Irish Golf News

Graeme McDowell on the 2016 Olympics: "I'm not going to get myself into a race with Shane or Padraig."

Graeme McDowell admits next year's schedule is "a mess" as the tours battle to squeeze in the majors and big events before the Olympic Games in Rio.

It's a headache for the top players to plan their schedules in what is also a Ryder Cup year and  McDowell appears to have decided to prioritise a place in Darren Clarke's European team ahead of battling Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington for a spot in Rio de Janeiro alongside Rory McIlroy.

Next year's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will come the week after the US Open, meaning McDowell may not get to play in the French Open. which won in 2013 and 2014.

"I could probably see myself being in France, to be honest with you," McDowell said. "It's a golf course I prefer. It's a tournament which I want to be loyal to because of how good they've been to me and how much success has been there.

"The Ryder Cup race is going to be heating up. There's going to be a lot of things going on this time next year. Like I say, I can only allude to what I might do this time next year, but we'll just have to wait and see.

"Obviously, that's a long way off, and I hope I have schedule problems. I hope I'll be back in the top 20 in the world and having all these opportunities to play great golf around the world. It's an interesting looking summer, and it's going to be very interesting to see what guys choose to do."

cDowell hinted that he would remain loyal to Europe as much as possible even though many top events are being squeezed into a small window with the three summer majors coming in a six-week period.

"The European Tour is my home, and that's kind of where I learned this great game of golf, and I feel always loyal, and I feel like I owe them something at all times," he said. "But we're businessmen, and we're trying to be the best we can be, and you've got to make tough decisions sometimes as well. But the schedule is ... it's a mess next summer, let's be honest. There's no other way to put it.

"The PGA Tour has had to make some tough decisions. I don't blame them. It's just business. It's just one of those things. Hopefully, we'll be back to normal the following year. So it's only a one-year deal.

"Where will I be? I'll probably be in France, and I'm okay to sort of admit that. I'd like to have the option, like I say, but France has been very good to me, and that's probably where I'll have to be."

Making a fifth successive Ryder Cup team is a priority ahead of an Olympic medal.

"It's going to be difficult because Shane is obviously a fantastic player. Padraig has obviously shown some big signs as well," he said of the likely race for one place unless he can make the world's Top 15. "The race is going to be tough.  

"I'll be more interested in making the Ryder Cup team, to be honest with you, come that point in the season. That's always my focus. I think the Olympics are so hard to quantify.

"I'm not going to get myself into a race with Shane or Padraig. I'm just not going to get into a race with them. I'm going to be trying to take care of my own business and get myself on a Ryder Cup team and have a big 2016.

"If the Olympics gets in the way, great. I'm not going to get myself in a head-to-head battle with these guys. There's no point. I can only control my golf ball. Of course I'd love to be there, let's be honest."

Asked if he'd change his schedule to to try and get more points make the Ryder Cup team rather than the Olympics, he found the perfect answer.

"They're kind of different qualifying scenarios, aren't they? One's a point system, and the other is just a straight World Ranking system," he said. "The other one is obviously the more points accrued, the better. So it's a quantity game.

"Obviously, the World Rankings is a quality game. So they're kind of different, I think. I don't know. That was a hard question to answer. I'm glad I had a way to answer it."

PGA Tour schedule 2015-16

October 
12-18 Frys.com Open
19-25 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open,

November 
26-1 CIMB Classic
2-8 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions,
9-15 OHL Classic at Mayakoba
16-22 The McGladrey Classic,

January
4-10 Hyundai Tournament of Champions, 
11-17 Sony Open in Hawaii,
18-24 CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with Clinton Foundation,
25-31 Farmers Insurance Open

February 
1-7 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 
8-14 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, 
15-21 Northern Trust Open,
22-28 The Honda Classic, 

March
29-6 WGC-Cadillac Championship,
7-13 Valspar Championship, 
14-20 Arnold Palmer Invitational 
21-27 WGC - Dell Match Play, 
21-27 Puerto Rico Open,

April
28-3 Shell Houston Open, 
4-10 Masters Tournament,
11-17 RBC Heritage, 
18-24 Valero Texas Open, 

May 
25-1 Zurich Classic of New Orleans,
2-8 Wells Fargo Championship,
9-15 THE PLAYERS Championship,
16-22 AT&T Byron Nelson,
23-29 Colonial National Invitational Tournament,

June
30-5 the Memorial Tournament 
6-12 FedEx St. Jude Classic, 
13-19 U.S. Open, Oakmont CC
20-26 Quicken Loans National, 

July 
27-3 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, 
27-3 Barracuda Championship, 
4-10 The Greenbrier Classic,     
11-17 The Open Championship, Royal Troon
11-17 Barbasol Championship,
18-24 RBC Canadian Open, 
25-31 US PGA Championship, Baltusrol

August 
1-7 Travelers Championship, 
8-14 John Deere Classic, 
11-14 Olympic Men's Golf Competition, Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro
15-21 Wyndham Championship, 

FedExCup Playoffs
August 
22-28 The Barclays GOLF / CBS Bethpage State Park (Black Course)

September
29-5 Deutsche Bank Championship (Monday Finish), 
5-11 BMW Championship,
19-25 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, 

October
26-2 Ryder Cup, Hazeltine National GC

Tim Rice. Picture/EuroproTour.com

Tim Rice and Jonny Caldwell are just a shot off the pace entering the final round of the COBRA PUMA GOLF Open at The Carrick.

The pair desperately need the £10,000 winner's cheque and they have ever chance of doing it as rookie Robbie Busher leads on six under par after a five under 66.

Rice (67, 70 Team Ireland) shares second with this week's room-mate Caldwell (67, 70; BetMcLean), with Sam Connor (65, 73; Alsager Golf & Country Club) and Matthew Cort (69, 69; Beedles Lake Golf Club) tied fourth on four under.

Scoreboard

Rice is 189th in the money list — the Race to Desert Springs — with £280 from eight starts while Caldwell is 71st with £1,555 on the board. 

Like the rest of the tour, their goal is to finish in the top 5 and earn Challenge Tour cards and a win for either would leave them just one big finish away from the holy grail.

Graeme McDowell. Picture/Getty Images 

Even when opening with a four under 66 to be just a shot off the lead in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Graeme McDowell couldn’t escape the inevitable Rory McIlroy question.

With the world No 1 hinting strongly in a series of Instagram posts that he’s seriously considering returning from injury in next week’s PGA Championship in Wisconsin, McDowell revealed he’d been in touch with his former stablemate but he didn’t sound 100 percent convinced that Whistling Straits was the best choice of venue.

Having played the course earlier this week, McDowell told reporters in Akron: “He certainly looks like he could. If it wasn’t such a hike around that golf course next week, I think he would be back. 

"But I played it on Tuesday, and as far as demanding walks go, that’s right up there. It’s pot holes and side slopes. It’s a tough walk. He’s a fit kid. He’ll come back when he’s ready. Certainly, golf swing looks all right.”

Getting creative on some of the challenging off piste lies at #WhistlingStraits

A video posted by Graeme McDowell (@graeme_mcdowell) on Aug 6, 2015 at 6:33am PDT

According to AP, a spokesman for McIlroy said the world No 1's rehabilitation was progressing well, as the Instagram video posts suggest, but that he was "still taking it day by day.”

The same could be said for McDowell’s game, which has been average by his high standards for six months, leading to his fall from 15th to 60th in the world.

The 36-year old needs good finishes over the next two weeks as he’s 159th in the FedEx Cup standings. And he was certainly pleased to play very well for nine holes and then battle hard to stay afloat coming home for a 66 that leaves him tied for second with Jim Furyk, just a shot behind New Zealander Danny Lee.

As Shane Lowry finished bogey-bogey for an even par 70 that was still good enough for a share of 22nd and Pádraig Harrington posted a two over 72, McDowell was happy to drive the ball well and hole putts.

“I drove the ball really well on the front nine and into trouble a few times on the back nine,” he said after following birdies at the second, third, sixth and seventh with a 20 foot par saver from off the green at the ninth.

“And when you miss fairways this week with the greens being as firm as they are, you are going to be in trouble. 

“I’ve spent the last 10 days wokring on drivers and making my putting just a little more solid. And the putt on nine was huge, it is all about momentum at this point. That was a Brucie Bonus there, it really kept the round going.”

Having taken the lead at five with a birdie from six feet at the 10th, McDowell stalled in tricky conditions coming home and bogeyed the 12th by going over the back.

He then started missing fairways — on the last six holes he missed every fairway bar the 18th and hit just two greens in regulation — yet he still made six pars thanks to some wonderful scrambling.

He knows it is only a matter of time before his confidence returns but he’s also aware it’s not going to be instantaneous or automatic

“When you are playing golf against some of the best fields in the world, you can post two or three rounds in the 60s and feel like you are back competing and the confidence should come back pretty quickly,” he told Sky Sports. "One 66 is not going to do it. It is going to take a few. 

"I know what to do when I do get on the boards and it is just a case of trusting my swing and continuing to do what I am doing. I am just excited to post a good early round and get out tomorrow and get another crack at it.”

It was his third consecutive round of 66 in Akron, after a strong finish to the event last year helped him claim his first top ten finish in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. 

“I think it (the course) is a bit trickier this year,” McDowell added. “In years gone past, the fairways have not really been a must because the greens have been extremely receptive, and the guys can still hit the greens out of the rough. 

“I think this year, when it's firm and fiery, even the rough's firm and fiery, the ball is bouncing into trouble when you do actually hit it offline here, and the greens are hard to hold. 

"So it's tricky. I had my first top 10 here last year. I kind of cracked this nut last year for the first time, and it was my best finish here ever. Maybe I’m starting to feel a little more comfortable on this golf course at long, long last. It was definitely a puzzle which had eluded me for years.”

Furyk bogeyed the last hole for his round of 66 as Lee set the pace on five under par following a round of 65.

Englishman Justin Rose shares fourth place with Rickie Fowler, with both players carding rounds of 67, while Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and English trio Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey are a further shot back, among an eight-way share of sixth position on two under par.

Lowry opened with a birdie at the 10th, bogeyed the par-three 15th and then failed to convert chances at the next three holes to tirn in level.

A missed six footer at the first could have frustrated him but he two putted for his birdie from 65 feet at the second and dropped a 15 footer at the fourth to get to two under only to complete his nine with two bogeys

Having saved a good par with a nice five footer at the 16th, he had to scramble just to make bogey off a slightly pushed drive at the eighth, then dropped another stroke at the tough ninth where he bounced right off the camber into the rough and missed an eight footer.

Harrington never got much going and was one over until he birdied his ninth, the 18th, from 32 feet.

While he holed some good par putts, he bogeyed the par-five second and the par-three seventh as poor tee shots led to missed greens and outside chances failed to drop for him on the last two greens.

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power opened with a four under 67 but found himself tied for 36th, five shots behind leader Craig Barlow in the Digital Ally Open in Kansas.The West Waterford player made just one bogey at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kansas as Barlow made nine birdies in a 62 to lead by one stroke on nine under par.

Daan Huizing. Picture: Getty Images

Asian Tour, Challenge Tour, European Tour, Europro Tour, EPD Tour, Irish Region or amateur - Ireland's menagerie of golfers got off to a generally positive start in the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank at Galgorm Castle.

Ten of the 23-strong contingent broke par with Asian Tour regular Niall Turner from Muskerry, tied for the lead with 2013 winner Daan Huizing, American John Hahn, South African Haydn Porteous and Spain's Emilio Cuartero Blanco thanks to a six under 65.

With his injury problems largely behind him, Turner has quietly climbed the world rankings to 580th to become the fifth highest ranked player from the Republic after Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Kevin Phelan and Ruaidhri McGee and the 10th highest ranked from the entire island of Ireland.

That the former Irish Amateur Close runner up has done it by playing just four counting events this year is remarkable.

Simon Thornton's five under 66 left him tied sixth while 68s for Peter Lawrie and rookie Chris Selfridge left them tied 28th on three under.

It was also a good day for players who play most of their golf on the lower tours with Simon Ward, Brian Casey and Reeve Whitson carding 69s to join Irish Professional champion Niall Kearney on two under par in a share of 38th.

Michael Hoey, the Tournament Ambassador, opened with a one under par 70 to match Michel McDermott in joint 56th.

The five-time European Tour winner is attempting to make the weekend's play at home event for the first time in three years.

65 H Porteous (RSA), D Huizing (Ned), Niall Turner (Irl), E Cuartero Blanco (Esp), J Hahn (USA), 

66 R Evans (Eng), S Arnold (Aus), B Stone (RSA), S Manley (Wal), S Wakefield (Eng), S Gros (Fra), Simon Thornton (Irl), R Kellett (Sco), E Goya (Arg), T Sluiter (Ned), J Glennemo (Swe), 

67 N Kimsey (Eng), C Sordet (Fra), J McLeary (Sco), G Woolgar (Eng), S Einhaus (Ger), D Law (Sco), J Winther (Den), V Riu (Fra), 

68 Chris Selfridge (NIr), Peter Lawrie (Irl)

69 Niall Kearney (Irl), Simon Ward (Irl), Reeve Whitson (NIr), Brian Casey (Irl), 

70 Michael McDermott (Irl), Michael Hoey (NIr) 

71 Chris Carvill (NIr), Stephen Grant (Irl), Michael McGeady (Irl), Tiarnan McLarnon (am) (NIr) 

72 Brendan McGovern (Irl)

73 Ruaidhri McGee (Irl), Gareth Shaw (NIr), Damien McGrane (Irl), Colm Campbell (am) (NIr), 

74 Alan Dunbar (NIr) 

75 Gary Wardlow (NIr), John Ross Galbraith (am) (NIr), 

76 Richard Kilpatrick (NIr) 

 

GARY HURLEY. PICTURE BY PAT CASHMAN

Cormac Sharvin was the biggest Irish mover but it’s fellow Walker Cup hopefuls Jack Hume and Gary Hurley who lead the Irish challenge for the International European Amateur Championship in steamy Slovakia.

Sharvin, considered a likely Walker Cup cap, shot a 69 in sweltering 30C temperatures to move up 31 spots to 85th with the top 60 and ties to make the cut on Friday.

But on a day when seven of the eight Irishmen broke par on the Legends Course at Penati Golf Resort with Gavin Moynihan shooting 65 to move within four of the lead in tied 20th, it’s Hume, Hurley and Faithlegg’s Robin Dawson who are nearest the lead.

Hurley matched Moynihan’s 65 to get to 11 unbder par and share sixth spot, two strokes behind leader Jamie Bower of England, who added a 65 to his open66.

The Meltham golfer is just one stroke clear of four players, including Naas talent Hume who had six birdies and just one bogey in a 67 that left him sharing second with Gudmundur Kristjansson of Iceland, Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli and Belgium’s plus six handicapper Thomas Detry.

Hurley was especially impressive, starting eagle-birdie on the back nine and picking up more shots to turn in 31 before birdies and the first and second, followed by seven pars to finish gave him a 65 that leaves him just two off the lead on 11 under.

Dawson is tied 12th, three behind on 10 under, as he made four birdies in a 69.

As for Moynihan, he was five under after 11 before closing with two birdies for a 65 that leaves him in a good position, four behind on nine under.

Paul Dunne continued his steady move through the field with a six-birdie 67 that helped him climb to 24th on eight under.

Dermot McElroy had a better day on the greens as he made seven birdies in a 69 to move within a shot of the cut mark for the top 60 and ties on three under

Having been four over after seven holes on Wednesday, Sharvin’s 69 got him to within three of the mark on one under while Castle’s Alex Gleeson is one under after a 72 than began with him racking up three double-bogeys in his first four holes

Dunne, Hurley and Sharvin are heading for the US Amateur at Olympia Fields in just over a week.

The field was finalised on Thursday with fellow Walker Cup squad members Grant Forrest, Sam Horsfield and Nick Marsh also making the trip.

Meanwhile, in the weather-delayed Senior Amateur Open at Royal County Down, Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow is alone in third, fives stroke behind American leader Patrick Tallant on six over after a pair of 74s. Scores

Maurice Kelly (T12), Arthur Pierse (T14), John Mitchell (T18), Tom Cleary (T24), John Hughes (T40), Garth McGimpsey (T46), Nigel Duke (T46) and Pat Lyons (T60) are in position to make the cut when the second round is completed early on Friday. 

International European Amateur Championship, Penati Golf Resort (Legend Course Par 72) Slovakia 

Detailed scores

1 BOWER, Jamie Meltham 66 65 131 
T2 KRISTJANSSON, Gudmundur Agust Golf Club 67 65 132 
T2 HUME, Jack Naas Golf Club 65 67 132 
T2 MAZZOLI, Stefano Monticello 65 67 132 
T2 DETRY, Thomas Royal Golf Club Of Belgium 65 67 132 
T6 THOMSON, Jonathan Lindrick 69 64 133 
T6 HURLEY, Gary West Waterford/NUIM 68 65 133 
T6 MICHELINI, Riccardo Modena G&CC 66 67 133 
T6 ARNAUS, Adria Can Cuyas Golf 65 68 133 
T6 NOVAK, Vitek Golf Club Karlovy Vary 64 69 133 
T6 KINHULT, Marcus Skaftö Gk 64 69 133 

T12 DAWSON, Robin Faithlegg 65 69 134 
T20 MOYNIHAN, Gavin The Island 70 65 135 
T24 DUNNE, Paul Greystones 69 67 136
T61 MCELROY, Dermot Ballymena 72 69 141
T85 SHARVIN, Cormac Ardglass Golf Club 74 69 143
T85 GLEESON, Alex Castle 71 72 143

Olivia Mehaffey has won four matches out of four for Ireland in the Girls' Home Internationals. Picture: Pat Cashman

Ireland's Girls team must beat England to win the Home Internationals for the first time at Lanark Golf Club on Friday after the Boys headed back from Conwy with third place and their sights set on a home win in Ballyliffin next year.

In the Girls' matches, Ireland have a chance to avenge defeat to England in last year's title decider when they meet head to head once more on the final day. 

And they will be looking once more to Olivia Mehaffey for leadership after she maintained her 100 percent record with two more wins as Ireland beat Wales 7-2 and England saw off Scotland 5.5-3.5.

Ireland took the foursomes 2-1 with a two up win for Annabel Wilson and Mairead Martin over Ella Griffiths and Jordan Ryan before Mehaffey and Lisa O'Shea beat Bethan Morris and Angharad Evans 3 and 2.

Julie McCarthy and Elisa Corcoran lost on the 18th to Nicola Wainwright and Sadie Dewinton-Davies but they made amends in the singles, winning their matches as Ireland took the head to head clashes 5-1.

Hermitage's Ciara Casey was approximately one under par as she beat Evans by 5 and 3, while Mehaffey beat Lucy Jones by 3 and 3 and Niamh McSherry saw off Olivia Kelly 2 and 1.

The legend himself arrived to support #teamireland #fav

Many congrats to @NeilMcKinstry winner Ulster Youths with Belvoir Captain Gary Jones & Peter Sinclair @GUIGolf pic.twitter.com/joEKhPtIcU

— Belvoir Park GC (@BelvoirParkGolf) August 6, 2015

Cairndhu's Neil McKinstry might have been tied for the overnight lead but he was in a class of his own in the end as he fired rounds of 66 and 70 to storm to an impressive 10-shot victory in the Ulster Youths Amateur Open at Belvoir Park.

A brother of Ryan McKinstry, the 2011 champion, University of Ulster golf scholarship student Neil has certainly put the pressure on younger brother (and Boys international) Marc to follow suit.

A son of the talented scratch man John McKinstry, Neil stormed to the turn in four under 32 in the morning round, then eagle the 10th before dropping his only shot of the day at the 16th.

His 66 was worth a four-shot lead over Killarney's Tommy O'Driscoll but in the end he more than doubled his lead, carding a 70 to finish on six under, 10 clear of fellow Cairndhu man Stephen Watts with O'Driscoll and Belvoir Park's  Dominic Pollock third on five over 289.

Ulster Youths Amateur Open, Belvoir Park (Par 71)

Detailed scores

278 Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 71 71 66 70

288 Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 72 73 70

289 Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 76 66 73 74, Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 72 71 70 76

290 Karl Eccles (Clandeboye) 75 72 71 72, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 71 71 73 75

291 Mathew Murphy (Clandeboye) 75 74 72 70, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 75 67 76 73

293 Peter McKeever (Castle) 78 69 74 72, Christopher Morgan (Dunmurry) 76 73 75 69, William Small (Tandragee Golf Club) 73 73 71 76, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 70 75 72 76

295 Jordan Logue (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) 80 72 72 71, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 75 72 76 72, Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee Golf Club) 73 77 68 77

296 Ross Dutton (Tandragee Golf Club) 76 73 75 72, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 75 74 75 72

297 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock Golf Club) 77 73 75 72

298 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 76 72 77 73

299 Owen Crooks (Bushfoot Golf Club) 78 72 74 75

300 Michael McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club) 80 71 73 76, Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 78 75 74 73, Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock Golf Club) 77 75 75 73, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 73 79 76 72

301 Jack Blake (Island) 79 73 75 74

302 Jack Madden (Dungannon Golf Club) 79 75 77 71, Nathan McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 77 75 75 75, Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall Golf Club) 76 76 75 75, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 75 76 74 77, Jonathan Greer (Greenisland Golf Club) 75 75 79 73, Jamie Dunne (Borris Golf Club) 72 76 76 78

303 David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 80 74 75 74, Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee Golf Club) 72 79 81 71, Kyle McCarron (North West) 72 76 78 77

304 Chris Black (Dunmurry) 76 74 76 78

305 Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 80 72 73 80, Peter Fleming (Galway Golf Club) 78 75 71 81

306 Darragh Conlon (Athenry Golf Club) 79 74 78 75, Jack Walsh (Castle) 75 74 81 76

308 Conor Hynds (Ardglass Golf Club) 81 73 73 81, Ronan O'Callaghan (Mannan Castle Golf Club) 78 72 80 78

309 Thomas Beaumont (Bangor Golf Club) 79 74 78 78, Darragh Fitzgerald (Limerick Golf Club) 76 75 84 74

310 Liam Bresnahan (Omagh Golf Club) 76 76 81 77, Gabriel Gribben (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 73 78 79 80

311 Pauraic McNelis (Fintona Golf Club) 78 76 78 79

312 Luke Robinson (Bundoran Golf Club) 75 78 80 79

313 Henry Clark (Shandon Park Golf Club) 74 78 86 75

315 Peadar O'Beirn (Athenry Golf Club) 80 72 80 83, Ross Nelson (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 73 79 75 88

223 Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 69 79 75 

226 Luke Bradley (Buncrana Golf Club) 76 75 75 

234 Shane McClean (Foyle) 74 77 83 

NON-QUALIFIERS

154 Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club) 78 76, Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 77 77, Joshua Robinson (Lisburn Golf Club) 75 79 

155 Jake Rowe (Tandragee Golf Club) 80 75, Thomas Dillon (Mourne) 76 79 

156 Adam Mulhall (Ardglass Golf Club) 82 74, Alec Myles (Newlands) 80 76, Jack McKenna (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 80 76, Darragh Hobbs (Courtown Golf Club) 79 77, Conor Stone (Carton House Golf Club) 79 77, Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin) 79 77, Ryan Thompson (Greenacres Golf Club) 79 77, John Cleary (Elm Park Golf Club) 79 77, Conal Patterson (Lurgan Golf Club) 78 78, Hugh O'Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 77 79, Declan Kelly (Hermitage Golf Club) 77 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 75 81, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 74 82 

157 Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 81 76, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 80 77, Christian Kennedy (Lisburn Golf Club) 75 82, Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 74 83 

158 Dylan Brophy (Castleknock Golf Club) 82 76, Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 80 78, Peter Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 79 79, Ross Latimer (Knock) 76 82, Peter Henry (Fintona Golf Club) 75 83 

159 Jason McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 80 79, Scott Nelson (Banbridge Golf Club) 80 79, Craig Melvin (Corrstown Golf Club) 77 82 

160 Scott Jones (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 83 77, Conor Smart (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 82 78, Mark Mckenna (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 82 78, Eamonn McAleer (Omagh Golf Club) 81 79, James Maginn (Mourne) 80 80, Eamonn O'driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 74 86 

161 Dean Crawford (Moyola Park) 85 76, Duncan Fleming (Dunmurry) 83 78, Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 83 78, Nathan Kernaghan (Massereene Golf Club) 79 82, Craig Bolger (Carlow Golf Club) 78 83, Brian Jnr Fehily (Newlands) 78 83 

162 Conor Glennon (Glasson Golf Club) 87 75, David McAleenon (Edenmore Golf Club) 82 80, Gary Trotter (Aughnacloy) 82 80, Kyle Patton (Lisburn Golf Club) 81 81, Ross Winning (Greenisland Golf Club) 80 82, Ted Harman (Balmoral Golf Club) 78 84, Harry Mcgeary (Dungannon Golf Club) 77 85, Thomas Gracey (Dunmurry) 76 86, Deaglan Pollock (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 76 86 

163 Eoin J O'Brien (Clontarf Golf Club) 88 75, Patrick Nicol (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 87 76, Niall Pratt (Foxrock Golf Club) 85 78, Aaron Lennie (Clandeboye) 83 80, Sean Denny (Castleblayney Golf Club) 81 82, Ben Graham (Scrabo Golf Club) 81 82, Ryan McNelis (Fintona Golf Club) 79 84, Niall Doran (Mourne) 79 84 

164 Brendan O'Neill (Citywest Resort) 86 78, Caolan Murphy (Greenore Golf Club) 84 80, Adam Price (Delgany Golf Club) 82 82, Ronan McCambridge (Cushendall Golf Club) 82 82, Cameron Mills (Shandon Park Golf Club) 82 82, Dean Mulligan (Greenore Golf Club) 81 83, Gareth Kilgallon (Greenore Golf Club) 81 83 

165 Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass Golf Club) 79 86 

166 Andrew Moore (Bangor Golf Club) 81 85, Ciaran Smyth (Greenore Golf Club) 80 86 

167 Ward Farrell (Dunmurry) 85 82, Johnathan Hewitt (Loughgall Golf Club) 82 85, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 81 86, Eoin Kelly (Co. Meath Golf Club) 80 87 

168 Dylan Lambe (Roganstown G & CC Golf Club) 87 81, Conor McDonald (Lurgan Golf Club) 86 82, Sam Sweeney (Seapoint Golf Club) 84 84, Graham Lynch (Co. Louth Golf Club) 81 87 

169 Jude Maskey (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 83 86 

170 Conor Harte (Castle) 83 87 

172 Campbell Rodgers (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 81 91 

176 Peter Morgan (Dunmurry) 91 85 

178 Richard Ross Alexander (Holywood Golf Club) 87 91 

186 Danny Madden (Dungannon Golf Club) 93 93 

NR/WD Matthew Bertenshaw (Royal Portrush Golf Club) NR 78, Iain Winsby (Whitehead Golf Club) NR, David Burns (Cushendall Golf Club) DQ, Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) WD, Fergus McCambridge (Cushendall Golf Club) 79, Fergus Bannon (Ardglass Golf Club) 82, Anthony Kane (Co. Longford Golf Club) 89, Glenn McCreery (Knock) 92. 

John Ferriter (Chairman, Leinster Golf, GUI) presenting Joshua McCabe (Roganstown) with the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 Series Trophy (sponsored by Titleist) after his victory at the Castle Golf Club (06/08/2015). Also in the picture are John McCormack (General Manager, Castle Golf Club) and Seamus McCabe (Father). Picture by Pat Cashman

Roganstown's Joshua McCabe claimed the Titleist Footjoy sponsored Leinster Under 13 Series at Castle. He was one of the leading qualifiers for the final from July's outing at Malahide.

Titleist-Footjoy Leinster Under 13 Series, Castle GC (CSS 71 SSS 71)Gross Stableford Pts

• 32 Joshua McCabe (Roganstown)
• 30 Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass)
• 29 Thomas Harte (Castle); Mark Duggan (Highfield); Dylan Keating (Seapoint)
• 27 Robert Galligan (Elm Park)
• 26 James Fleming (Elm Park)
• 25 David O'Malley (Black Bush); Niall O'Callaghan (Greenore)

Joshua McCabe (Roganstown) bunkered at the 15th hole during the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 series Final (sponsored by Titleist) at the Castle Golf Club (06/08/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Joshua McCabe (Roganstown) winner of the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 series Final (sponsored by Titleist) at the Castle Golf Club (06/08/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Mark Duggan (Highfield) driving at the 16th hole during the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 series Final (sponsored by Titleist) at the Castle Golf Club today (06/08/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Dylan Keating (Seapoint) lining up his putt at the 15th hole during the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 series Final (sponsored by Titleist) at the Castle Golf Club (06/08/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass) bunkered at the 15th hole during the 2015 Leinster Boys' Under 13 series Final (sponsored by Titleist) at the Castle Golf Club (06/08/2015). Picture by Pat Cashman

Rory McIlroy's ankle. Click to expand. Image: Instagram/Rory Mcilroy

Rory McIlroy's damaged left ankle continues to be a source of speculation and 21 hours after posting video of a rehab session, the world No 1 has treated us to two pictures of his ankle, neither of which is current.

"4 and a half and 3 and a half weeks ago respectively... I've come a long way since," he tells his 647,000 Instagram followers along with two pictures juxtaposed for comparison purposes.

The first image, showing a very swollen left ankle, would have been taken within 24 hours of the injury. The second was snapped the weekend of the The Open.

4 and a half and 3 and a half weeks ago respectively... I've come a long way since.

A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Aug 6, 2015 at 2:35am PDT

How much McIlroy's ankle has improved over the past 16 days is guesswork, but judging by his video yesterday, he's in reasonable shape.

Would a week of golf in Portugal be considered enough to feel "100 percent fit and 100 percent competitive", as he targeted a month ago?

We may find out later today if he is ready to tee it up in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. 

If he does play, he will have gone 53 days without hitting a competitive shot since he finished tied ninth behind world No 2 Jordan Spieth in the US Open at Whistling Straits on June 21.

Jack Hume. Picture: Pat Cashman

Jack Hume is a modest lad despite his major achievements and he quietly reminded everyone that he's a Walker Cup prospect worth serious consideration when he carded an immaculate, seven under par 65 in the opening round of the International European Amateur Championship in Slovakia.

On a day when the average score for the 144-strong field on the par 72 on the Legend Course at Penati Golf Resort was 71.1 and six of Ireland's eight-strong entry shot in the red, Hume's effort was one of just three bogey-free rounds recorded, bettered only by Haraldur Magnus' eight under 64.

The Icelander's effort was good enough for a share of the lead with Marcus Kinhult — the Swede who held off Cormac Sharvin for the Lytham trophy in May — the Czech Republic's Vitek Novak and England's Scott Gregory.

But like Faithlegg's Robin Dawson, who celebrated his late call up for the Home Internationals with a 65 featuring eight birdies and just one bogey, Hume is tied for fifth in an event that may have a bearing on Nigel Edwards' thinking when the time comes to pick his 10-man team to face the USA at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Dawson birdied the third, fifth and sixth and followed his lone bogey at the 10th with five birdies in the next seven holes.

Hume made no mistakes, however, and followed birdies at second, fourth, sixth, eighth and 11th with an eagle three at the 15th.

No fewer than 80 players broke par and West Waterford and Maynooth University's Gary Hurley shot a 68 worth a share of 20th with the only cloud on his horizon coming in the shape of a bogey five at the 17th.

No doubt Hurley has been trying to ignore the whispers that he's in trouble when it comes to Walker Cup selection and there may never be a better time for him to throw down he gauntlet and reward his undoubted talent with a piece of silverware.

Open Championship hero Paul Dunne, who received a special exemption to join Hurley and Sharvin in the US Amateur in a fortnight, made five birdies in a 69 worth a place inside the top 30  with Gavin Moynihan (70) and Alex Gleeson (71) in the top half of the field.

Ballymena's Dermot McElroy had a the veritable rollercoaster 72.

After a par-eagle-birdie start, the West of Ireland champion bogeyed his nest five holes to turn in two over only to birdie the 10th and 11th and round off a strange day with seven consecutive pars.

Sharvin, who is Ireland's leading player at 15th in the world since he won the Brabazon Trophy, went out in four over 40 before pulling back a couple of shots with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine.

The field will be cut to the top 60 and ties after Friday's third round. To see the venue live, there are webcams here.

International European Amateur Championship, Penati Golf Resort; Legend Course; Slovakia (Par 72)

Detailed scores

T1 KINHULT, Marcus Skaftö Gk -8 64

T1 NOVAK, Vitek Golf Club Karlovy Vary -8 64

T1 MAGNUS, Haraldur Golf Club Reykjavik -8 64

T1 GREGORY, Scott Corhampton -8 64

T5 ARNAUS, Adria Can Cuyas Golf -7 65

T5 DAWSON, Robin Faithlegg -7 65 

T5 DETRY, Thomas Royal Golf Club Of Belgium -7 65 

T5 MAZZOLI, Stefano Monticello -7 65 

T5 HUME, Jack Rathsallagh -7 65  

T5 CIANCHETTI, Luca Modena Golf -7 65

T20 HURLEY, Gary West Waterford/Nuim -4 68

T29 DUNNE, Paul Greystones -3 69

T48 MOYNIHAN, Gavin The Island -2 70

T63 GLEESON, Alex Castle -1 71

T81 MCELROY, Dermot Balymena Par 72

T116 SHARVIN, Cormac Ardglass Golf Club +2 74

Belvoir Park

Home boy Dominic Pollock blasted a five under 66 to grab a share of the halfway lead in the Ulster Youths Amateur Open at Belvoir Park.

He shares top spot on level par 142 with Charlesland's Keith Murphy (67), Cairndhu's Neil McKinstry (71) and Shandon Park's former South of Ireland winner, Stuart Bleakley (71).

Killarney's Tommy O'Driscoll is just one off the pace after a 71. 

Pollock birdied the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and 10th to get to four under, and then followed back to back bogeys at the 12th and 13th with an eagle three at the 15th.

Ulster Youths Amateur Open, Belvoir Park (Par 71)

Detailed scores / Round 3 tee-times

142 Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 76 66, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 75 67, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 71 71, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 71 71 

143 Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 72 71 

145 Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 72, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 70 75 

146 William Small (Tandragee Golf Club) 73 73 

147 Peter McKeever (Castle) 78 69, Karl Eccles (Clandeboye) 75 72, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 75 72 

148 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 76 72, Jamie Dunne (Borris Golf Club) 72 76, Kyle McCarron (North West) 72 76, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 69 79 

149 Christopher Morgan (Dunmurry) 76 73, Ross Dutton (Tandragee Golf Club) 76 73, Mathew Murphy (Clandeboye) 75 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 75 74, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 75 74 

150 Owen Crooks (Bushfoot Golf Club) 78 72, Ronan O'Callaghan (Mannan Castle Golf Club) 78 72, Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock Golf Club) 77 73, Chris Black (Dunmurry) 76 74, Jonathan Greer (Greenisland Golf Club) 75 75, Andrew Clegg (Donaghadee Golf Club) 73 77 

151 Michael McSherry (Lurgan Golf Club) 80 71, Luke Bradley (Buncrana Golf Club) 76 75, Darragh Fitzgerald (Limerick Golf Club) 76 75, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 75 76, Shane McClean (Foyle) 74 77, Gabriel Gribben (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 73 78 , Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee Golf Club) 72 79,  

152 Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 80 72, Jordan Logue (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) 80 72, Peadar O'beirn (Athenry Golf Club) 80 72, Jack Blake (Island) 79 73, Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock Golf Club) 77 75, Nathan McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 77 75, Liam Bresnahan (Omagh Golf Club) 76 76, Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall Golf Club) 76 76, Henry Clark (Shandon Park Golf Club) 74 78, Ross Nelson (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 73 79, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 73 79 

153 Darragh Conlon (Athenry Golf Club) 79 74, Thomas Beaumont (Bangor Golf Club) 79 74, Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 78 75, Peter Fleming (Galway Golf Club) 78 75, Luke Robinson (Bundoran Golf Club) 75 78 

154 Conor Hynds (Ardglass Golf Club) 81 73, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 80 74, Oisin Devereux (Carton House Golf Club) 79 75, Jack Madden (Dungannon Golf Club) 79 75, Pauraic McNelis (Fintona Golf Club) 78 76

Non-qualifiers

154 Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club) 78 76, Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 77 77, Joshua Robinson (Lisburn Golf Club) 75 79 

155 Jake Rowe (Tandragee Golf Club) 80 75, Thomas Dillon (Mourne) 76 79 

156 Adam Mulhall (Ardglass Golf Club) 82 74, Alec Myles (Newlands) 80 76, Jack McKenna (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 80 76, Darragh Hobbs (Courtown Golf Club) 79 77, Conor Stone (Carton House Golf Club) 79 77, Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin) 79 77, Ryan Thompson (Greenacres Golf Club) 79 77, John Cleary (Elm Park Golf Club) 79 77, Conal Patterson (Lurgan Golf Club) 78 78, Hugh O'Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 77 79, Declan Kelly (Hermitage Golf Club) 77 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 75 81, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 74 82 

157 Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 81 76, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 80 77, Christian Kennedy (Lisburn Golf Club) 75 82, Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 74 83 

158 Dylan Brophy (Castleknock Golf Club) 82 76, Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 80 78, Peter Cummins (Lurgan Golf Club) 79 79, Ross Latimer (Knock) 76 82, Peter Henry (Fintona Golf Club) 75 83 

159 Jason McCann (Lurgan Golf Club) 80 79, Scott Nelson (Banbridge Golf Club) 80 79, Craig Melvin (Corrstown Golf Club) 77 82 

160 Scott Jones (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 83 77, Conor Smart (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 82 78, Mark Mckenna (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 82 78, Eamonn McAleer (Omagh Golf Club) 81 79, James Maginn (Mourne) 80 80, Eamonn O'driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 74 86 

161 Dean Crawford (Moyola Park) 85 76, Duncan Fleming (Dunmurry) 83 78, Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 83 78, Nathan Kernaghan (Massereene Golf Club) 79 82, Craig Bolger (Carlow Golf Club) 78 83, Brian Jnr Fehily (Newlands) 78 83 

162 Conor Glennon (Glasson Golf Club) 87 75, David McAleenon (Edenmore Golf Club) 82 80, Gary Trotter (Aughnacloy) 82 80, Kyle Patton (Lisburn Golf Club) 81 81, Ross Winning (Greenisland Golf Club) 80 82, Ted Harman (Balmoral Golf Club) 78 84, Harry Mcgeary (Dungannon Golf Club) 77 85, Thomas Gracey (Dunmurry) 76 86, Deaglan Pollock (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 76 86 

163 Eoin J O'Brien (Clontarf Golf Club) 88 75, Patrick Nicol (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 87 76, Niall Pratt (Foxrock Golf Club) 85 78, Aaron Lennie (Clandeboye) 83 80, Sean Denny (Castleblayney Golf Club) 81 82, Ben Graham (Scrabo Golf Club) 81 82, Ryan McNelis (Fintona Golf Club) 79 84, Niall Doran (Mourne) 79 84 

164 Brendan O'Neill (Citywest Resort) 86 78, Caolan Murphy (Greenore Golf Club) 84 80, Adam Price (Delgany Golf Club) 82 82, Ronan McCambridge (Cushendall Golf Club) 82 82, Cameron Mills (Shandon Park Golf Club) 82 82, Dean Mulligan (Greenore Golf Club) 81 83, Gareth Kilgallon (Greenore Golf Club) 81 83 

165 Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass Golf Club) 79 86 

166 Andrew Moore (Bangor Golf Club) 81 85, Ciaran Smyth (Greenore Golf Club) 80 86 

167 Ward Farrell (Dunmurry) 85 82, Johnathan Hewitt (Loughgall Golf Club) 82 85, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 81 86, Eoin Kelly (Co. Meath Golf Club) 80 87 

168 Dylan Lambe (Roganstown G & CC Golf Club) 87 81, Conor McDonald (Lurgan Golf Club) 86 82, Sam Sweeney (Seapoint Golf Club) 84 84, Graham Lynch (Co. Louth Golf Club) 81 87 

169 Jude Maskey (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 83 86 

170 Conor Harte (Castle) 83 87 

172 Campbell Rodgers (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 81 91 

176 Peter Morgan (Dunmurry) 91 85 

178 Richard Ross Alexander (Holywood Golf Club) 87 91 

186 Danny Madden (Dungannon Golf Club) 93 93 

NR/WD Matthew Bertenshaw (Royal Portrush Golf Club) NR 78, Iain Winsby (Whitehead Golf Club) NR, David Burns (Cushendall Golf Club) DQ, Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club) WD, Fergus McCambridge (Cushendall Golf Club) 79, Fergus Bannon (Ardglass Golf Club) 82, Anthony Kane (Co. Longford Golf Club) 89, Glenn McCreery (Knock) 92. 

Olivia Mehaffey. Picture/LGU

Olivia Mehaffey was one of the stars of the show with two wins as Ireland beat hosts Scotland 6-3 on the first day of the Girls Home International matches at Lanark.

Junior Vagliano Trophy player Shannon McWilliam and Chloe Goadby put the first point on the board for Scotland by beating Julie McCarthy and Ciara Casey 3 and 2, despite some spirited Irish resistance.

But Ireland took a 2-1 lead into the singles as the Junior Vagliano Trophy pairing of Annabel Wilson and Mairead Martin beat Hazel MacGarvie and Molly Richmond 5 and 4 with par golf - no birdies, no bogeys. Wilson and Martin were three up after eight holes and clinched victory by winning the 12th and 13th.

The Irish buggy today. Picture/LGU

Mehaffey and Niamh McSherry took on Emma Hale and Claire Robertson and while the Scots did well to be square after seven holes and were only one down with five to play, Mehaffey and McSherry chalked up their third birdie of the round at the 15th to go two up and halved the next two holes for a hard-earned 2 and 1 win and a 2-1 lead for Ireland at lunch.

In the singles, it finished 4-2 for Ireland with Mehaffey leading from the front as she made five birdies in a 5 and 4 over her Junior Vagliano Trophy team mate Shannon McWilliam at the top of the order.

Julie McCarthy, Elisa Corcoran and Lisa O’Shea also won.

Forrest Little talent McCarthy three birdies and finished roughly one under par in beating Jillian Farrell by 4 and 3 while O’Shea beat Molly Richmond by 5 and 4 with two-over-par figures that included three birdies.  

Corcoran claimed the scalp of Scotland’s second Junior Vagliano Trophy player, Hazel MacGarvie, by a 5 and 3 margin. 

There was some consolation for the Scots in wins by Joanne Free and Chloe Goadby against two Junior Vagliano Trophy team players in the Irish line-up, Annabel Wilson and Mairead Martin. 

Free beat Wilson by one hole after winning the 13th and 14th holes to go two up. Wilson hit back with a winning bidie at the 15th but Free held on grimly to her narrow lead over the closing holes to finish one up. 

The Scot was level par. Goadby was two over par in winning by 2 and 1 against Martin. The Scot led for the first time at the eighth but quickly added successes at the 10th and 11th to be three up. Martin came with a late charge, winning the 15th and 16th but Goadby won the 17th for the match.

Holders England beat Wales 8-1. 

England play Scotland on Thursday with Ireland taking on the Welsh girls.

Results and draw

Rory McIlroy working on his ankle stability in the gym

He might not be booked in for a practice round at Whistling Straits but Rory McIlroy's left ankle looks like it could take the strain of a PGA Championship defence on the evidence of the Instagram video he posted today.

The world No 1 is expected to announced tomorrow whether or not he has recovered fully from his July 4 injury and can defend the title. But judging by the video that appears to have been made in the gym at Denis O'Brien's Quinta do Lago resort in Portugal — and backed up by comments from professionals in the sports conditioning industry — McIlroy appears to be ready to come back.

Working hard every day to come back stronger #dontmindthegrind

A video posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Aug 5, 2015 at 6:17am PDT

McIlroy reported on July 6 that he has suffered a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends" on July 4, posting a picture of himself on crutches.

A few days later, posting a picture of a foot in a surgical boot, he announced he was unable to defend his Open Championship title at St Andrews, reporting that he was taking a long term view of the injury and adding that "although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive."

On Monday, Reuters reported that he was pencilled in for a practice round at Whistling Straits this Saturday, which his publicist Terry Prone denied.

Replying to a written query, she said: "Not booked for such a round. Still going through the ankle rehab process."

Booked? Scheduled? Planning? Perhaps nuances of meaning are all that are being addressed here.

There was no response from the Communications Clinic when asked if McIlroy had been practicing or whether he had definitively ruled out playing next week - 35 days after suffering what he said on social media was a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends." 

However, a BBC story quotes a "spokesman" as saying on Tuesday that McIlroy's recovery is "ongoing" and that there would be a further update on Thursday.

The spokesman described McIlroy's recovery from a ruptured ankle ligament as "progressing well". 

When contacted, other close confidantes of McIlroy's said they preferred not to confirm or deny any information about the Co Down man's recent golfing activity.

However, it now appears he's very close to announcing that he's ready to come back. Given the hype surrounding his absence, the PGA of America will be happy to let him turn up and practice at Whistling Straits whenever he wants, even if he hasn't booked.

The Q gym at Quinta do Lago

Ireland struggled as England and Scotland come out on top on day one at Boys Home Internationals in Wales.

England opened the defence of their title with a dominant 10.5-4.5 win over Wales at Conwy (Caernarvonshire) Golf Club while Scotland also enjoyed opening day success, defeating Ireland 10-5.

LIVE SCORING

Strong, gusting winds at the North Wales venue meant birdies were harder to come by and a premium was placed on club selection and accuracy as players negotiated the tight gorse-lined fairways.

Derek Hughes’ England side are seeking their fourth Boys Home Internationals title in five years and after they came through a difficult morning foursomes session 3-2, their experience told in the singles, which they won 7.5-2.5.

The top match became the pivotal tie of the foursomes when the in-form Marco Penge and Jamie Li were pushed all the way by Ben Chamberlain and Tom Williams. However, the Welsh challenge unravelled on the 18th with a lost ball off the tee followed by Chamberlain firing his approach out of bounds beyond the final green.

Penge, winner of the Peter McEvoy Trophy, Scottish Open Stroke Play and Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, went on to dominate his singles encounter with Williams and defeated his Welsh opponent 4&3 in the top match in a round containing three birdies and just one dropped shot.

“It was very windy and gusting at 40-50mph,” said Penge. “I was playing against a good player in Tom Williams and knew I had to play well to beat him. I had one bogey and three birdies (in the singles). I picked up birdies at the ninth, 10th and 12th, a nice run around the turn. I was also three up through six and managed to keep things steady from there. I hit fairways and greens and did what I had to do to win.”

Chamberlain redeemed himself with an impressive 7&5 win over Harry Hall. Wales’ lead player this week picked up five birdies in all, including four in five holes from the 10th courtesy of some great putting. “I played great in difficult conditions,” said the Welshman. “I managed to make birdies at the fourth, seventh, ninth, 10th, 11th and 13th. I putted really well and it was a nice way to bounce back after the disappointment of losing the morning foursomes.”

Other positives for hosts Wales came with Matthew Harris’ 3&2 win in the bottom match against Matty Lamb and Jordan Golley’s hard fought halved match with Li in the middle order.

Hughes said, “It was a very tough day for all the teams. I thought the players did very well in how they handled the conditions. We managed to push our way through in the morning foursomes but I was very pleased with how the boys applied themselves in the singles and came out convincing winners. Credit must go to Ben Chamberlain; he was at least five-under-par, maybe six, when he beat Harry Hall. I’ve got some sympathy for Harry.”

For Ireland it was a day of disappointment after they lost the foursomes 3-2 and failed to mount a challenge in the singles despite making a good start.

Scotland’s Sandy Scott and 2014 Junior Open champion Kevin LeBlanc traded blows over the famous Welsh links. However, it was Scott, the Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion, who finished stronger to win the top match 3&1 and set the tone for the afternoon.

Calum Fyfe, who finished runner-up to Scott in the Scottish Boys Stroke Play, and Conor Purcell couldn’t be separated and settled for a halved match before Co Louth’s Thomas Mulligan levelled the early singles tally with a convincing 7&6 win over Niall McMullen. 

Peter Kerr was Ireland’s only other singles winner after he defeated Kieran Cantley 3&2, while Andrew Thomson came back from one down with two to play to halve his match with Ireland’s Devin Morley.

Much of Ireland’s undoing came when Scotland reeled off three consecutive wins through Rory Franssen (2&1) and Darren Howie (4&2) before Will Porter’s 3&2 defeat of Alan Fahy in match six secured the opening day win for Scott Knowles’ side.

Scotland also enjoyed a strong finish with Chris Curran’s two-hole win against Marc Norton in the penultimate match and Murray Naysmith’s 5&4 defeat of Cathal Butler in the anchor match. Butler should take credit for calling a penalty on himself and losing a hole when his ball moved on the back nine unbeknown to his opponent.

Scotland Captain Scott Knowles said, “It’s always a hard fought battle against Ireland. There wasn’t much between the teams, a couple of putts here and there. The boys played really well this afternoon, kept to the game plan and it‘s nice to start with a win. We play Wales tomorrow and will need to push on again. Wales will be a tough match, playing on home turf and they’ll be hurting from their defeat to England.”

England take on Ireland today, while Wales will look to bounce back against Scotland.

Bobby Browne was in his element teaching children at Laytown and Bettystown

Born in 1942, Bobby Browne grew up in the foothills of the Dublin mountains at Edmondstown and by the time he was ten years old, he was caddying regularly at the local club where characters such as Sydney Jackson, Maurice Cohen, Jackie Bloom and the pantomime baddie Vernon Hayden gave him regular employment.

The golfing bug bit hard and Bobby quickly decided that he wanted to make a career in the game. He joined Ernie Jones at Foxrock as an assistant in 1962 and moved across the mountain to Tibradden, commuting to work on an NSU “Quickie” and supplementing his wages by playing “shilling ones” on the practice putting green with the likes of John O’Leary, his first pupil and a future Irish Open winner and European Tour star.

Extra lessons and his prowess with the putter helped him graduate from the NSU to a Moto Guzzi. But he also boosted his income by looking after the young O’Leary, who had fallen in love with the game on a family holiday at Butlins, just a few miles from Laytown & Bettystown. 

“I remember John’s father Willie O’Leary used to give me a pound on Friday for looking after John,” Bobby recalled. “He was my first ever pupil and became my caddie in assistants’ championships and other events. I think I can claim some of the credit for helping him fall in love with the game.

“I remember he had an old wooden driver, a Willie Nolan model with a big open face that he used to hit miles. Now and again he’d skip school and play snooker and golf. He was a very good rugby player too at Blackrock College, on the wing as I recall.”

After a brief spell under Harry Murphy at Newlands, Bobby secured the professional’s job at historic Birr in November 1965 and remained there until 1967, when a vacancy became available at Bettystown following the death of John McGuirk. 

His son Seán, who would go on to become a professional himself and now assists with the running of the shop at Bettystown, was just one year old when Bobby and his wife Carmel rolled into the club for the first time. Carmel was expecting their second child, Robert, at the time and the family lived in a caravan next to the first tee before eventually moving to a home in Laytown.
While he had spent nearly three years at Birr, the 82-mile drive from Dublin to Offaly made it difficult to keep in touch with his old friends in the metropolis, such as Howth’s Johnny McGuirk.

In fact, Bobby clearly recalls driving McGuirk’s new car to Bettystown in those early years and watching in dismay as one of John Drew’s cattle got loose and destroyed not only Justice O’Hagan’s garden, but also McGuirk’s brand new motor

Bobby Browne with Michael Hoey (British Amateur Open champion 2001)

“It was pouring rain,” Bobby recalled. “And we were coming down by Justice O’Hagan’s when a bullock comes dashing out and jumps on the bonnet of the car, mashing the front of it. It was brand new with only 64 miles on the clock but even though I slammed on the brakes, it was too late.”

“Seconds later, the famous Justice O’Hagan appeared through the gate of his garden, followed by five or six more cattle and says, ‘Bobby, look at the state of my garden.’ But Johnny says, ‘Eff your garden, look at the state of my effing car.’”

In the end, good sense prevailed and McGuirk succeeded in having his car repaired at the farmer’s expense, though cattle continued to be a menace to the golfers before the course was enclosed completely.

Bettystown was a buzzing holiday resort in the 1960s and early 1970s, but the lack of fencing around the course made it difficult to hold on to pins and flags, which were regularly “liberated” by holiday makers in the early hours of the morning. This meant more work for the professional, who was forced to fashion pins from bamboo canes and make flags by cutting up plastic cement bags. Stones from the beach were used as simple tee markers before a child’s sandcastle bucket was used a mold for cement versions in later years.

Greenkeeping kept Bobby busy in those early years and admits that the extensive changes made to every hole on the course could never have taken place had it not been for the contributions of the members and the greens staff, especially Jim Reynolds and Tom Wilde.

“Jim was a genius,” Bobby recalled. “He cycled up here from Mornington every day and l reckon he knew more about grasses and chemicals than almost anyone else in the country at the time. He would cut his quota of nine greens with a push mower up until the late 60s and would have built most of the greens with a wheelbarrow and pure physical force. We would spend thousands on machinery now but it was a struggle to get a fiver at that time. Many of the members would have assisted in building greens and if we had an emergency job on, they would turn up in forece to help lift and carry sods. It seems like a long time ago now.”

Money was still tight in those days and the treasurer, Con Murphy controlled the club’s purse strings with an iron fist, examining every expenses in forensic detail.

“I went to Lenehan’s hardware one day in the early 70s,” Bobby explained, “and I saw these red, aluminium signs with ILGU painted on them. So I took 18 of them at £2.50 each and the bill came into the club a few weeks later: Tee markers, £45. Mr Murphy comes out to me with the bill and tells me that £45 is far too much for tee markers. We had to send them back.”

Des Smyth, Robert Lee, Bobby Browne, Declan Branigan and Ian Woosnam, 1986. (Click to expand)

The lengthening and upgrading of the golf course occupied much of Bobby’s time for the next 20 years, though the changes were not always welcomed. “Some said that if the golf course was good enough for their ancestors, it should be good enough for us,” Bobby explained. “But they didn’t know the equipment was going to change or that the ball was going to change and it was vital that we carried out those changes.”

Apart from his work redesigning Bettystown and creating other courses, such as Bearna in Galway, Bobby continued to prove his worth as a coach, a player and an administrator. His work with junior golfers, which continues to day, made Bettystown synonymous with excellence in under-age golf. But he was also an accomplished player in his own right, winning the Southern Championship at Baltray in 1975 and the Moran Cup three times, including a fourball edition alongside his opposite number at Baltray, Paddy McGuirk. 

Sixteen-year-old junior Frankie Flynn wins the 1975 captain’s prize. L-R: Bobby Browne, John Daly (Capt.), Seán Taylor, Con Murphy (Hon. Sec.)

An enthusiastic competitor on the European Tour from 1962 until his final appearance at the Irish Open in Killarney in 1992, he once held more than a dozen course records in Ireland but would be the first to admit that his putting and mental game let him down. 

“There were other avenues to concentrate on apart from playing,” he said. “I loved teaching and I was heavily involved in improving the golf course here in Bettystown. As a player I suppose I was more accomplished as a one-round wonder. My attitude was poor but I enjoyed seeing pupils like John O’Leary do well. The game needed characters like John. He was flamboyant and he’d always have a bit of fun.”

Ironically, one of the highlights of Browne’s playing career came against O’Leary in the 1976 Carroll’s Irish Matchplay Championship at Tramore, when the master beat the student three and two in a first round tie that caused a storm of controversy.

O’Leary was one of the leading players on the European Tour at that time and had only agreed to play in the event on the understanding that the draw would be seeded, guaranteeing him a reasonably stress-free first round tie against one of the weaker players in the field. The organisers agreed and made O’Leary the top seed. But the Foxrock man almost withdrew when he discovered that he would be facing his former coach in the first round. Without the benefit of a practice round, O’Leary had problems clubbing himself properly and while he went round in level par, R.J. was in inspired form and won easily. Having come to the tournament straight from a pro-am on the Channel Islands, O’Leary was incensed with the organisers afterwards, threatening never to play another event under the auspices of the Irish PGA. “I think he was a little bit afraid of me,” Bobby chuckled. “But it was all forgotten about soon afterwards.”

Bobby’s popularity with the members grew each year and he always gave 100 percent, especially in events such as the Pro-Captains tournament. John Daly was captain in 1975 and for two weeks before the big event at Grange, Bobby refused to allow him to practice with any club other than a four-iron.

“John would be the first to admit that he is not the greatest golfer in the world,” Bobby recalled. “So I hatched a cunning plan. I took him out on the range with a four-iron and every time we had a problem in the tournament, I gave him the four-iron and we were going brilliantly. In fact, we were going so well that by the time we got to the turn, an official manning the scoreboard didn’t believe me when I said we had 27 and a half on the front nine. ‘Bobby, you’ve got that wrong,’ he said. ‘You mean 37 and a half.’ But I told him I had made no mistake. There were drinks on the ninth tee, we had a gin and tonic, and on we went. 

Saturday morning lessons on the 18th fairway with Bobby conducting affairs from the centre was a familiar scene at Laytown and Bettystown.

“Unfortunately, that’s when it all went downhill. John didn’t quite have a fresh air on the 10th tee, but he hit one right off the toe of the club and it scuttled through our legs into a big heap of nettles and we had a nine at the hole. Still, we finished third and John was so delighted to get a piece of Waterford Glass that it was just as big a thrill as winning. In fact, I won the Pro-Captains with Dick Walsh at Dundalk in 1993. Happy days indeed.”

Teaching gave Bobby even more pleasure than playing mid-week money matches with Des Smyth and Declan Branigan. And his coaching of players such as Philip Walton, British Amateur champion Michael Hoey, Philomena and Carol Wickham, Oonagh Purfield, Sheena O’Brien-Kenney, Deirdre Smith, Suzanne and Jody Fanagan, and Damien McGrane is still a source of great pride.

“Bobby is a wonderful club pro,” Des Smyth said. “He was great for the kids, great for the juniors. He had a fantastic interest in the game and he was a marvellous addition to the club.” 
Hoey recalled: “He was real old school but a great teacher. He didn’t complicate things and I’ll always be grateful to him for the time and encouragement he gave me.”

Walton was just 16 years old when he lifted captain Con Murphy’s prize in 1978, beating Val Smyth on a count back. Indeed, Laytown & Bettystown must be one of the few clubs in the world with two Ryder Cup players on the list of captain’s prize winners following Des Smyth’s victory in Derek Alwright’s prize in 1970. Recalling his win years later, Walton remembers being so confident of victory that he tried unsuccessfully to place a hefty bet on himself with R.J.

“I walked into the shop and I asked Bobby what price I was,” Walton said. “I was 66-1 as it turned out and I remember slapping one of those old tenners down on the counter and walking away. But Bobby whistles after me, telling me I’ve forgotten my change. It was a pound a man, he said. I still said I wanted a tenner on it, but Bobby was having none of it.” 

When Robbie met Bobby

He was just a teenager when he hiked two miles from Laytown railway station with his clubs on his back to take lessons from Bobby Browne. Little did Robbie Cannon know then that nearly fourteen years after he first made that trek, he would win his first amateur major and his first Irish cap in the space of a month. In an age dominated by full-time amateurs, Robbie’s victory in the 2009 South of Ireland Amateur Championship at Lahinch at the age of thirty was an outstanding achievement for player and club. Not only did he become the first player from Laytown & Bettystown to etch his name on that famous old trophy, he was also the first member of the
club to win a major men’s amateur championship since Declan Branigan’s famous triple crown of 1981.

While he played most of his club golf with Balbriggan, Robbie knew Bettystown well through his connection with Bobby Browne, and he jumped at the chance to join when Ray Moore suggested that playing more links golf over the winter months might help his game:

Robbie Cannon with the 2009 South of Ireland Championship

I had been going down to Bettystown since I was sixteen to get lessons from Bobby. I used to get the train from Balbriggan and walk the two miles up the road with my clubs on my back. Bobby definitely played a big part in my early development as a player and I will always be grateful to him. He is a fantastic teacher because he can spot anything in your swing. I had made the Leinster team in 2001, but I didn’t feel like I was achieving my full potential in the championships. It was Ray Moore who suggested that I might like to come to the club and it was huge for me to be able to play links golf all year round. Without a doubt, the move to Bettystown played a huge part in winning the South and making the Irish team. Robbie beat Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty by 4 and 3 in the final of the 2009 South and his performance was so impressive that the Irish selectors had no hesitation in calling him up for the Home International matches at Hillside in September. It was not a memorable week for the Irish team, but Cannon played his part, winning 2 1⁄2 points: ‘To win a championship and play for Ireland were huge ambitions of mine. It was a great thrill to pull on that green sweater and represent my country. To do it in Bettystown’s
centenary year made it all the sweeter.’

Bobby Browne has introduced hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people to the game of golf. But he will always be remembered for his incredible contribution as Captain of the Irish Professional Golfer’s Association in 1971 and chairman for 20 years between 1969 and 1989, he represented the PGA of Ireland during its amalgamation with the PGA in 1984. Chairman of the Irish PGA in 2000 and captain in its centenary year of 2001, he played a major role in improving the lot of professionals and their assistants and the setting up of training schemes with ANCO. He was rewarded for his dedication in 2008 when he became the first recipient of the Irish PGA’s Distinguished Service Award in a ceremony at The K Club. 

His wife Carmel, sons Seán, Robert and Ciarán and daughters Annette, Elaine and Sarah know just how big a contribution he has made and they can be justifiably proud of the achievements of one of the club’s greatest servants.

This piece is an extract from Out of Bent and Sand, A centenary history of Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club 1909—2009

Michael Hoey is Tournament Ambassador for this week’s Northern Ireland Open and Galgorm Castle’s Touring Professional

Michael Hoey comes into this week’s Northern Ireland Open, in association with SPHERE Global and Ulster Bank, showing some of his best form of the season after a run to the quarter-finals in last week’s Paul Lawrie Match play event in Scotland.

The 36-year-old showed tournament winning form with his 7 and 6 thumping of Frenchman Gregory Havret to set up a quarter-final clash with Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the inaugural European Tour event at Murcar Links near Aberdeen. 

For much of the quarter-final Hoey looked in control but eventually lost 2 and 1 to Aphibarnrat, who went on to win the event after defeating Sweden’s Robert Karlsson in yesterday’s final.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect that…it was good golf,” said Hoey of his fine performance against Havret. “I’m remembering some shots from a long time ago when I won the British Amateur (2001). And I’m holing a few putts too.” 

Hoey will be hoping the putter stays hot for this week’s NI Open at Galgorm Castle where he is the venue’s Touring Professional and this week’s Tournament Ambassador for one of the biggest events on the European Challenge Tour schedule.

“People often say to me, 'how's your tournament going',” said Hoey, now in his third year as NI Open Tournament Ambassador. “Well, it's not 'my tournament' but that's a nice thing to hear. I am playing a part in it and I'd like to think that I have helped get support for the tournament. 

Perhaps the only downside of Hoey’s association with the event so far has been on the golf course after his failure to make the halfway cut in two attempts. It's not for the want of trying and it's not easy being the face of a tournament, just ask Rory McIlroy or Germany's Martin Kaymer, who both missed out at their respective national opens this year.

“I am not going in with any expectations, none whatsoever. I will focus on just making the cut and if I do that, we'll look to push on over the weekend,” said the five-time European Tour winner.

Hoey will be joined at Galgorm by many household names, including fellow Irish European Tour winners; Damien McGrane (Volvo China Open 2008), Peter Lawrie (Open de Espana 2008) and Simon Thornton (St Omer Open 2013). Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee is the highest ranked Irish player in the Road to Oman standings (18th) and will look to get back into the top 15 at Galgorm. (The top 15 players earn full European Tour Cards at the end of the season).    

After 13 years on the road, Hoey has experienced plenty of ups and downs associated with playing golf for a living and has been able to pass on advice to the likes of Castledawson’s Chris Selfridge, who joined the paid ranks earlier this year and will also compete at Galgorm.

“Chris has long-term ambitions to progress onto the PGA Tour,” said Hoey, whose best finish to date this season is tied seventh in the BMW International. “Working your way up from Challenge Tour through to the European Tour is still the best approach.

“Having events like the NI Open means that players like Chris can get more starts on the Challenge Tour which is vital for their development.” 

Hoey would also welcome more Irish company out on tour. “The likes of Graeme (McDowell), Darren (Clarke) and Rory (McIlroy) play a world schedule while I focus on Europe. From a selfish point of view, having someone else to travel with, to practice with would be helpful for me.”

Hoey doesn’t have far to travel this week and will hope to put on a show in front of home crowds. 

This is Galgorm Castle’s third year of hosting the €170,000 European Challenge Tour event and each time this annual Northern Ireland spectacle returns bigger and better than before.

Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren won the 2014 Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle with a 13-under-par 271 tota 

A record attendance of over 34,000 spectators came through the gates in 2014 to witness Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren win and receive the €27,200 top prize.

“Great crowds, especially the last few holes; it felt like a main European Tour event,” beamed last year’s winner, echoing the thoughts of so many of his fellow professionals.

This week’s key date on the international schedule ensured a top quality field for the NI Open as it is played the same week as the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. With no regular European Tour event, it means a number of main tour players, from home and abroad, arrive in Ballymena to take on the pristine championship layout at Galgorm.    

One of the main attractions will be five-time European Tour winner Hoey, who is also the NI Open Tournament Ambassador and Galgorm’s Touring Professional. 

“I am not going in with any expectations this year, none whatsoever,” said Hoey, who missed the cut the last two years, but has shown good form of late after reaching the quarter-final of last week’s Paul Lawrie Match Play event on the main European Tour. 

“There is no doubt the field is strengthened by the date. It means European Tour regulars like Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie and Simon Thornton and other can all play.”

Thornton (St Omer Open 2013), McGrane (Volvo China Open 2008) and Lawrie (Open de Espana 2008) are all European Tour winners and bring a wealth of experience to the event.

Other former European Tour winners at Galgorm include England’s Nick Dougherty and Ross McGowan plus Wales’ Phillip Price, who famously defeated Phil Mickelson in the singles of the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry.

Javier Ballesteros has one of the most famous surnames in golf and the son of legendary five-time Major winner Seve will be hoping to make a big impression this week. Ballesteros is one of many aspiring professionals cutting his teeth on the European Challenge Tour since turning professional last year.

Thornton recognises the value of the NI Open, especially for young players starting out. “It’s an important stepping stone for all aspiring golfers,” he said. “Without this event, some of these guys don’t get a chance - simple as that. In a way the NI Open creates a career start for these guys and hopefully they get on a run.”

One player taking full advantage is Chris Selfridge, who only turned professional in May but has maximised his opportunities with five top 25 finishes in his first six outings.

“I feel very comfortable out here (on tour) and things have started well,” said the 23-year-old from Castledawson, who picked up eight Challenge Tour invites through the NI Open and his management company BlackStar Sports. “Without the NI Open I wouldn’t have invites and without the invites I wouldn’t have turned pro, not right now at least.” 

There are many Irish players hoping to make their mark at Galgorm, including Challenge Tour regulars like Niall Kearney, Gareth Shaw, Alan Dunbar, Michael McGeady or the high-flying Ruaidhri McGee.

McGee (24) has been the model of consistency with six top 20 finishes, including tied second in Madrid and third in the KPMG Trophy in Belgium. The highest placed Irishman on the Road to Oman standings is fighting for one of the 15 European Tour cards on offer at the end of the season.

However, Irish representation won’t have it all their own way at Galgorm as the overseas challenge will be varied and plenty. Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia tops the standings in a season that began with six top 10s – including two runners-up in Kenya and Madrid – before winning the Aegean Airlines Challenge in Germany.

Gouveia is closely followed by the in-form Rhys Davies, who is looking for a third win that would give him automatic promotion back to the European Tour. The Welshman won the Turkish Airlines Challenge and the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana.

“It’s really nice to play well again and win…I’ll regroup and try for a third,” said the 30-year-old Davies, who won the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco on the European Tour five years ago.  

Nacho Elvira is another two-time winner this season with plenty to play for at Galgorm after winning in his home country in Madrid and again in Austria. England’s Max Orrin, who pushed Lagergren close for a time at Galgorm in 2014, enjoyed his second Challenge Tour win in Denmark in May and will welcome a return to the province.

Three elite Irish amateurs will compete at Galgorm including John-Ross Galbraith, who recently won the North of Ireland Amateur Championship at Portrush. The Whitehead golfer received an invite from the Golfing Union of Ireland (Ulster Branch) alongside fellow Irish international Colm Campbell from Warrenpoint (both played in 2014). Massereene’s Tiarnan McLarnon booked his place after winning Galgorm Castle’s North of Ireland Strokeplay title earlier in the season.

Ballyclare's Gareth Maybin, who caddied for a friend in the recent South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch, is out action with a wrist injury and may not play again this season.

(Entry to the NI Open is free, simply register online at www.niopen.co.uk/tickets)

One of my favorite shots from yesterday... Shows just how dark it was getting at the end!

A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Aug 11, 2014 at 4:51pm PDT

His PR spokesperson might have shot down an agency story suggesting he's planning a practice round at Whistling Straits on Saturday but there is positive talk in Irish golf circles that Rory McIlroy will come back from his ankle injury for his PGA Championship defence next week after all.

Two sources insist that McIlroy was at the Quinta do Lago golf resort in Portugal last week — a complex owned by Irish businessman Denis O'Brien, who has become friendly with the four-time major winner.

Other sources within Irish golf are confidently expecting the current world No 1 to defend the Wanamaker Trophy next week in what would represent a rapid comeback from an injury than can take up to three months to heal fully.

McIlroy's PR spokesperson, Terry Prone of the Communications Clinic, said on Tuesday that contrary to a Reuters report, he was not booked in to play a practice round at Whistling Straits this coming Saturday.

Replying to a written query, she said: "Not booked for such a round. Still going through the ankle rehab process."

Booked? Scheduled? Planning? Perhaps nuances of meaning are all that are being addressed here.

There was no response from the Communications Clinic when asked if McIlroy had been practicing or whether he had definitively ruled out playing next week - 35 days after suffering what he said on social media was a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends." 

However, a BBC story quotes a "spokesman" as saying on Tuesday that McIlroy's recovery is "ongoing" and that there would be a further update on Thursday.

The spokesman described McIlroy's recovery from a ruptured ankle ligament as "progressing well". 

When contacted, other close confidantes of McIlroy's said they preferred not to confirm or deny any information about the Co Down man's recent golfing activity.

When it come to official updates, McIlroy's entourage will do the talking, it appears.

A Thursday update on McIlroy's PGA plans would likely take away from first round coverage of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, a tournament he won last year, where Jordan Spieth has a chance to take over as world No 1 with a win. 

McIlroy said within days of suffering his left ankle injury that he was taking "a long term view" of his injury, adding, "although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive."

 

It appears that Rory McIlroy will not be making a miraculous comeback in the US PGA next week after all.

According to his publicist, he's not booked for a practice round at Whistling Straits this Saturday and continues the rehabilitation process.

Asked about a Reuters report on Sunday night, Terry Prone of the Communications Clinic wrote: "Not booked for such a round. Still going through the ankle rehab process."

Reuters reported on Sunday that McIlroy had booked a practice round at US PGA venue Whistling Straits on Saturday — 35 days after suffering what he said was a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends."

Sheboygan County Memorial Airport

Reports that Rory McIlroy could be contemplating a US PGA practice round at Whistling Straits on Saturday — 35 days after suffering what he said was a "total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends" — suggests he has made a very rapid recovery.

As Paul McGinley said when he heard about the injury: "I'd like to find out a little bit more because sometimes these injuries can settle down very quickly."

What McIlroy suffered was a Grade III injury to his ankle and as Robert Arciero, the president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, told The Washington Post in an e-mail shortly after Mcilroy made the news public on social media: “It is amazing how quickly someone can recover from this injury."

Arciero advised against trying to play in The Open and McIlroy did not defend his title. He also announced last week that he would not be defending the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this week. 

Other medial experts have expressed the view that playing less than six weeks after the injury is a risk. Others have said it could take 12 weeks to heal. 

Playing so soon is a risk. Is it a risk that McIlroy's prepared to take? 

With a 20-year career ahead of him, the answer would logically appear to be 'no'. But McIlroy, if the Reuters sources are correct, is obviously feeling better physically lending credence to unconfirmed reports that the 26-year old Co Down man was seen hitting balls at Quinta do Lago's driving range in Portugal just last week.

Given that he said shortly after the injury that "after much consideration" he had decided not to defend The Open and it's possible that the injury is not as bad as first feared or there would have been zero discussion about going to the Home of Golf

"I’m taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive," McIlroy wrote on Instagram on July 8, four days after the injury.

McIlroy’s assistant, Sean O’Flaherty, said at St Andrews nearly three weeks ago that the world No 1 was in good spirits and didn't need months to be 100 percent competitive once fit.

O'Flaherty said: “Will he be hitting balls in a month? Don’t know. Will he be hitting balls in six weeks? Don’t know. Will he be hitting balls in three months? I don’t know. 

“I am not a doctor. All I know is that until he can have the relative movement, he won’t be hitting balls.... 

"100 percent fit is 100 percent fit. But Rory always starts the year in Abu Dhabi and he starts very well and generally does about five or six days to get ready. He doesn’t need that much leeway. A lot of guys need months. He doesn’t need months to get sharp.”

Asked if McIlroy fans should buy their tickets for the US PGA, O'Flaherty joked: “All I can say is definitely buy your tickets for the Race to Dubai. He’ll definitely be back before then.”

According to Reuters, O'Flaherty did not immediately respond to queries on the practice round booking.

Given the extent of the hype surrounding McIlroy's recently released video game, keeping him at the front of the news cycle is possibly a good thing for sales.

McIlroy will not want for good advice and his trainer, Dr Steve McGregor, knows all about the perils of coming back too soon from serious injury.

Lee Westwood ruptured the plantris muscle in his right leg injury during the French Open when he was world No 1 in 2010 and while he came back two weeks later to finish second in The Open at St Andrews, he played the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and was forced to withdraw after just two rounds.

As a result of the injury, he was unable to practice properly for the rest of the year, even though he was highly competitive in the four events he did manage to finish.

"I know if you're going to play well and contend for tournaments, you have to be practicing hard, and no matter who you are, you need to be pretty much on the top of your game," Westwood said almost a year after his injury.

"To do that you have to be able to go home away from tournaments and work constantly on your game, really, be able to practice."

Westwood was under the care of McGregor at the time and he missed another month of 2010 when he aggravated his injury during the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Links.

“Steve said it wouldn’t be right for six months," he said in Scotland that week. "I don’t want to be stupid, that’s the problem. I made a mistake going to the Bridgestone.”

McIlroy is in danger of losing his world No 1 ranking to reigning Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth. It's probably a small price to pay.

Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) with the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch trophy after his victory at Mullingar Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Alan Lowry does not believe that being Shane Lowry’s brother is a burden, no more then he’s fed up being the son of an Offaly All Ireland title winning legend.

Yesterday, though, it was his turn to enjoy a small taste of the limelight when he produced as gutsy a clutch-putting display down the stretch as you are ever likely to see and defied howling winds gusting up to 35 mph to claim a deserved two-stroke victory in the Mullingar Electrical Scratch Trophy on two under 286.

Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) reacts to his lip out on the final green in the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup. Picture by Pat Cashman

“When I first came out this morning, I thought I needed to post some decent number to be there or thereabouts,” said the Clara man, who started the day five strokes behind halfway leader Joe Lyons on two under par to force Knock’s Colin Fairweather, last week’s South of Ireland runner up, to settle for second place once more.

“But it was so windy I thought under par for the tournament wouldn’t be far away and so I kept grinding, telling myself I wasn’t too far away.

“It was so tough out there that when shots start going, it is so hard to get them back. So I kept plugging along and thankfully I came out a couple of shots ahead.”

Brother Shane putted the lights out as he won with a hugely impressive 17 under par winning total in 2008.

But Alan, who credited his successful Interprovincial debut for Leinster last month with giving him the belief that he could perform under pressure, had to produce hard-nosed, ugly golf to get his first major win on two under par 286.

And he insisted that having the world No 48 as your brother is far more of a help than a hinderance, no matter what people might think.

“I don’t think it’s difficult,” said the 22-year old, who plans to chase further amateur wins as he prepares to begin a two-year Masters in accountancy later this year. “It is great to look up to him. 

“We actually played on Friday and he gave me a little tip about swinging a bit slower and I came up here and I was hitting it a bit easier and obviously I won.

Alan Lowry, flanked by his parents Brendan and Brigid, with the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Trophy. 

“It’s unbelievable to see him up there and I get confidence from seeing him doing what he is doing. So to get my first win here is fantastic. It still hasn’t sunk in.”

As Lyons slipped to tied fourth on two over after rounds of 76 and 77 and Fairweather followed a morning 74 withy a 75 to finish second on level par, it was nerveless short-range putting over the last seven holes that gave the 22-year old Esker Hills and Maynooth University talent his first major victory.

And while it was impressive, he knows how well his brother plays the game and how far he would have to go to even dream of a move into the professional ranks.

“I don’t see myself turing professional unless something extreme happens for me in the game,” he said with a chuckle. “I need to compete more and it’s just the first win for me. You never know though, the floodgates might open…”

Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) laying up at the 16th in the final round of the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup at Mullingar Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

He shot a fine 70 in the morning to grab a share of the lead with Castle’s Daniel Holland, who would fade to 14th after a closing 82, one ahead of Fairweather (74), Lyons (76) and Flanagan (71) on four under par.

And while it was not until he hit a 165 yard nine iron down breeze to 20 feet at the 18th that he knew for sure that victory was within his grasp, it was his putting from the 12th to the 16th that made the difference.

“I didn’t want to know where I stood,” Lowry confessed after chipping over the trees right of the 18th fairway to set up his third shot to the last. “I had a good crowd from home following me and when I saw a few more there with me, I knew I was doing okay.

Colin Fairweather (Knock) anxiously watches his drive at the ninth in the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup. Picture by Pat Cashman

“After I hit my third to the 18th, I heard someone say, ‘That’s the winning shot there.’ I knew if I could two putt from 20 feet it was probably good enough.”

Much had to happen to get into that position and while that swing-it-easy tip from big brother worked a treat, it was his putting that made the difference.

After following a bogey at the short second with a birdie two at the fifth, Lowry soon realised it was going to be a tough day for everyone.

“I bogeyed 7, 9 and 11 and from there I just kept grinding pars out and from 12 to 16 I holed putts for par from between four and seven feet,” he said. “That was key.”

After holing from six feet to avoid a three putt bogey at the 12th, he made downhill five footer for par to avoid another three putt at the 13th, then drained another six footer down hill for par after “making a mess” of the 14th. 

He was tied for the lead on one under with Fairweather, who was two over for his final round through 12 holes with Co Sligo’s Sean Flanagan just a shot off the pace on one-over with three holes to go.

Flanagan would double bogey the 16th, however, and finish par-birdie for a 76 that eventually left him alone in third on level one-over 287.

Aaron Grant (Dundalk) waiting to drive at the 8th tee in the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup. Picture by Pat Cashman

It was all down to Lowry and Fairweather and it was the Offaly man who prevailed down the stretch, holing four footer for par at the 15th before burying a 15 footer for a crucial birdie at the par-five 16th having being forced to hit a nine-iron from 100 yards into the left to right wind just to give himself the chance.

Still, Fairweather matched him on two under with a birdie at the 14th and the title would be decided over Mullingar’s always interesting closing stretch

Having made the crucial birdie at the 16th to edge in front, Lowry knew the 17th would be key, as it is every year.

“I hit a decent drive,” he said. “It wasn’t my longest drive ever but I made sure I hit it straight. I had a three iron in a hit a great good three-iron to 25 or 30 feet and rolled it up close for a  tap in par.”

Daniel Holland (Castle) driving at the ninth tee in the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup. Picture by Pat Cashman

Despite striking the ball well, Fairweather never found his putting touch inb Lahinch or Mullingar and he struggled coming home.

As Lowry headed up the 17th, Fairweather fell out of the lead with bogeys at the 15th 16th and 17th and came to the last needing an albatross to win.

He could only make birdie, adding a 75 to his 74 to finish second on level par 288, one better than Co Sligo’s promise Flanagan with Dundalk pair Aaron Grant and Caolan Rafferty four shots behind the winner alongside Lyons in a share of fourth.

“To be honest, for the whole round today I kept grinding and holing putts for par, taking it shot by shot, not getting ahead of myself,” Lowry said. “I am so happy to come out on top, it means a lot.”

I couldn't be more proud of my little bro @AlanLowry59 getting his first big win today. #mullingarscratchcup

— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) August 3, 2015

Michael Duffy (Captain, Mulingar Golf Club) presenting the 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch trophy to Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) after his victory at Mullingar Golf Club ( 03/08/2015). Also in the picture are Michael Connaughton (President, GUI), Peadar Conlon (sponsor) and Ann Marie Conlon (sponsor). Picture by Pat Cashman

Mullingar Electrical Scratch Trophy, 2nd & 3rd August, 2015After 72 Holes

DETAILED SCORES

286 Alan Lowry (Esker Hills/Maynooth University) 72 70 70 74

288 Colin Fairweather (Knock) 71 68 74 75

289 Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo) 71 71 71 76

290 Aaron Grant (Dundalk) 70 72 76 72, Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 70 70 74 76, Joe Lyons (Galway) 67 70 76 77

291 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 71 77 74 69

292 Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 75 67 76 74, John Hickey (Cork) 73 75 69 75

293 Kevin Stack (Dungarvan) 75 76 73 69, Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 75 74 73 71, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 73 73 72 75, Conor O'Rourke (Naas) 72 74 75 72

294 Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 75 71 74 74, Ryan Symington (Lisburn) 73 75 75 71, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 68 76 73 77, Daniel Holland (Castle) 66 73 73 82

295 James Fox (Portmarnock) 70 72 77 76

296 Keith Egan (Carton House) 75 72 74 75

297 Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 73 74 77 73, Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) 71 76 75 75

298 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) 77 72 71 78, Billy McGarry (Birr) 76 71 73 78, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe) 73 74 74 77

299 Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club) 74 72 77 76, Daniel Murphy (Portarlington) 72 77 74 76

300 Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 77 73 77 73, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 75 71 81 73

301 Shane Hogan (Nenagh) 74 69 78 80, L. Ashby (Naas) 73 76 78 74, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 70 74 79 78

302 Robbie Pierse (Grange) 76 71 74 81, Jonathan Yates (Naas) 75 75 72 80, Jack Mc Donnell (Forrest Little.) 74 75 77 76, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle) 72 79 76 75

303 Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 76 74 78 75, Des Morgan (New Forest) 75 72 78 78, Graham Nugent (Kilkenny) 74 73 81 75, Matthew Grehan (Tullamore) 68 82 76 77

305 Declan Reidy (Co. Sligo) 76 71 80 78, Dave Lowry (Corballis Links Golf Club) 72 77 79 77

308 John Swarbrigg (Mullingar) 74 76 77 81, Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 74 76 77 81, Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 73 75 79 81

309 Caolan Kennedy (Forrest Little.) 75 76 79 79, Colin Cunningham (Carton House) 75 75 78 81

313 Stephen Barker (Mourne) 73 76 80 84

314 Ronan Maher (Mullingar) 78 74 80 82

316 Declan O'Neill (Carton House) 74 76 87 79

Non-qualifiers

152 Shane McGlynn (Carton House) 76 76, Jack Walsh (Castle) 73 79, Ryhan Thomas (Utd Arab Emirates) 71 81 

153 Keith Bermingham (Castletroy) 78 75, Adam Doran (Ardee) 76 77, C. Dunphy (Killeen Castle) 76 77, Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little.) 74 79

154 Paul Burke (Mullingar) 76 78, R. McKinley (Mullingar) 75 79, P. O'Sullivan (Bray) 74 80

155 Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) 79 76, Declan King (Tramore) 78 77, Conor Stone (Carton House) 77 78, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 75 80

156 Gareth Carr (Mullingar) 80 76, Chris Blackmore (Dundalk) 77 79, Lee McMillan (Craddockstown) 75 81

157 Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 81 76, Gareth Mann (Tullamore) 75 82

158 K. Metcalfe (Mullingar) 76 82

159 Ben Best (Rathmore) 79 80, Gavin Flanagan (Mullingar) 79 80

160 Cathal Nolan (Galway) 79 81

161 M. Duffy (Naas) 80 81

163 David Maher (Courtown) 88 75, T Flanagan (Co. Sligo) 83 80, J. Dromey (Mullingar) 78 85, Colm Hughes (Galway) 78 85

164 N. Pratt (USA) 84 80

165 Shaun O'Connor (Carton House) 84 81

166 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 82 84, Gary Shaw (Mullingar) 82 84

168 Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo) 87 81

173 Conor Slevin (New Forest) 86 87 

NR Gerard Lawlor (Craddockstown) NR,

WD Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) 77 WD

CSS: Round 1: 73. Round 2: 73. Round 3: 75. Round 4: 75