Two of Ireland’s most promising young stars are hoping to ride the feelgood factor from the Walker Cup and rack up big finishes in the Volopa Irish Challenge at Mount Wolseley this week.

Irish golfers have won The Open five times, the US Open twice and the US PGA three times, not to mention nine British Amateur Championships.

Graeme McDowell believes Paul Dunne should give the Walker Cup a miss and take the leap into the professional ranks as soon as possible.

Like the 46A bus to Dun Laoghaire, which would take an age to come and then arrive with another stuck to its exhaust pipe, there are signs that things are about to start moving apace in Irish golf.

Gavin Moynihan survived a war of attrition with his teenage clubmate Kevin LeBlanc to win his second Irish Amateur Open in the space of four years and seal his return to the Walker Cup team.

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.

The Walker Cup captain will not be there but Cormac Sharvin reckons the R&A selectors that come to Royal Dublin this week will be looking for fireworks from the home brigade when the Irish Amateur Open tees off today.

Shaun Carter from Royal Dublin claimed victory in the weather marred Munster Open Stroke Play Championship Little Island yesterday.

Graeme McDowell has set his sights on a Claret Jug this week as he goes in search of a second Major championship title that will end all talk of him being a "one-hit wonder".

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.

Four-time Major winner Ernie Els returns to Muirfield next week to defend his British Open title confessing if it were not for golf, he’d be selling hot dogs on a South African beach.

Nearly five years have passed since Pádraig Harrington captured his third major title.

Tiger Woods heads to this week’s PGA Championship with a one win in 24 record on Pete Dye designed golf courses.

Graeme McDowell is quietly confident a decision to journey from Orlando, Florida to Akron, Ohio via Kiawah Island, South Carolina will lead to glory later next week along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.

The chinks in his game may have been exposed at Royal Lytham and St Annes but Rory McIlroy’s standing fell further when Tiger Woods took his number two spot on the world rankings.

Victory in any Major championship is never a divine right regardless of age or pedigree.

Darren Clarke’s Open Championship title defence was brought to a premature end last night after the Irishman failed to make the halfway cut at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Rory McIlroy bashed one spectator’s head and turned plenty more at Royal Lytham & St Annes as he safely negotiated the worst of the opening day’s conditions for a 67 that puts him right in the hunt alongside Graeme McDowell heading into today’s Open Championship second round.

The last time Darren Clarke had walked up the 18th fairway in a British Open Championship it was on the way to collecting the Claret Jug.

A 16-year-old boy was hit on the head by an errant drive from the world’s number two golfer, Rory McIlroy, at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Luke Donald has sought out Nick Faldo for advice as he attempts to claim his first major title at the Open this week.

Pádraig Harrington is facing green lights all the way south to Royal Lytham after an encouraging four days at the Scottish Open.

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.

Graeme McDowell paid a heavy French Open price after the enjoyment of taking in the sights of Paris.

Rory McIlroy will head into this month’s British Open Championship with new-found confidence that he has the game to conquer windy links conditions.

Graeme McDowell can’t wait for another thrilling major championship rollercoaster ride and he’s already setting his sights on the Claret Jug following his gutsy runner-up finish in the US Open at The Olympic Club.

Graeme McDowell is moving quickly on from his missed cut at Wentworth by looking forward to a golfing summer to savour.

Shane Lowry continued to display his fondness for the Blackstone course on day two of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul.

The BBC have been warned by the R&A they risk losing the rights to live coverage of the British Open if they do not keep pace with television’s technological revolution.

A British drama teacher has been found guilty of grooming a teenage pupil for sex.

WEXFORD YOUTHS owner Mick Wallace has reacted with astonishment to Croke Park’s decision to investigate claims local GAA club Faythe Harriers let out their facilities to a soccer team, branding the decision “unbelievable”.

English duo Brian Davis and Greg Owen hold a share of the overnight lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after play was suspended for the day due to lightning and heavy rain at TPC Louisiana.

Brian Davis and Greg Owen moved into a share of the lead as the second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was delayed due to lightning at TPC Louisiana today.

Shane Lowry can still win the Lytham Trophy despite a nightmare finish to his third round.

Ireland's Shane Lowry is just two strokes off the pace entering Sunday's final 36 holes of the prestigious Lytham Trophy.

THE High Court has further remanded on bail three men wanted in Lithuania on weapons and terrorism charges.

TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas has been a professional for less than six months but through hard work and perseverance lines up alongside Europe’s elite at Adare this week.

Esker Hills' Shane Lowry closed with a sensational 69 to grab third place in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

THE HSE has criticised Newstalk radio for what it termed a mundane episode on security in psychiatric units.

Irish interest in the British Amateur championship ended at Royal Lytham and St Annes today.

Baltray's Simon Ward scorched to a six under par 66 to lead the Irish

Muskerry's Niall Turner closed with an eagle three to lead the Irish

Rory McIlroy's indifferent run of form continued in the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf.