A great finish makes all the difference

The subtle fist bump between Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry said it all as the rain hammered down on the little tent housing the interview area behind The K Club's 18th green and the home heroes wrapped up their opening rounds.

Rory McIlroy called on officials to have more "common sense" after his group was put on the clock and he dropped two shots in his last three holes to open with a frustrating one-under 71 in the Amgen Irish Open.

Rory McIlroy might be in town to win his second Amgen Irish Open, but there was no hiding the fact that the Ryder Cup and the task facing Luke Donald’s troops at Bethpage Black is at the forefront of his mind.

Séamus Power has put 30 months of injury woes behind him as he aims this week to kickstart a hot finish to a frustrating season and build towards making his Amgen Irish Open and even his Ryder Cup dreams come true.

Opportunity knocks for Max Kennedy as he seeks a massive week in the Amgen Irish Open at The K Club.

They say consistency is overrated in golf when one good week can erase the pain of multiple painful weekends off and a big cheque solves all problems.

The Amgen Irish Open takes place at The K Club from Wednesday, 3rd September to Sunday, 7th September, and organisers are urging all attendees to check transport options ahead of the event.

Six-time Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy will be hoping to take a step closer to matching Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Order of Merit wins when he returns to the site of his first professional victory on Irish soil for the Amgen Irish Open at The K Club from September 4-7.

Rory McIlroy confessed it would be “amazing” to claim his second Amgen Irish Open title and ease the pain of a year of near misses after he overcame winds gusting to 50 kmph and shot a joint best of the day 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal County Down.

Amateur Sean Keeling crashed back to earth with an 81 but Tom McKibbin and Seamus Power made headway as high winds sent scores soaring in the third round of the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.

Nothing soothes the pain of bitter defeat like the salve of victory but Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry know they will have to display the patience of Job if they are to win their second Amgen Irish Open titles this week.