Paul McGinley in action in the first round of the Portugal Masters. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will travel from the US Open to Carton House for the Irish Open next year after a high powered meeting of the Players’ Committee met on Wednesday night to discuss ways of boosting weak fields in the European Tour’s hour of need.

Paul McGinley and Shane Lowry were the best of the Irish on an eventful opening day at the BMW PGA. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comFirst we had Royal and Ancient and the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and their men only intransigence.

Rory McIlroy’s eight-shot win in the US PGA at Kiawah Island was the highlight of the Irish golfing year. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieThe Ryder Cup was truly memorable but Rory McIlroy’s eight-shot win in the US PGA at Kiawah Island will go down as the highlight of a wonderful summer that was not without its moments of controversy.

Padraig Harrington (second left) launches the 2013 Irish Open advance ticket initiative ahead of the Bank of Ireland Excellence in Sport Awards dinner in Dublin with (left to right): Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman, Failte Ireland; George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour and Conor Mallaghan, Managing Partner, Carton House. Picture by SportsfilePadraig Harrington believes the commitment of world No 1 Rory McIlroy in next year’s Irish Open is another huge step towards putting the event back on the global golfing map.

Royal Portrush. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieBig time golf and the Irish Open will be back at Royal Portrush sooner rather than later. But whether The Open returns to the Causeway Coast for the first time since 1951 remains in the hands of the R&A.

Rory McIlroy is a megastar following his US Open victory. Pic: Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy mania has made the €1.5m Irish Open even bigger than the second coming of Elvis.

But the Holywood star won’t be “All Shook Up” when he tees it up in Killarney from July 28-31 as special security measures will be put in place to keep Rory’s ravers in check.

The Irish Open in Killarney looks set to be an even bigger success this year. Pic: www.golffile.ieKillarney’s Killeen Course will be a tougher prospect for Rory McIlroy and Co. this time around when it hosts “The Irish Open  presented by Discover Ireland” from July 28-31.

It’s bad news for the players ahead of an event that has seen its prize fund slashed in half - to just €1.5m - following the exodus of title sponsors “3” last year.

But the good news is that European Tour and Failte Ireland will bear the €3m-plus prize money and staging costs and ride out the storm ahead of what they hope will be a new, three-year title sponsorship announcement next season.

European Tour boss George O’Grady has been talking to some of the world’s most successful businessmen about some of his biggest challenges - including the Irish Open.

The 2011 Irish Open will return to Killarney, where Englishman Ross Fisher held off Padraig Harrington to take the title this year. (©Getty Images)George O’Grady flagged in Dubai last month and last night it was confirmed - the Irish Open will return to the Killeen Course at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club from July 28-31 next year.

The European Tour is keen to host the Irish Open in Killarney again next season. And Chief Executive George O’Grady confirmed as much yesterday when he unveiled a 2011 schedule featuring a minimum of 50 tournaments in 29 different destinations with the Irish Open pencilled in for July 28-31.

A cautious George O’Grady insisted in Dubai that he has a plan up his sleeve that could ensure that the survival of the beleaguered Irish Open.

European Tour chief George O'Grady has invited Padraig Harrington to thrash out his differences with Thomas Bjorn at this week's Tour Players Committee meeting in Portugal.

Don't mess with Thomas BjornAnd political mover and shaker Paul McGinley reckons the high-powered powwow on the possible tightening of membership criteria will be the most important in the history of the European Tour.

European Tour boss George O'Grady has no fears for the Race to Dubai despite the problems faced by backers Leisurecorp.

Hopes of a last hurrah for the European Open at the K Club's Ryder Cup course have taken a nose-dive.

European Tour boss George O'Grady wanted a farewell event on the Palmer Course next year following the loss of sponsors Smurfit Kappa.