Grass not always green in this cut-throat game

Irish golfers have captured four major championships since 2011 but in that same timeframe, eight of our best and brightest have taken the plunge into the professional ranks.

It remains to be seen how many more majors Rory McIlroy will add to his CV over the next 20 years, but it will also be interesting to see how many of the top Irish amateurs who have joined him in the cut-throat world of pro golf manage to make a living from it.

Last week, two more of Ireland’s top players jumped ship mid-season with 23-year old Richard O’Donovan (pictured below) from Lucan Golf Club, winner of the East of Ireland title in 2011, joining 22-year old Reeve Whitson from Mourne on the road.