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.

On Tuesday at the 101st PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka served Miyazaki beef imported from Japan, roasted Long Island duck and branzino filet for the main course at his PGA champions dinner.

Caddie Ricky Elliott gave up on his tour dream to become a humble assistant pro but he never lost his love of the game and got the thrill of his life — and a $216,000 (€193,427) bonus — when he helped Brooks Koepka win the US Open at Erin Hills on Sunday.

Six years after sitting disconsolately in his hotel room in Akron wondering if he had the game to play on tour, Shane Lowry stands on top of the world safe in the knowledge that he’s now a man to be feared.

AS Paul McGinley and co play for the £1 million first prize in the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, other matters are taxing the minds of hundreds of hopefuls all over Europe.