The Irish Open received a massive shot on the arm yesterday as the Strategic Alliance between the PGA Tour and the European Tour saw its prize almost doubled to a whopping $6 million (€5.05 m) next year.

Ten-time Major champion Annika Sorenstam will succeed Peter Dawson as President of the International Golf Federation in 2021.

Fears that the European Tour could be the target of an eventual takeover by the PGA Tour grew considerably with the announcement today of a “Strategic Alliance” between the game’s two biggest professional tours.