Paul McGinley was forced to withdraw from the Irish Open with back spasms and admitted: ”It’s one of my biggest disappointments in my whole career. Even pulling out of a Major wouldn’t have hurt as much as this.”

It's time for the annual "debate" over the Golf Digest Top 100 rankings and while there will be many who disagree with the order, it has to be said that the readers had a big input this time with 80 golfers from an entry of 2,628 having their views heard.

Ted Higgins and Ted Higgins Jnr shared top spot with Pádraig Dooley and David O'Sullivan in the PGB Munster Winter Series Fourball event at Fota Island Golf Club.

Fota Island’s massive success as an Irish Open venue is no guarantee that the event will return to the Cork resort in 2016 with the Chinese owners keen to reap the benefits of last week's hugely successful staging.

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady is confident that the government and Fáilte Ireland will maintain their level of investment in the Irish Open.

A blank canvas lay before Pádraig Harrington at Fota Island yesterday but the Dubliner could not paint a third round masterpiece in the Irish Open and like a great artist struggling for inspiration, he walked away from the easel with a head full of ideas but little to show for them.

Before the week even started, West Waterford's Gary Hurley said he was going out to make a statement.

Rory McIlroy vowed to shake off his US Open hangover and battle his way back into the Irish Open mix at Fota Island today.

Amateur ace Gavin Moynihan confessed he wasn’t in the least bit fazed as he matched Pádraig Harrington with a super 69 and outscored Rory McIlroy by FIVE shots.

Padraig Harrington confessed that he needs the home crowd to roar him on if he’s to get back into the winner’s circle at Fota Island.

We're hearing that "Wild Thing" John Daly is set to tee it up in the Irish Open at Fota Island from June 19-22.

Thinking of heading to Fota Island for the Irish Open in June? Why not make an early reconnaissance trip next Saturday, February 22, when Fota Island Golf Academy holds an exclusive Open Day from 10am to 2pm.

Carton House appears have given up on hosting next year’s Irish Open and left the way clear for the European Tour to take the event to Fota Island. Sources close to the committee at the Kildare venue insist that they “have given up the ghost” and assumed the event is heading for Munster.