Irish aces bid to maintain feel-good factor

THE scene is set, the major trophies have been polished and golf in this country is set for a week to remember as the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland 2011 gets under way today at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.

Much has been made of the unique position Irish golf finds itself in, this island of 6.5 million people providing four major champions and three of the last six, but it would be something special again if one of them were to win on home soil this week.

And so Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, the most recent addition to the Irish major-winning list, have one more duty to perform — to send home the expected crowds of up to 100,000 golf fans with a home victory in their nostrils.