Irish Amateur champion Colm Campbell saw both sides of tour life this week. While he could look back on his Irish Open debut and lament missing the cut after being put on the clock completely destroyed his rhythm, he will remember it fondly instead thanks to Martin Kaymer.

Christy O’Connor Sr was an Irish national treasure who took on golf’s global giants and beat them, his funeral has heard.

Christy O’Connor didn’t subscribe to the view that his enormous success on the golf course was attributable to a natural God-given talent for the game.

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has led the tributes to the "father" of Irish golf, Christy O'Connor Sr, who has died at the age of 91.

Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell survived a spectacular back nine charge from Jack Hume to clinch a heart-stopping, wire-to-wire win in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.

Cathal Butler will go into this week’s Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin with confidence following his play-off victory at the Munster Stroke Play Championship.

There were smiles all round at the EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup as newly-crowned champion Colm Campbell got the perfect boost for a busy schedule ahead and tournament organisers got a winner of the calibre they feel their event deserves.

The Island’s Kevin LeBlanc is determined to prove the doubters wrong and become the youngest West of Ireland champion since Rory McIlroy.

It’s like the Champions League of golf but unlike the continent’s premier football tournament which has yet to be retained by any club, Muskerry’s Niall Gorey is hopeful the Cork club can become the first back-to-back winners of the AIG Barton Shield for 18 years.

Dustin Johnson returns to the major championship arena at St Andrews on Thursday resolved to leave behind his status as golf’s nearly man and in the process stop Jordan Spieth’s bid for Grand Slam glory.

Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan was declared the winner after torrential rain and southerly winds forecast to gust over 100kph saw the CityNorth Hotel sponsored East of Ireland Amateur Open reduced to 54 holes for the first time in its 75-year history.

Another year, another Irish Open and the debates continue as to the best venue and time of year to play one of the most popular tournaments on the European Tour.

Old reliables John Kelly and Gary Hurley took up where they left off at Fota Island last year to lead the PGA-GUI challenge in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at windswept Royal County Down.

Jack Hume defied end of the world conditions to card what he described as the round of his life to take a two-stroke after two rounds of the Irish Amateur Open at a weather-lashed Royal Dublin.

Gavin Moynihan might be considered a shoo-in for a second Walker Cup cap but the Dubliner knows he needs to start showing some form to make sure of his place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.

Muskerry Golf Club have the chance to bury their demons of three years ago when their quartet bids for an All-Ireland title in the AIG Barton Shield at Carton House today.

When you are one of the championship favourites and things are going against you, there is always a good time to produce a shot out of the ordinary.

Jack Hume sets out at Royal Portrush today in the 119th Amateur Championship determined to continue his summer of consistency and book his place in the St Andrews Trophy team to take on the Continent of Europe later in the year.

The sense of excitement at Shannon Airport early yesterday was palpable long before Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 descended through the dark rain clouds cloaking Clare.

Scotland’s Jamie Savage proved a cool head is half the battle as he took advantage of a series of mistakes by Ireland’s leading contenders to snatch a two-shot win in the Irish Amateur Open at a wet and windy Royal Dublin.

The wailing wall they call the scoreboard was full of budding tour pros complaining about the stiffness of the examination.

Gary McDermott defied rain squalls and winds gusting up to 30 mph to shoot a sensational 69 for a one shot lead after the opening round of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Dermot McElroy is determined to break his championship duck when the Irish Amateur Open gets under way at The Royal Dublin today.

There was no victory birthday celebration for Rory McIlroy at the Wells Fargo Championship and the 25-year heading home after yet another top-10 finish this season.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has been voted into the Distinguished Services category of the Irish Golf Writers’ Association and will accept his specially designed Tipperary Crystal award at the annual dinner, sponsored by Carr Golf Group, at Portmarnock Golf Club on Mar 6.

ON August 15, 1983, the great Seve Ballesteros struck a magnificent tee shot at the 11th hole of Cork Golf Club which still resonates with all at Little Island.

It was 10 minutes before 8am yesterday when Rory McIlroy glanced warily at Kildare’s greying skies, stepped forward onto the 10th tee and smacked his dimpled Nike straight down the throat of his first hole of the day.

Robbie Cannon’s superior fitness proved to be the difference as he came through two gruelling rounds and four play-off holes to win a thrilling Irish Amateur Open in sensational style at Royal Dublin.

Ranking lists always lead to vigorous debate but you can be sure Golf Digest Ireland’s “Volvo Top 100 Ranked Irish Golf Courses” will not be getting pride of place at Royal Dublin any time soon.

Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar leads a strong Irish contingent looking to score a home victory against a stacked international field at Carton House this week for the International European Amateur Championship.

Dublin teenager Gavin Moynihan bids to continue his amazing run of form at the British Amateur Championship at Royal Troon this morning.

Malahide teenager Gavin Moynihan joined major winners Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen on the roll of champions when he produced a brilliant short game display and defied near gale force winds to clinch the Irish Amateur Open in dramatic fashion at Royal Dublin.

Kelan McDonagh confessed that golf has been put firmly in perspective by his girlfriend’s brave battle with cancer after he opened with a battling 72 to keep the leaders in his sights in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

CHRISTY O’CONNOR SNR celebrates his 87th birthday tomorrow.

THE venue for next year’s Irish Open could be revealed as soon as Tuesday next, with Killarney definitely ruled out.