Joe Biden: Politics is going better than my golf

US vice-president Joe Biden has said his career is in better shape than his golf game, as he kept his promise to play a round in Ireland.

Barack Obama’s right-hand man battled blustery conditions around Castlebar Golf Club in Co Mayo — the Augusta of Connacht, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s home course.

With a packed clubhouse looking on, the two men diplomatically halved the match on the 18th. Two holes earlier, on the par-three 16th, Mr Biden watched nervously as his tee shot narrowly missed a water hazard before hinting that the Taoiseach had the upper hand.