The United States have claimed the Walker Cup for a third consecutive time with an emphatic 16.5-9.5 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at the Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

THE Shane Lowry fairytale sucked in a sidekick yesterday with confirmation that his caddie of over two years will make the transition from the amateur to professional game with the new Irish Open champion.

FOUR-TIME European Tour winner Graeme McDowell says new Irish Open champion, Shane Lowry should forget September’s Walker Cup and “strike while the iron is hot” by turning professional.

IRISH Open hero Shane Lowry will not compete in the €4.5mBMW PGA Championship starting at Wentworth on Thursday – but he will be a professional golfer by the end of the week.