Rory calls the shots

When John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote “With a Little Help from My Friends” they never have imagined it would become one of the biggest sellers of all time. 

Now, after a four-year desert trek without a title sponsor, it turns out that thanks to the cocktail of Rory McIlroy and his superstar pals, , the Irish Open is about to become one of European golf’s greatest hits.

With the world No 1 promising to repay the favour to pals Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els and Lee Westwood for agreeing to tee it up at Royal County Down from May 28-31, the Irish Open looks set to far outstrip the glory days and end up becoming the first leg of the long-awaited “Links Swing”, possibly by 2019.