An Irishman hasn’t won the PGA Championship since Harry Bradshaw pipped Dai Rees at Llandudno in 1958. Could Darren Clarke be the man to put an end to the 54-year drought this year? Picture by Getty ImagesOn current form it looks like the impossible dream but Darren Clarke would dearly love to to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first appearance in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a victory. But can he end a 54-year Irish jinx in the PGA? The first and last Irishman to pull it off was Harry Bradshaw at Llandudno in 1958 when it was a closed championship.

Four golf books reached me this year and one or all of them may make a useful addition to your library. All four are very different - a novel, a compendium, an annual and a travel guide - yet they are all well worth a few hours of your time.

Graeme McDowell added yet another piece of silverware to his heaving mantelpiece today when he landed the 2010 Golf Writers’ Trophy.

Christy O'Connor Snr's sense of humour certainly impressed the folks from the World Golf Hall of Fame when they visited him at his Clontarf home recently to collect artifacts for the exhibition on his career.

Mark Cubbedge with Mary and Christy O'ConnorSet to be inducted in November, Senior couldn't resist having some fun with Mark Cubbedge, the Hall of Fame's research and collections manager as he checked that every one of Christy's priceless pieces of memorabilia had been accounted for.

I watched as he famously signed his name as he’s done countless times before for autograph seekers. Once his name is finished flowing from the ballpoint pen, he raises his head and asks me, “Is everything accounted for on this list?”

Christy O’Connor will go down in golfing history on November 2 when he becomes just the second Irishman to make the World Golf Hall of Fame.

But the man known around the world simply as "Himself" is certainly glad his playing days are over.

Now 84, the Knocknacarra maestro says he couldn’t stand to play the modern game where the six-hour round and the long bombers are making the sport unwatchable on TV.

Golfing legend Christy O’Connor Snr has told Niall Kearney to rely on his inner strength to spank the Yanks and bring home the Walker Cup.

The Galway maestro, 84, has befriended the young Royal Dublin starlet over the last few years. And after racking up an amazing 10 successive Ryder Cup appearances, the grand old man of Irish golf is the ideal adviser to Ireland’s lone Walker Cup representative in Pennsylvania this weekend.

Delighted Christy O’Connor will become just the second Irishman to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

But the man known simply as “Himself” confessed that he still has regrets after an amazing career that brought him 24 tour wins, ten Ryder Cup caps and World Cup glory with Harry Bradshaw in 1958.

Rory McIlroy has dismissed the Ryder Cup as “an exhibition” that’s way down his list of priorities.

But Irish Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor and 2010 skipper Colin Montgomerie reckon it won’t be long before he changes his tune.