US Open aces head Irish challenge at Portrush

Graeme McDowell and Pádraig Harrington, 2nd and 4th in the US Open, spearhead the home challenge in next week’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush.

The pair are among 23 Irish players in a field that has attracted 10 major championship winners in a near sold-out event at the great Northern Ireland links.

Rory McIlroy, who retains his world number two ranking despite missing the cut in San Francisco, plans to play some links golf this week in preparation for the event while Darren Clarke is battling back to fitness after a groin injury forced him to miss the US Open.