Majors are a test of mental strength, and Shane Lowry felt as much a winner as Brooks Koepka following his gutsy tie for eighth alongside Rory McIlroy in the US PGA at Bethpage Black.

Graeme McDowell might have slipped from fourth to 89th in the world over the past six years, but he insists he still has the grit, the tactical talent and the patience to contend for his second US Open crown at Erin Hills.

Rory McIlroy has targeted Hoylake’s par-five holes as the keys to a successful Open Championship campaign this weekend as the two-time major winner aims to emulate Tiger Woods’ 2006 success at Royal Liverpool.

Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley yesterday insisted Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will "be professional" and put any possible strain in their relationship aside to team up again at Gleneagles in September.

Super confident Cadillac Championship winner Patrick Reed wants Tiger Woods as his Ryder Cup partner and Gleneagles showdowns with European stars Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter.

Graeme McDowell, one of the favourites, will go into the British Open tomorrow determined to keep his own “dangerous” expectations in check.

As far as we know, the great French writer Marcel Proust did not play golf but he would have been intrigued by Graeme McDowell’s responses to his famous Questionnaire.

Deep thinkers are in short supply among the golfing elite but Graeme McDowell could never be accused of failing to think outside the box when it comes to the fate of the beleaguered European Tour.

So what’s it going to be? A thoroughbred major winner with killer course management and length to spare? A major virgin with a hot putter and an even hotter wedge? How about a straight-hitting gut-player with a laser-like long game and a brain?

Partisan, loud, raucous and fun.

Bloodied but unbowed from his British Open experience, Rory McIlroy will bid to restore some confidence in his swing ahead of the final Major of the year.

Padraig Harrington has given himself the chance to once again become the home winner of the Irish Open.

Tinkerman is alive and well and sitting pretty after the first round of the Irish Open at Portrush.

Believe it or not but American Keegan Bradley is poised to usurp Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke as the most popular player at the Irish Open.

Pádraig Harrington may not win the Irish Open this week but one thing is for sure, he won’t give up the fight easily.

You only have to listen to the emotion in Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell’s voices when they talk about the Irish Open arriving in Royal Portrush to understand that this week is about much more than a golf tournament.

One practice round today was enough to tell Padraig Harrington that it is no ordinary Irish Open this week.

WITH the Irish Open set for Portrush in June, it will be fascinating to see if Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy can attract the quality of field that has been so conspicuously absent for much of the last decade.

Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell agrees with Lee Westwood's assessment that Rory McIlroy would have been a more worthy recipient than Rickie Fowler of the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.

THIS morning’s clash ofDouglas and Laytown &Bettystown in the semi-final of the Irish Ladies SeniorCup at Cork Golf Clubwill evoke a deep sense ofnostalgia for members of both clubs.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has declared himself ready to do some heavy lifting ahead of this week’s US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

A civic reception is planned for US Open winner Graeme McDowell when he returns to Antrim next year.

IT certainly was an ill wind that blew in favour of Graeme McDowell when Tiger Woods pulled out of his own tournament last week.

CANADIAN left-hander Mike Weir led the US Open field at the completion of the first round at Bethpage yesterday after shooting a six under 64, just one outside the championship record low, and Graeme McDowell led the Irish quartet with a 69.

Local lad Wayne Telford has again stormed to the top of the leaderboard on the Valley Course after the opening day's qualifying round in the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Ireland has a new sporting hero this morning.