LATEST NEWS
KEVAN WHITSON CALLS TIME AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN
As one of the most storied careers draws to a close, the long-time Royal County Down Head Professional and a litany of former pupils take Paul Gallagher for a walk down memory lane.
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN LINKS MORE THAN DELIVERS
For all the late heroics of yesterday’s victor, the Championship Links at Royal County Down was also a winner, as one of the most traditional links layouts of them all more than stood up to the rigours of the modern game at the Amgen Irish Open.
PIED PIPER McILROY SINGS HAPPY TUNE AT RCD
Easy strides and smiles accompany birdies and eagles in Newcastle. Few spectator experiences can compare to watching Rory McIlroy, especially when he’s competing on home soil and in contention. The ‘Rory Roars’ that reverberate around Royal County Down this week have been like no other.
TONER PROVES HE’S A CUT ABOVE THE REST
Popular barber and owner of JFH Social ensuring the professionals look their best as they battle for glory at Royal County Down. Paul Gallagher reports at Newcastle
MILITARY OPERATION AT RCD ENSURES A PRISTINE TEST
Get it done, get it done early. That’s clearly the motto around the greenkeeper sheds at Royal County Down, especially this week when it’s all hands to the pump for the Amgen Irish Open.
A FAMOUS AND FITTING CHALLENGE
Unique Royal County Down course has the capacity to be magnificent and brutal in the same round as those playing the Amgen Irish Open will soon discover
TOUR NEWS
European captain Anna Nordqvist today named Ireland’s Leona Maguire as one her four captain’s picks to complete the 12 player line-up that will represent Europe at the 2026 Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf, The Netherlands, from September 11-13.
Pádraig Harrington produced another strong finish to claim third place at the inaugural Portugal Invitational at Els Club Vilamoura in Portugal, where American Zach Johnson secured the win.
Shiho Kuwaki is a Major champion after defeating Esther Henseleit in a dramatic two-hole playoff at the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Northern Ireland’s Beth Coulter has sensationally won on her professional debut after coming through a playoff to pip South Korea’s Ayeon Yangto win the Women’s Irish Challenge at Malahide Golf Club in the LET Access Series event (LETAS).
General admission tickets for the 2027 Ryder Cup have now sold out at the conclusion of the ballot process following unprecedented global demand to attend next year’s contest at Adare Manor, in Limerick, Ireland.
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul was the first-round leader after an opening round of 64 (-7) at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes where Leona Maguire was best of the Irish.
Dubliner Pádraig Harrington has been named by Luke Donald as his third vice-captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup which will be played at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland from September 13-19.
Ireland’s Anna Foster booked her place in this week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes after coming through the gruelling qualifying at St Annes Old Links where 13 players booked their place in the women’s Major.
American Jerry Kelly held his nerve brilliantly down the stretch at Gleneagles to claim a two-shot victory at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.
Paul McGinley emerged as the leading Irish player after the opening round of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Gleneagles, where defending champion Pádraig Harrington remains in touch with Cameron Percy’s overnight lead.
Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington is relishing the prospect of defending his ISPS HANDA Senior Open title as Europe’s only Senior Major returns to The King’s Course at Gleneagles in Scotland this week.
The Asian Tour, DP World Tour and PGA TOUR today announced a partnership through until at least 2029, marking a new chapter for global golf.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox produced one of the most memorable finishes in Open Championship history by birdieing the final hole to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and claim the first Major title of his career.
PLAYER REACTION: “Late night for everyone. Yeah, look, I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it is performative. I think a lot of it's for attention.”
American Sam Burns takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale as he bids to win his for Major, while Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are six and eight strokes back respectively.
Dylan Holmes added his name to the illustrious list of winners of the Mullingar Men’s Scratch Trophy in impressive fashion with a wire-to-wire victory at Mullingar Golf Club.
Knock golfer Katie Poots said it was special to have family by her side as she was crowned AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Champion at Enniscrone Golf Club.
Pyle & Kenfig golfer Sean David was crowned the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Champion after a thrilling victory at Lahinch Golf Club.
Ireland team captain Paul Kelly said he was “very proud of everyone involved” after his side claimed the silver medal at the European Nations’ Cup for Golfers with Disability in Italy.
David Kitt said “the first one was so nice, I had to do it twice” as the Athenry golfer completed a wire-to-wire victory at Hilton Templepatrick to claim the Ulster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship, securing his second regional title in as many months.
Ireland ended an 18 year wait to claim the European Amateur Team Championship by coming out on top in a dramatic finish against hosts Estonia at Estonia Golf and Country Club.
Leinster are the 2026 Women’s Interprovincial champions after coming out on top in their title decider with Munster, while the result of the Men’s Interprovincials was the reverse, as Munster won by the slightest of margins, a half point, to deny Leinster the double in glorious sunshine at Knightsbrook Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.
Team International successfully defended the Arnold Palmer Cup after edging Team USA 30.5–29.5 in a dramatic final-day at Tralee Golf Club, with the outcome remaining in doubt until the final putt.
Joe Lyons made history today by winning the Whirlpool Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championship to complete the set of senior championship titles, while Judith Kyrinis was crowned the Whirlpool Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Open Champion after a thrilling day at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club.
Fota Island’s David Howard is living proof that dreams really do come true as he stamped his ticket to this month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after coming through Final Open Qualifying at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Golf Ireland has named its teams for the upcoming European Team Championships for Golfers with Disability and European Nations’ Cup for Golfers with Disability, which will take place at Golf Club Genova in Italy from July 16-18.
Teenager Aaliyah Hryniewiecka-Irwin became the first winner of the North of Ireland Women’s Amateur Open Championship as she battled back from a difficult start to seal the win at Lough Erne.
France’s Valentine Delon emerged victorious in The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship by narrowly beating Andrea Revuelta in the 36-hole Final at Muirfield.
Belvoir Park’s Scott Jones and Jack Conroy combined well to claim Ulster Men’s Scratch Foursomes with a gross two-over par total over 36 holes at Malone Golf Club.
Ireland’s Stuart Grehan claimed the biggest victory of his career as the Tullamore native triumphed in The 131st Amateur Championship by defeating American Matt Moloney in the 36-hole final at Royal Liverpool.
AMATEUR NEWS
THE OPEN 2026
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox produced one of the most memorable finishes in Open Championship history by birdieing the final hole to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and claim the first Major title of his career.
PLAYER REACTION: “Late night for everyone. Yeah, look, I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it is performative. I think a lot of it's for attention.”
American Sam Burns takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale as he bids to win his for Major, while Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are six and eight strokes back respectively.
Bryson DeChambeau's challenge for the Claret Jug became more difficult after he was ruled to have “inadvertently” improved the intended area of his backswing and subsequently hit with a two-stroke penalty last evening by R&A rules officials at The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
By mid-afternoon it looks like only Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy will make it into the weekend of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale where seven Irish hopefuls started the week.
Rory McIlroy will need to produce a battling Open Championship fightback after a difficult day on the baked Royal Birkdale links that left The Masters champion on two-over and seven strokes adrift of overnight leader Jackson Suber from the United States.
Keeping with tradition on the eve of The Open Championship the R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon held his press conference and the most interesting topic from these parts was hearing that a future Open at Portmarnock is “getting pretty close”.
The inaugural R&A Spirit of Golf Award will be presented to Adam Scott, who has been recognised for his significant impact on golf across the world.
As sunbaked fairways await for tomorrow’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Rory McIlroy believes the Lancashire links will still present a fair test as the world’s best gather to contest the final Major of the 2026 season.
Royal Birkdale member Matthew Baldwin will get The 154th Open under way on home soil after being given the honour of the historic opening tee shot.
England’s Joe Dean claimed success in the inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier to secure the final place in the field for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Millions of fans around the world will experience The Open in more personalised, immersive and accessible ways than ever before thanks to a range of new digital innovations and enhanced broadcast coverage for this year's Championship at Royal Birkdale.
A former Amateur Champion and a YouTube star will be among the 12 players competing for the final Royal Birkdale place at the inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier. This year, for the first time ever, a dramatic qualification showdown will take place in the week of The Open, with one coveted spot at golf’s oldest Major.
Fota Island’s David Howard is living proof that dreams really do come true as he stamped his ticket to this month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after coming through Final Open Qualifying at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The 156th Open will be played at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028 and contested over the famous Fylde links for the 12th time in the history of the Championship and returns there for the first time since 2012 when Ernie Els lifted his second Claret Jug.
RYDER CUP 2027
General admission tickets for the 2027 Ryder Cup have now sold out at the conclusion of the ballot process following unprecedented global demand to attend next year’s contest at Adare Manor, in Limerick, Ireland.
Dubliner Pádraig Harrington has been named by Luke Donald as his third vice-captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup which will be played at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland from September 13-19.
Luke Donald has named Francesco Molinari as his second vice captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup which will be played at Adare Manor in Limerick from September 13-19, 2027.
Ryder Cup Europe today announced details of the Official Campsite for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland. Located in the Mountwilliam area of Adare, the Official Campsite is adjacent to the fifth fairway of the host venue, offering ticket holders an unrivalled location with direct access to the course via its own designated entrance.
Daily match day tickets for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick available via an exclusive priority window for residents of the island of Ireland sold out in under an hour.
Daily match day tickets for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick available via an exclusive priority window for residents of the island of Ireland sold out in under an hour.
Residents from the island of Ireland will gain exclusive early access to Ryder Cup tickets for next year’s 100th anniversary event at Adare Manor in Limerick - but be warned daily admission will be a record high of up to €499 for admission.
The 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland will stage a new match between Europe and the United States, with the world’s best golfers with a disability (G4D) competing as part of the Ryder Cup’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald took the Ryder Cup to meet local school children in Limerick as part of his first official visit as Captain to 2027 venue Adare Manor.
In a week when Tiger Woods turned down the US Ryder Cup captaincy role for Adare Manor in 2027, European captain Luke Donald appointed Edoardo Molinari as his first vice captain when the biennial takes place at the Limerick venue from September 17-19, 2027.
Applications are open to become a volunteer for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, offering the chance to be part of one of the world’s greatest sporting events as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Luke Donald has been named as the European Captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland when the biennial contest will celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Bethpage Black will live long in the memory for the high drama and edge of seat action, and for Shane Lowry it was a week that could compare to his Open success of 2019 after the Offaly man’s heroics helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup before going on to win the famous team event.
Not a line for effect, but most definitely a reaction, a controlled reaction at that. Yet, in those five tasty words, delivered with utter conviction, it epitomised everything that this high-octane showpiece means to every single gladiator on show at Bethpage.
Europe will take a 5½-2½ lead into the second day of the Ryder Cup after extending their advantage in dramatic fashion on the 18th hole as the sun set at Bethpage Black.
These are treasured times. We will miss it when it’s gone. Rory McIlroy is a once in a generational sporing icon and last evening he further etched his name in the history books by successfully defending the Masters at Augusta National.
Emotions are spent, nerves are frayed as yet another Masters rollercoaster ride ensued on the third day at Augusta, yet somehow the defending champion Rory McIlroy still has a chance of winning despite relinquishing a six stroke lead.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy seized control of the 90th Masters with a brilliant burst of scoring on the back nine to take a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage.
Rory McIlroy made an excellent start to the defence of his Masters title as he shot a five-under-par 67 to hold a share of the first-round lead alongside Sam Burns at Augusta National.
So much has changed in 12 months as Rory McIlroy gets ready for the defence of his Masters title he famously won down Magnolia Lane to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the game.
Tee-times for the 2026 Masters were released earlier today, and it doesn’t take too much scrolling to find the marquee groups that will have us on the edge of our sofas for the opening round of the first Major of the year.
Maria Jose Marin set a new championship record by two strokes with a 14-under 202 to win the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur. With this win, Marin becomes the first champion to represent Latin America in the history of the event as well as the first Colombian to win at Augusta National Golf Club.
This County Down family has already produced a European gold medal in athletics, and All-Ireland titles in GAA, while this week they dream of glory down Magnolia Lane as Beth Coulter attempts to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Tiger Woods last evening announced he will ‘step away for a period of time’ to seek treatment and focus on his health following his recent crash near his home on Jupiter Island in Florida.
The powers that be at Augusta National issued high-quality images of the new Player Services Building ahead of the 2026 Masters that gets underway from April 9-12, 2026, where Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.
MASTERS 2026