Shane Lowry could be a dark horse for a Ryder Cup debut this year.

But while the Offaly ace refuses to think about making Jose Maria Olazabal’s team, he reckons he’d die for Paul McGinley if the Dubliner got the captaincy at Gleneagles in 2014.

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Paul McGinley signs autographs at last year’s Irish Open in Killarney. Autograph hunters in Scotland aren’t always genuine fans. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley revealed this week that his love of Celtic FC has led to some sectarian abuse on his frequent trips to Scotland. Amazingly, it’s the kids who give him the most stick for his love of The Bhoys.

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Key people in Rory McIlroy’s life in 2011 - new girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki and new manager Conor Ridge. Pictured in Dubai on December 10 by Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieAll eyes will be on Rory McIlroy in 2012 following his major breakthrough at the US Open. His eight-shot win at Congressional was one of the stories of the year but he also captured headlines for his activities off the course and none came bigger than his decision to sack manager Chubby Chandler and take on Conor Ridge at Horizon Sports Management.

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Darren Clarke shares a joke with Phil Mickelson at the Open Championship presentation. Picture Credit / Phil INGLIS / www.golffile.ieDarren Clarke’s magnificent Open Championship victory at Royal St George’s was arguably the highlight of the golfing summer. In the third instalment of our review of 2011, we look back at some of the most significant quotes this year. (Read Part I, Part II)

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US Open champion Rory McIlroy tweets a picture of his first major trophy before his press conference at Congressional Country Club on June 19. Picture Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieContinuing our review of Ireland’s great golfing year (Part I), it is worth remembering that while the game lost a great genius in Seve Ballesteros in May, it was celebrating the elevation of another rare talent to superstar status just a few weeks later.

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Padraig Harrington speaks to the press on Friday monring after being disqualified from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for signing for a wrong score the previous day. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieThe year provided some obvious highs for Irish golfers with Rory McIlroy’s US Open coronation, so soon after his Augusta agony, swiftly followed by Darren Clarke’s long-awaited major breakthrough in The Open. But there was plenty more to keep Irish golf fans reading in 2011 and not all of it was on such an epic scale.

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Michael Hoey. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy might have reached world No 2, won the US Open and finished the season as the world No 3 but if the world rankings are a barometer of golfing merit then Michael Hoey can argue that he was the most improved Irish player this year.

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Paul McGinley won’t be undergoing surgery on his right knee after all. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley breathed a sigh of relief last night after avoiding an eighth knee operation and opting for a revolutionary treatment that’s worked wonders for Premiership soccer stars.

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Padraig Harrington tees off on the 15th in the first round of the Iskandar Johor Open. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieEven multiple major champions need a shot of confidence from time to time and Padraig Harrington is no exception.

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Frustrating as it must be for Irish golf fans to watch Padraig Harrington head for his seventh missed cut of the season, Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry gave them plenty to cheer in the second round of the weather-delayed Barclays Singapore Open.

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Padraig Harrington shares a joke with his caddie as he warms up on the driving range in Singapore. Photo Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ieThe road ahead keeps getting steeper for Padraig Harrington. Stagnant in the world rankings and under pressure just to qualify for the Dubai World Championship and next year’s Ryder Cup team, the genial Dubliner made life even harder for himself when he took 34 putts in an opening 69 in the Barclays Singapore Open.

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Paul McGinley had his best finish of the season in the KLM Open. Picture Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley breathed a sigh of relief when he got the all clear on his crocked right wrist and discovered that his season is not over just yet.

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Updated on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 8:19 by Brian Keogh

Padraig Harrington in action at the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington struggled to keep his patience and avoid mistakes yet still opened with a five under 67 in a first round birdie-fest at the Portugal Masters.

But Gareth Maybin sounded like he was about to lose his when asked about his lack of participation in the Northern Ireland golfing boom after he posted a seven under 65 to sit just a shot off the lead.

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Paul McGinley now captained two winning Seve Trophy teams. Photo Golffile/Jenny Matthews.Paul McGinley is hot favourite to become 2014 Ryder Cup captain after being hailed as “brilliant” in the Seve Trophy.

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Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal on day two of the Vivendi Seve Trophy. Picture by Jenny Matthews www.golffile.ieEurope’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain won’t be named for another 15 months. So what now for Paul McGinley, captaincy candidate No 1?

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