Nothing like a bit of homegrown success

At times the celebrities at Royal Portrush have made the Irish Open seem more like a red-carpet movie premiere than a golf tournament. But, if there is one thing the sell-out crowds have been desperate to see, it’s some homegrown success from tee to green.

Hollywood star Bill Murray may be hanging out in the clubhouse, but it is golf’s Holywood star Rory McIlroy who is the centre of attention, with or without his tennis pro girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in tow around the famous Antrim links.

Then there is Portrush’s own Graeme McDowell who rescued his tournament from potential disaster yesterday and was rewarded with a hero’s reception as he and Pádraig Harrington strode up the18th towards home.