Darren Clarke never had the patience to handle the US Open but even though he’ll be behind a microphone for FOX Sports this week the big Irishman is fascinated by the challenge that lies in store.

A Victorian-era hotel in the village of Waterville, Co Kerry, has been revealed as the host to the Star Wars crew during its two-week shoot in Kerry in the summer.

Renowned for his short-game prowess, Phil Mickelson sometimes does his best scoring with his biting perspective and cunning wit.

As 156 golfers and 100,000 fans prepare to descend on Fota Island Resort, Dave Kenny says staff are ready for the challenge

Chasing historic feats makes up a huge chunk of his iconic golf persona. Meeting with law enforcement officials as part of a criminal investigation is a sliver of his curious enigma.

They call it the toughest test in golf, the US Open, and the class of 2014 are going to find in Pinehurst No 2 one of the most exacting examinations of their credentials as the second Major of the year gets under way in North Carolina today.

There are two sets of names that will bear down on Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst No. 2 tomorrow as he tees off in a US Open for the 24th time.

Professional golfers quite rightly dedicate plenty of time to practice in the lead up to majors but as the US Open approaches they would be advised to have a quick refresh of the local rules.

Keegan Bradley may not have been born for Ryder Cup battle but he has certainly been groomed for it from a very early age.

Pádraig Harrington’s omission from the European Ryder Cup team ends a run which began in 1999 with his debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline.

Irish golf fans are keeping a close eye on our links courses this week to see if any of the game’s finest pay a visit ahead of next week’s British Open.

Not surprisingly, given the victory in the Memorial tournament, the bookmakers have installed Tiger Woods a 7/1 favourite for this week’s US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

TWENTY years ago, PJ Carroll, the then sponsors of the tournament, invested a considerable sum of money in attracting Payne Stewart to compete in the Irish Open Championship at Killarney.

If Phil Mickelson was asked to pick the one title in golf he wants more than any other there would not be the slightest hesitation in his answer.

NON-RESIDENT, or so-called “country members”, of the prestigious Waterville Golf Links in south Kerry have begun legal proceedings against the American owners of the club, in search of what they claim is “fair play” after new rules which have seen their fees rise to almost double that of locals.

The time has arrived for Rory McIlroy to see if he can hit straight back from the most crushing disappointment of his young golfing life in the majors.

The chances of Tiger Woods losing a ball with his first shot in this year’s Open Championship – as he did the last time the event was at Sandwich – have been severely reduced.

Tyrone won’t be playing football this weekend, but when they do there’s another unspeakable tragedy to overcome. All Star defender Ryan McMenamin spoke to John Fogarty

MONTY is cleaning his spikes in anticipation of next month’s action at Celtic Manor while the Americans are checking their passports are valid and changing their money to Euros.

IT was a glorious day when we assembled at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club for the 3 Irish Open media day.

FÁILTE Ireland’s new director of golf Michelle McCreevy wore one of the broadest smiles of the thousands at Turnberry after Stewart Cink’s victory in the Open Championship.

PHIL MICKELSON was able to see the funny side in chalking up a US Open second-place spot for a record fifth time, at least according to co-runner-up Ricky Barnes.

AFTER what happened at Augusta in April everybody in golf was looking forward to the coming US Open on New York’s Long Island.

LOSS of cabin pressure is not infrequent on passenger planes but occasionally it can have fatal consequences.

The absence of Tiger Woods is going to be far more noticeable at the final major of the year than it was at the Open.

COULD this US Open have been any better, any more exciting or any more suspenseful?

Padraig Harrington, five clear at one point, lost to US Open champion Angel Cabrera at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off in the four-man 36-hole PGA Grand Slam at Mid-Ocean in Bermuda today.

Padraig Harrington is keen to add the US PGA to his Open success when the event starts at Southern Hills tomorrow.

Some time soon the Professional Golfers’ Association of America will call a press conference to name their new Ryder Cup captain – the man to oppose Nick Faldo’s Europe in 2008.

BALLYBUNION Golf Club has prospered in recent years largely because of the influence of Tom Watson who put it on the international map.

The Ryder Cup was long overdue coming to Ireland but is going to be worth the wait, golf legend Tony Jacklin announced today.

THE pilots in the Cypriot airliner disaster could have become incapacitated in seconds, aviation experts said yesterday.

ACCIDENT investigators will be scouring the wreckage of the doomed Helios Airways flight that crashed near Athens for clues as to what might have caused the disaster.

JP McManus disclosed yesterday that the proceeds from his recent Pro Am golf classic at Adare topped the €30 million mark.

FANCY a game of golf with supermodel Jodie Kidd? Or driving away in a brand new Aston Martin DB9? Then get your credit card ready.

Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els had the crowds flocking to see them before the leaders went off in the third round of the US Open at Pinehurst today.

A year on from what many considered a farcical finish to the US Open Phil Mickelson has voiced the opinion that similar conditions could develop at Pinehurst.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes have cut the odds on Ernie Els winning the US Open from 10/1 to 7/1 after receiving a £40,000 (€60,000) bet.

Ernie Els is determined to wipe away the memories of last year’s final round at the US Open with a performance to treasure this weekend.

As the only man to have held all four majors at the same time, Tiger Woods does not need anybody to tell him how best to go about trying to win a Grand Slam.

Colin Montgomerie today spoke of his determination not to miss out on his second consecutive major championship.

Nick Faldo may be cutting back on his playing career to devote time to other things, but he said today he has not given up hope yet of waking up on his 48th birthday next July as Open champion again.

CHRISTY O’CONNOR JNR is still determined to captain Europe to Ryder Cup glory at the K Club in 2006. But the hero of the Belfry in 1985 expressed amazement yesterday at US claims that they will be the underdogs when the matches come to Ireland.