminding that the widespread forms of early-flowering Cherry are an exquisite uplift often in early February and sometimes (in mild winters), a little sooner.

WHEN the garden flowers slowly begin to dissolve, evergreen plants gain the significance they lack during the days of plenty.

Paul Cutler’s European Tour career remains on hold after the former Walker Cup star missed the 54-hole cut at the first stage of the Qualifying School for the second year in a row.

Three Irish golfers, Peter O’Keeffe (Muskerry), Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) and Mark Staunton (Ballinasloe), take part in the first European Tour School at the Roxburghe Hotel, Kelso, Scotland today.

Ireland captain Pádraig Hogan believes a strong start against hosts Scotland tomorrow will be key to success in the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes.

Paul Cutler and Michael McGeady lead an Irish bid for a home victory when the PGA EuroPro Tour resumes today with the opening round of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open on the shores of Lough Muckno in Monaghan.

Qualifying for a major championship would be considered a good week’s work in any golfer’s estimation but, instead of basking in his success, Elliot Saltman went out and won a tournament.

Ireland’s Paul Cutler sits just one shot off the pace at the EuroPro Tour’s Audi Cork Irish Masters with plenty of Irishmen still in contention heading into today’s third and final round at Fota Island.

Michael Collins is making the most of his 888poker.com EuroPro Tour experience at Fota Island Resort this week as he targets a shot at the European Tour Qualifying School this autumn.

Having withstood the worst the wet weather can throw at it, Fota Island’s Deerpark course welcomes the return of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour today for the second Audi Cork Irish Masters.

It was not quite the leaderboard the scriptwriters had in mind for this Irish Open on this most iconic of courses but Ireland’s Fab Four are fired up to make much more of an impression heading into today’s second round.

Is there any wonder Rory McIlroy is ready to embrace his tournament favouritism at Royal Portrush as the 2012 Irish Open gets underway today?

Christy O’Connor Jr today oversees the official re-launch of the Galway Bay Golf Resort, keen to showcase the way his creation is bucking a miserable economic trend for the clubs in this country.

James Fox can follow in the footsteps of his brother Noel if he takes advantage of a four-stroke overnight lead and wins the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Baltray today.

Shane Lowry continued to display his fondness for the Blackstone course on day two of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul.

The traditional first big event on the domestic annual calendar, the Radisson sponsored West of Ireland Championship, gets underway today with the first of two stroke-play qualifying rounds leading up to the final on Tuesday next.

A scene from the very successful Mallow Homes and Garden Show, which has now become a premier show-garden event, featuring permanent displays, free seminars, and rare plant sales.

GRAEME McDOWELL left Singapore last night bound for the Land of the Rising Sun buoyed by a third and final round 66 for share of 13th place in the rain-affected Barlcays Singapore Open.

STEVE WILLIAMS can now surely be described as the Teflon caddie after getting away with his latest regrettable outburst, this time concerning his former employer Tiger Woods.

IRELAND’S challenge failed to ignite in the first round of the Andalucian Masters at Valderrama yesterday as Scotland’s Richie Ramsey jumped into a two-stroke lead with a sparkling six under par 66 in spite of finishing with bogeys at the 17th and 18th.

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.

TOURNAMENT host Sergio Garcia exhibited the winning form the golf world has missed in recent years crushing his rivals to capture the Castellon Masters by a career-best 11 strokes.

THERE is a real spring in Michael Hoey’s step ahead of tomorrow’s Castellon Masters with the latest Irish winner on Tour targeting a return next April to Augusta National on the 10th anniversary of his only Masters appearance.

PAUL CUTLER crashed out of the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying dream last night after a thoroughly disappointing few days at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

RODDY CARR must have been the happiest man in Ireland on Sunday night.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is hoping a new swing will help him to a high finish on his debut at the Austrian Golf Open this week.

The amateur Walker Cup is back alongside the Ryder Cup on this side of the Atlantic after a shock 14-12 victory for Britain and Ireland at Royal Aberdeen.

A DISASTROUS result in the morning foursomes against Scotland cost Ireland dearly on the final day of the Home International Championship at Rosses Point yesterday.

IRELAND’S victory over Wales at County Sligo’s Rosses Point yesterday lacked the nail-biting tension of the previous day’s narrow defeat of England but it still put them very much in prime position to win the Home Nations Championship when they come up against Scotland in today’s final round of matches.

NIALL GOREY of Muskerry was the Irish hero as the host nation pipped reigning champions England in a dramatic climax on the first day of the Men’s Home Internationals at a wet and windy Rosses Point yesterday.

INSPIRED by the exploits of Pádraig Harrington, Ireland won the Home International Championship when it was last staged at Rosses Point in 1991.

RICHARD O’DONOVAN produced the best final round of the Irish contingent in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Sweden.

TIPPERARY’S Arthur Pierse came agonisingly close yesterday to claiming his second British Seniors Open title. The former Walker Cup player was pipped by a stroke at Royal Portrush as he attempted to add to his triumph of 2007.

ALAN DUNBAR stepped up his bid for a place in the Walker Cup team to face the Americans at Aberdeen next month when he fired a splendid opening 68 — four under par — in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Sweden yesterday.

IRELAND made a winning start to the defence of their R&A Trophy in the Boys Home Internationals over the Royal and St David’s links at Harlech yesterday — but they were made to fight hard for victory over hosts Wales.

MONEY rules — as thousands who understandably advocate the return of the Irish Open to Killarney for a third successive year may soon learn to their regret.

AS we settle down and reflect on yesterday’s dramatic victory for Simon Dyson, Irish golf can once again clap itself on the back for a job well done.

PAUL CUTLER will hold many lasting memories from his tripto the Irish Open in Killarney.

IT may not have been the finish either Major winner envisaged but Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will both head to the United States next week in positive mood following their Irish Open performances.

WHATEVER about major winners, the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland stayed true to form in Killarney as it produced another English winner after Simon Dyson edged home in a dramatic finale.

Simon Dyson, Richard Green and Bernd Wiesberger are tied for the lead on the final day of the Irish Open.