Major optimism for Irish duo

IT may not have been the finish either Major winner envisaged but Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will both head to the United States next week in positive mood following their Irish Open performances.

Both the current US Open champion and his predecessor finished well down the leaderboard at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club yesterday, with McIlroy’s level-par 71 leaving him at three under and McDowell finishing a shot better for the day and the week.

Yet the Irishmen have bigger targets in mind as they prepare to cross the Atlantic for this week’s World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, and the following week’s PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.