Huge Irish contingent heads for Tour School
Amateur stars Noel Fox and Tim Rice are set to sweat blood and tears and try for a place on the big money PGA European Tour.
The international duo is amongst the biggest ever contingent of Irish players 19 in total - entered at four English courses for first stage of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School from September 18-21.
Browne wins European Individual Amateur title
Singer Stephen Browne scorched to a wire-to-wire win the European Men's Amateur championship in Denmark on Saturday and said: "Roll on the Tour School."
The 27-year-old Hermitage man led from start to finish for a five-shot win that gives him a place in next year's Open championship at Muirfield as European Amateur champion
Tummy trouble floors Coffey
Tummy trouble floored star player Alison Coffey as Ireland's Ladies' Home International hopes went down in flames in Carlow yesterday.
Eavan Higgins' warriors were beaten 5 1/2 3 1/2 by champions England as Coffey was forced to pull out of the afternoon singles complaining of stomach cramps and nausea.
Nicklaus gunning for Senior British Open
He might have a ceramic hip and a dodgy leg but Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus still gunning for the only major title that still eludes him - the £500,000 MasterCard Senior British Open at Royal County Down.
Three days of links golf have sparked the desire of old and the Bear is hungry to conquer the rugged par-71 track that demands an ability to negotiate high dunes, avoid more than 120 fiendish bunkers and calculate an astonishing 22 blind shots.
Byrnes of Bray - still caddies to the stars
The Byrnes of Bray are still Ireland's No 1 caddie clan despite Ian Woosnam's extra-club cock-up at the Open.
The English tabloids had a field day with the "Irish caddie"Caddie Myles Byrne might be a scapegoat after taking a roasting from the Welsh wizard for failing to notice the extra club in his bag, but he's still tops this side of the Irish Sea.
Just ask Myles' seven brothers, three sisters and Ryder Cup hero Christy O'Connor Jnr.
Clarke's Irish Open blues
Thunder-faced Darren Clarke stormed from the recorder's hut at Fota Island and raged: "I've messed it up again."
The Dungannon man was four under par and cruising after 10 holes of his first round but dropped three shots coming home, two in the last three holes, to finish with a disappointing round of 70.
McGrane fighting to join the big boys
He might not look the part, but a feisty club pro Damien McGrane has what it takes to join the big boys on Tour.
After winning the Irish PGA Order of Merit for the third time in five years last term, it was no surprise that he captured the imagination of Irish golf fans at last weekend's Volvo PGA championship.