Brandt Snedeker believes the USA “is going to be a problem in Ireland”, but there was little in Sunday’s Presidents Cup singles comeback victory to suggest that Luke Donald will be quaking in his boots ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup.

There is no doubt the United States is a formidable golfing superpower, as shown by its singles dominance at Bethpage last year and in Sunday’s mano a mano play in Chicago.

In New York, Europe won just one of the 12 singles but still got over the line thanks to their dominance in team play.

And it was a similar tale at Medinah, where the International team, leading by three points overnight in their bid for just their second Presidents Cup win in 32 years, won just two of the 12 singles to go down 17-13.

Snedeker won’t be in charge in Adare, but it was damning that 2027 Ryder Cup skipper Jim Furyk was one of his assistant captains and still allowed the skipper to make what he admitted to a host of strategic mistakes that speaks to a lack of understanding of what it takes to dominate a team like Europe.

“I didn't do the matchups right this week,” Snedeker said on Sunday night as the USA claimed their version of the Miracle at Medinah against an International team that boasted a grand total of zero members of the world’s top 10 to the Americans’ seven.

“You know, I kept letting Geoff [Ogilvy] kind of run his lot the way he wanted to by putting Scottie [Scheffler] and Sam ] Burns out first.

“Those first two sessions, I should have held them back so that I could have gotten a better idea of what they were going to do and be able to kind of match up that way.”

That the USA trailed an International team 10.5-7.5 — a team without LIV Golf stars like Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Lucas Herbert Marc Leishman — exposed the level of tactical naivete in the US team room.

“I tried to work my tail off to put these guys in the best situation possible, and I don't think I've done a very good job this week to be where we are right now,” Snedeker said on Saturday night. “They look to me to put them in the best position where they're comfortable. I hold myself to a high standard. I don't think I've done the best job for them in that room.”

A 5-0 whitewash in Friday’s foursomes, when he paired the notoriously erratic Justin Thomas with Cameron Young because he "just kind of felt like I'd roll with it”, and insisted on playing world No 1 Scottie Scheffler (beaten again) in a format where he had lost seven of his previous eight matches, almost cost Snedeker’s troops the match.

The American men’s record in team match event foursomes since Marco Simone in 2023 is an eye-watering 8-26 against European and International team opposition.

Snedeker could justify his decision in picking rookie Jackson Koivun (21) over JJ Spaun after the youngster ended the week unbeaten with 2.5 points from three.

But being forced to produce a miracle singles comeback, laudable though it was, speaks to underlying problems when it comes to constructing fourball and foursomes line-ups.

The overall result papers over the cracks for the USA and Snedeker was bullish on Sunday night.

“I think we’re all tired of this narrative that we don’t care about each other, that we don’t know how to play team golf,” he said. “I think this proves it. You don’t come back the way we did if these guys haven’t all bought into each other. This team is going to be a problem in Ireland. It’s going to be a problem.”

The result was certainly a bonus for Furyk, who was in Medinah as an assistant captain, after the Americans had failed on several occasions to close out matches in the foursomes and fourballs on the first three days.

“Walking into a Sunday three points down, having a lot of pressure, playing like they had nothing to lose, going out there and showing off for these fans, getting them into it, I really want them to enjoy what they did today because it's pretty darn special,” Furyk said.

“We've made some good runs on Sunday, but it's hard to really get them over the hump and actually finish it off, and these guys finished it off like I've never seen before. I'm proud of them.”

Michael McGeady laid to rest demons of the past as he edged out close friend Colm Moriarty to win the Annesley Williams 9-Hole Matchplay at Sutton Golf Club.

McGeady held off the challenges of Michael McDermott and two-time winner Tim Rice in treacherous morning conditions while Moriarty edged Conor O’Rourke in a playoff and seven-time winner Richard Kilpatrick to book his place in the decider.

There was little to separate the pair who were level pegging after four, until an unfortunate break for Moriarty opened the door for McGeady to go 1UP after 8. McGeady held firm down the last and sunk a six-footer for the win on the last.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said the former beaten finalist. “I just said stick to the process don’t worry about the result. I was thinking about just committing to the stroke. It was a case of standing up and hitting a good putt so thankfully it went in.”

McGeady took an early lead with a birdie on the first before holing a medium range par putt on the second to keep his nose in front. Both players made par on the par-5 3rd before a birdie for Moriarty on the 4th squared the match. Fatigue began to appear in the tricky afternoon conditions with both players unable to steal a march until the 8th.

McGeady and Moriarty were lying side by side over the back of the green, McGeady took the putter and laid it stone dead while Moriarty’s putt popped up on him at impact and cost him a bogey as he fell one back before McGeady two-putted for a winning par from distance on 9.

“I started off nicely with a birdie then made a nice par on the second to halve the hole it was nice to keep a bit of momentum. Lost the fourth with a bad approach shot. It was fairly scrappy I was just trying to not make mistakes, Colm got unlucky on 8 where his second shot ended up in a hole on the back of the green.”

It’s been a superb weekend for McGeady who was unsure if he was even going to enter the tournament given it was his daughter’s 16th birthday but he will head North with his name on the trophy and Oasis tickets safely in his account as well.

“Thankfully I came through the two matches this morning played solidly and now I am delighted to be stood here. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enter because it was my daughter’s 16th birthday. I felt by coming here I had to do something and try and win it. Thankfully I have won it and have the Oasis tickets so it has been a good weekend.”

It’s a third win of the season for McGeady following victories in Ballyneety and Connemara as he ends the season in the top-10 of the Elavon Order of Merit while Simon Thornton will tee it up in next week’s PGA Cup at the K Club as the Order of Merit winner on the PGA in Ireland region.

Matt Fitzpatrick produced a magical short game display to hold off the chasing pack and win the FedEx Open de France by three strokes.

The world number four went into the final round five shots clear of France's Tom Vaillant at Le Golf National as he bid to add an 11th DP World Tour win to three PGA Tour victories already this season.

Scores

But Spain's Eugenio Chacarra and Norway's Kristoffer Reitan put the Englishman under pressure, forcing him to get up and down for par eight times in his first 12 holes en route to a one-under 70 and a three-shot win on 20-under par.

"Obviously, delighted to get it over the line," said Fitzpatrick, who saw Chacarra get to within two strokes after nine holes and Reitan within three early on the back nine before both faltered and he birdied the 13th and 15th to ease clear.

"It was definitely a battle today. Didn't have our best stuff for the first 12 holes, and then managed to find some of our best stuff."

Fitzpatrick made just one bogey over the first three rounds, but he had to get up and down for pars at the 10th and 11th and again at the 12th to maintain a cushion.

In the end, Chacarra double-bogeyed the 13th and while Reitan was just three strokes behind, Fitzpatrick hit a 179-yard approach to two feet at the 13th to set up his first birdie of the day and never looked back.

The Norwegian went on to bogey at the 15th and 17th, and Fitzpatrick rolled in a 15-footer at the 15th to stretch his lead to five shots.

He went on to make only his second bogey of the week at the 18th, but a 70 gave him a three-shot win over Spain's Angel Hidalgo, who shot 67 to claim a place in The Open at St Andrews next July.

"Obviously a lot of patience," Fitzpatrick said of the key to his win. "It's a game of multiple skills, and I used them all this week. 

"I felt like the first 12 was a battle. I didn't have my best stuff. Different wind direction kind of threw me off a little bit today, and yeah, just felt like coming down the stretch there to take the shots that I did and make the putts I did was special."

Vaillant (70) birdied the 18th to share third with Reitan (69), Chacarra (69) and compatriot Matthieu Pavon (64) on 15-under, six behind Fitzpatrick.

In Milan, South Africa's Casandra Alexander stretched her lead at the top of the LET Order of Merit when she birdied three of her last four holes to win the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open.

The KPMG Women's Irish Open champion won by three shots over Germany's Sophie Hausmann (64) and American Anna Morgan (69) on 12-under.

Douglas' Sara Byrne also finished strongly, carding a bogey-free three-under 69 to finish 23rd on two-under and jump three spots to 59th in the Order of Merit race to make the top 70 who keep their cards.

Meanwhile, Rowan Lester tied for 41st in the Sunshine Tour's Rwanda Open at Kigali Golf Resort.

A closing 70 left him 17 strokes behind South Africa's Kyle De Beer at 10-under, as Liam Grehan claimed 50th at six-under.

Matt Fitzpatrick carded a brilliant six-under 65 to take a commanding five-stroke lead into the final round of the FedEx Open de France.

The world number four made his first bogey of the week at the eighth but seven birdies helped him get to 19-under par and match Seve Ballesteros’ 1985 record for the lowest score under par after 54 holes at the event.

"Just another really, really solid day,” said the English star, who leads by five shots at Le Golf National from France’s Tom Vaillant and by six from Brandon Stone, Kristoffer Reitan, Angel Hidalgo, Eugenio Chacarra and Jeff Winther.

“I felt really comfortable out there,” Fiitzpatrick said. “And I felt like that my game was pretty solid all day.

"I was disappointed to drop my one shot, to be honest. It will kind of stick with me."

As for matching Ballesteros’ 54-hole record, Fitzpatrick just wants to add an 11th DP World Tour title to three wins on the PGA Tour already this year.

“It would be amazing to be part of the history,” he said. “I said at the start of the week, this tournament has a lot of history and a lot of great winners.

"I think it was my second professional start as well. So, you know, some form of connection here as well.

"I feel like I'm in a position that if I go and shoot a good round tomorrow, then obviously it makes it almost impossible to catch. But long way to go, and just take it hole by hole.”

Vaillant shot 67 to move into solo second on 14-under as Chacarra, finished birdie-eagle, having started at the 10th, for a best-of-the week 62.

Tommy Fleetwood, the 2017 champion, was six under after Friday's round but was forced to withdraw before the start of the third round due to illness.

On the Ladies European Tour, Douglas’ Sara Byrne was the only Irish player to make the one-over-par cut in the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open in Milan.

The Cork star shot a one-over-par 73 to qualify on the mark, but she trails Sweden’s Moa Folke, Germany’s Alexandra Forsterling and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander by ten strokes at Golf Club Milano.

The trio of leaders have a three-shot advantage over American Anna Morgan, England’s Cara Gainer and Alice Hewson, Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd and Slovenia’s Pia Babnik.

Olivia Mehaffey (76) finished on three-over with Aine Donegan (74), four-over, Annabel Wison (73) five over and Anna Foster (75) eight over.

Matt Fitzpatrick looks to be ominously honing in on his fourth win this year after a sparkling seven-under 64 gave him a one-shot lead at the FedEx Open de France in Paris.

The world number four, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour this term, followed an eagle and five birdies with a brilliant pitch-and-putt par at Le Golf National's 18th.

He slipped playing his second shot to the treacherous closing hole but found dry land and got up and down from 33 yards, matching Jeff Winther with a best-of-the-day 64 to lead by a shot from the Dane on 13-under.

"We were humming and hawing whether to go for it, and I was happy to go for it," Fitzpatrick said. "I took the extra club just to make sure, and then as I took my backswing, I felt my right foot slip.

"Obviously, then in search of the ball, I've kind of thrown my right arm out and managed to make contact. 

"It's just gone a long way and a long way left. So obviously nice to be in the fairway there and be able to have some control on the ball and hit one in close."

First-round leader and defending champion Michael Kim trails Fitzpatrick by two shots after a 68, with his American compatriot Ryan Gerard and France's Tom Vaillant three back after 65s.

At the LPGA's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, European Solheim Cup stars Charley Hull and Celine Boutier opened with six-under 65s to share fourth behind Japan’s Yuna Nishimura.

Jordanstown's Stephanie Meadow was 59th after a 69 while Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh and Cavan’s Leona Maguire were 81st after 70s.

At the LET's Buccellati Ladies Italian Open, Olivia Mehaffey's one-under 71 left her tied for 19th, four shots behind Finland's Noora Komulainen, Czechia's Patricie Mackova, Germany's Alexandra Forsterling and South Africa's Casandra Alexander— the KPMG Women's Irish Open champion and Order of Merit leader.

Sara Byrne was 30th after a 72, but Aine Donegan (74), Annabel Wilson (76) and Anna Foster (77) have work to do to make the 36-hole cut at Golf Club Milano.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Claire Dowling made history when she drove in as the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in its 272-year history.

"To begin my year as Captain here in St Andrews, surrounded by friends and fellow Members, is a very special moment," she said after hitting her tee shot. 

"It is a huge privilege to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and I am honoured to be the first woman to take on the role. 

"The Club has such a remarkable history and tradition, but it is continuing to evolve, which is so important for any institution." 

A distinguished amateur golfer, Dowling represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup four times and was part of the team which made history in 1986 by securing the first GB&I victory over the USA on American soil.

She won five Irish Championships as well as the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987 before captaining the GB&I Curtis Cup team in 2000. 

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews welcomed its new Captain, Claire Dowling, at the traditional driving-in ceremony on the 1st tee of the Old Course this morning. 

Claire becomes the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. 

At precisely 8am, a cannon fired and Claire launched her opening drive down the fairway to officially commence her term. 

A large gathering of Members, former Captains and members of the public assembled to share in the time-honoured tradition. 

As Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Claire will be an ambassador for the Club and The R&A, engaging with Members at events around the world and championing the sport as The R&A brings its new Opening Golf to the World strategy to life.  

Throughout her year in office Claire will represent the Club at many of The R&A’s professional and amateur championships and international matches, meeting those who contribute to golf at every level. 

After hitting her tee shot, Claire said, “To begin my year as Captain here in St Andrews, surrounded by friends and fellow Members, is a very special moment. It is a huge privilege to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and I am honoured to be the first woman to take on the role. The Club has such a remarkable history and tradition but it is continuing to evolve which is so important for any institution.  

“I am really looking forward to representing the Club and to everything the year ahead will bring. I'm also excited to be supporting The R&A as it continues its important work to develop and promote golf around the world while celebrating everything that makes our sport so special.” 

Claire becomes the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. A distinguished amateur golfer, she represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on four occasions and was part of the team which made history in 1986 by securing the first GB&I victory over the USA on American soil, winning 13-5 at Prairie Dunes. 

Born and educated in Dublin, Claire won five Irish Championships, the first in 1983, as well as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.  

After a successful playing career, Claire captained the GB&I Curtis Cup team in its narrow 10-8 defeat to the USA at Ganton in 2000. Claire was among the first women to become Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and has served on several committees.  

An experienced referee, Claire has officiated at The Open on seven occasions, including at Royal St George’s in 2021 when she and her husband Peter, a retired District Judge, became the first married couple to referee at the same Championship. 

A prominent figure in Irish women’s golf, Claire is an honorary life member of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union and holds the same distinction at several golf clubs, including Woodbrook, Cork, Copt Heath, Portmarnock and her home club, East Devon. Claire’s current Handicap Index is 7.6.  

Claire and Peter live in Devon and enjoy spending time on the beach. 

In the past, the Club Captaincy was bestowed on the winner of the annual Challenge for the Silver Club but by the early 19th Century the Captaincy had become an elected office. Part of the tradition is that the new Captain buys her golf ball back from the caddie who retrieves and returns it with a gold sovereign. The sovereign bears the head of His Majesty King Charles III. 

Caddie Dillon McCarron successfully returned the ball to Claire. 

“It’s pretty cool to collect the ball,” said the 30-year-old who is from Nova Scotia, Canada. “With Claire being the first female Captain, it’s quite an honour. I didn’t really know where the ball was going to go but it came over my buddy’s head and then came right to me. 

“This is my second season caddying here so I learned about this tradition last year. I was excited to come down this morning and I didn’t think there would be much chance of winning with there being so many caddies so it’s quite the honour for sure.” 

The retrieved ball will be cast in silver and displayed on the Silver Club.

Michael Kim found Le Golf National to his liking as he began his Open de France defence with a stunning eight-under par 63.

The American won at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche last year as the Paris venue underwent extensive renovations.

But the change of scenario made no difference to the world number 64, who made eight birdies in a bogey-free effort to lead by two strokes from a six-man group featuring world number four Matt Fitzpatrick and Norwegian Ryder Cup hopeful Kristoffer Reitan.

"Just a dream start,” Kim said. "All parts of my game were really good, especially my irons and my putting. I couldn't have asked for a better start.”

The 33-year-old felt comfortable at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.

“This course reminds me of some of the courses I really enjoy playing back home," he said. "Weirdly enough, it reminds me a lot of TPC Scottsdale.

“It's totally different surroundings, but, you know, you still have to keep the ball in play, there's lots of water hazards, and I've had plenty of success there.

"So I felt comfortable. Maybe it's the food. Maybe it's the wine. I don't know. I might have to start looking for a place here, maybe. We'll see."

Fitzpatrick is seeking his 11th DP World Tour win and his fourth this year after winning three times on the PGA TOUR.

“Yeah, really good day,” said the Englishman, who shared second with rising star Reitan, compatriot Sam Bairstow, Italians Matteo Manassero and Gregorio de Leo, Australia’s Jason Scrivener and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.

“Great start to the week, and you know, relatively stress-free, which is always nice, particularly around this golf course.”

Fitzpatrick hasn’t played the event since 2018 and he admitted the course is not the only thing that’s changed.

“My game is very different from then to now,” he said. “So I think that comes with higher confidence, higher expectations. So you just got to try and manage that, I guess.”

On the Sunshine Tour, Rowan Lester was tied for 20th after opening with a four-under 68 in the inaugural Rwanda Open at Kigali Golf Resort & Villas.

He was five strokes behind South Africans Travis Procter and Nikhil Rama as compatriot Liam Grehan shared 72nd after a 72.

Meanwhile, County Louth amateur Dylan Keating (24) came up short at the First Stage of the DP World Tour Q-School in Austria.

The North of Ireland champion closed with a two-over 74 at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf to finish 36th on five-under, four shots outside the qualifying mark.

Five of 22 Irish entrants have made it through from the First to the Second Stage — Thomas Higgins, Niall Kearney, Ronan Mullarney, John-Ross Galbraith and Dermot McElroy.

Irish results at the First Stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School 2026

Q = Qualified
DNQ = Did not qualify

First Stage - Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil (19 qualified on -7)

No Irish

First Stage - The Players Club (20 qualified on +1)

Q T10 HIGGINS, Thomas -1 68 67 75 69 279

DNQ T21 MURPHY, Sam +2 65 73 72 72 282

DNQ​ T33 FOLEY, Hugh +5  72 72 68 73 285

DNQ 68 HOGARTY, Tyler  +10 81 69 150

First Stage - Hulencourt  (19 qualified -4)

DNQ T21 HOWARD, David (AM) -2 71 73 69 73 286

First Stage - Huddersfield Golf Club (19 qualified Even)

Q T8 KEARNEY, Niall -3  69 70 72 66 277

First Stage - Golf-und-Country Club Seddiner See (19 qualified on -4)

DNQ ​79th GRANT, Stephen (AM) +17 83 78 161

First Stage - The Northumberland Golf Club (11 qualified on -6)

Q ​ T2 GALBRAITH, John-Ross -11 68 70 68 67 273

DNQ T19 MULLIGAN, Daniel -4 72 69 68 71 280

First Stage - Arlandastad Golf (19 qualified on -2)

DNQ T40 MURPHY, John  +4 71 74 68 71 284

DNQ T60 GOULD-HEALY, James +9 73 73 71 72 289

First Stage - Dunham Forest Golf and Country Club (20 qualified on +1)

Q T6 MULLARNEY, Ronan -3 67 69 72 69 277

Q T12 MCELROY, Dermot PAR 71 72 70 67 280

DNQ T34 SUGRUE, James +5 74 70 69 72 285

DNQ T34 CONROY, Paul +5 75 71 69 70 285

DNQ T40 HICKEY, John +6 72 75 68 71 286

DNQ T44 BRAZILL, Robert +7 71 77 69 70 287

DNQ T48 O'NEILL, Luke +8 72 70 72 74 288

DNQ T48 MCCANNA, Cathal  +8 74 70 75 69 288

DNQ T60 BOUCHER, Marc +11 74 74 76 67 291

DNQ T74 DOWDALL, Tom +11 76 75  151

First Stage - Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf (22 on -9)

DNQ T36 KEATING, Dylan (AM) -5 71 69 69 74 283

First Stage - Frederikshavn GolfKlub

In progress (No Irish)

Galgorm Castle will host some of the top US collegiate stars when it stages the inaugural NI Collegiate Invitational from September 5-9 next year.

The announcement comes in a week when rookie sensation Jackson Koivun (21) makes his debut for the USA in the Presidents Cup at Medinah as a PGA Tour winner, less than four months after leaving Auburn University.

The Galgorm event, the first Division I collegiate golf tournament held here, was developed through a strategic partnership between the Ballymena resort, Cara Group Travel and Boardwalk Sports.

The tournament is expected to feature up to 16 leading Division I men's golf programmes competing in both team and individual championships as part of their regular-season schedules. 

"Welcoming some of America's premier university golf programmes to compete here reflects both the quality of the venue and Northern Ireland's standing as a global golf destination,"  said Gary Henry, Group Golf Director, Galgorm Collection.

Irish golf is struggling to find its own Koivun and so far, just five players have made it through the First Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School.

Of the 20 players to tee it up in seven of the first eight qualifiers, only Thomas Higgins (23), John-Ross Galbraith (32), Niall Kearney (38), Ronan Mullarney (31) and Dermot McElroy (33) have made next month's Second Stage.

Co Louth amateur Dylan Keating (24) has a chance to join them after a third-round 69 left him sitting on a seven-under qualifying mark with a round to play at Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf in Austria.

HotelPlanner Tour players will join the card battle at the Second or Final Stage, and Kilkenny's Mark Power still has a chance to make his mark on the second-tier tour after receiving an invitation for next week's Abu Dhabi Challenge.

The two-time Walker Cup star ranks 73rd in the Road to Mallorca Rankings and must reach the top 70 to qualify for back-to-back big-money events in China.

Only the top 45 in the Rankings qualify for the season-ending Grand Final, after which the top 15 in the final points list will earn DP World Tour cards.

It makes next week an important one for Liam Nolan (43rd in the standings), Gary Hurley (55th), Power (73rd), Max Kennedy (77th), Mullarney (136th), Conor Purcell (155th) and James Sugrue (215th).

Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin's comfortable 78th position in the Race to Dubai has allowed him to skip the FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National.

While he missed the cut in the BMW PGA, McKibbin's top five finish in the Amgen Irish Open leaves him well inside the top 100 who will keep their cards.

Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed and his nearest rival, Rory McIlroy, are also skipping the trip to Paris, where European Ryder Cup stars Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, and Adare Manor hopefuls Ryan Gerard and Kristoffer Reitan are the star attractions.

Manuel  Elvira, whose closing double-bogey cost him dear at Wentworth on Sunday, also tees it up.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire returns to action after her Solheim Cup heroics, joining Lauren Walsh and Stephanie Meadow in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship from tomorrow.

It's also a Friday start for Olivia Mehaffey, Sara Byrne, Anna Foster, Aine Donegan and Annabel Wilson in the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open in Milan.

Kinsale’s James Walsh made history as the first Munster winner of the One Finance Dundalk Scratch Cup.

He claimed the prestigious Carroll Cup by two shots from defending champion Caolan Rafferty.

A Maynooth University third-year and Harrington scholar, Walsh was making his first visit to Dundalk and immediately loved the course.

He seized control with a brilliant opening six-under-par 66 to lead by three shots over Rafferty and Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell, the West of Ireland runner-up.

Starting again at the ninth in round two, Walsh birdied the 10th and 14th to reach eight under, though bogeys at the 15th and 18th followed.

A birdie at the sixth, his 16th, restored his momentum, and pars at the seventh and eighth sealed a seven-under total and his first senior title.

Rafferty’s challenge faded with early bogeys, but he birdied the last two for a 70 and five under.

Campbell finished with a 71 for four under while Mark Cadden shot 68 to finish fourth.

During the prize-giving, Peter Rogers, the 1988 winner, was honoured for his 50th appearance.

Rogers, one of Dundalk’s finest golfers, was the competition’s first Dundalk winner. The event dates back to 1963 and boasts a famous roll of honour.

Walsh now joins an impressive list that includes Rafferty, Campbell, Padraig Harrington and JB Carr.

Dundalk Scratch Cup sponsored by One Finance (Par 72)

Overall

137 James Walsh (Kinsale) 66, 71

139 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 69, 70

140 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 69, 71

141 Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 73, 68; Daid Kitt (Athenry) 70, 71

143 Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 72, 71.

Round 1 Gross: Padraig Curry (Millicent) 71.

Round 2 Gross: Evan Farrell (County Louth) 70.

Overall Nett: Sean Ryan (+1.0, Warrenpoint) 144 (71, 73).

Portarlington ended a 76-year wait by lifting the Barton Cup for the first time since 1950 after a dramatic 3-2 second-leg win over Dundalk at home.

Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, Portarlington knew home advantage could be decisive, and it proved to be, but only after a three-hole play-off.

The first leg had been incredibly tight, with three foursomes decided in play-offs and another finishing on the 18th.

By limiting Dundalk’s lead to one point, Portarlington felt the tie was still alive. In the second leg, Bernard Scully and Craig Kennan led the home challenge and beat Conal Murdock and Adrian Kenny 3&2.

Niall Cooke and David Cosgrove then won 4&3 in the bottom match to put Portarlington 4-3 ahead on aggregate.

Dundalk rallied, winning the second and third matches on the 18th green to take a 5-4 lead.

Dennis Cunningham and John Paul Casey beat Jack Corr and Dermot Keenan 1-up, while Aidan Thornton and John McKeever came from one down with two to play to beat Iain MacDonald and Aidan Moore 1-up.

All eyes turned to Dylan Dunne and Colin Murphy in the final match. Two down with six holes to play against Emmet McCabe Savage and Gary Lennon, they produced a superb comeback, winning four of the last five holes to win 2-up.

That secured a 3-2 second-leg victory and levelled the aggregate at 5-5.

In the three-hole play-off, Dunne and Murphy faced Cunningham and Casey. After Dundalk missed a chance on the first, Portarlington won the next two holes to seal the trophy by two holes.

The celebrations continued long into the evening as players and supporters savoured a famous success.

Barton Cup Final Second Leg

Portarlington 3 Dundalk 2

(Aggregate 5-5, Portarlington win after play-off

Portarlington names first

Bernard Scully & Craig Kennan beat Conal Murdock & Adrian Keny 3&2;

Iain MacDonald & Aidan Moore lost to Aidan Thornton & John McKeever 1-up;

Jack Corr & Dermot Keenan lost to Dennis Cunningham & John Paul Casey 1-up;  

Dylan Dunne & Colin Murphy beat Emmet McCabe Savage & Gary Lennon 2-up;

Niall Cooke & David Cosgrove beat Tony McGuinness & Conor Murray 4&3.

Play-off: Dunne & Murphy beat Cunningham & Casey 2-up.

Séamus Power improved his chances of enjoying full PGA Tour status when he clinched his best finish of the season at the Biltmore Championship Asheville in North Carolina.

The West Waterford man (39) closed with a bogey-free, five-under 66 to tie for seventh on 20-under, six shots behind winner Jacob Bridgeman.

Power started the Fall Series ranked 114th in the FedEx Cup standings but moves up to 104th with six starts remaining after clinching his third top-10 of the season.

Bridgeman, who claimed his maiden PGA TOUR win at February’s Genesis Invitational, closed with a 10-under 61 to win by two strokes over rookie Ben James, who also shot 61, on 26-under.

Overnight leader Neal Shipley could manage only a 69 and tied for third with Ricky Castillo on 23-under on another low-scoring day at The Cliffs and Walnut Cove.

JT Poston narrowly missed from 27 feet at his final hole for a 59 and tapped in for a 60, finishing joint fifth at 21-under as Bridgeman made an eagle and eight birdies in his 61.

The PGA TOUR resumes after the Presidents Cup with the $6m Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort

The sixth Annesley Williams Škoda 9-Hole Matchplay Championship comes to Sutton Golf Club from 26–27 September, closing the PGA in Ireland season and finalising the Elavon Order of Merit.

A Pro-Am on Friday 25 September sets the stage. Then 32 of Ireland’s leading PGA Professionals take on Sutton’s classic 9-hole links at Cush Point.

Saturday’s round-robin features eight groups of four; Sunday’s knockout decides the champion.

Annesley Williams Škoda has sponsored the event since 2019. There’s a €20,000 prize fund, and all 32 players are guaranteed a cheque.

Roganstown’s Neil O’Briain returns as defending champion. The event was the brainchild of Sutton Head Professional Paddy Devine, continuing the club’s long PGA in Ireland connection.

“This event has become a real highlight of the Irish PGA season,” said Cian Bennis, Managing Director at Annesley Williams.

Entry is free, and spectators are welcome to watch Ireland’s top PGA pros in action.

Shane Lowry says he’d endure the miseries he suffered over the past few years “a million times over” to enjoy moments like Sunday’s 11-shot Amgen Irish Open win.

“There have been a few times where I spent the few days after a tournament being pretty miserable this year,” Lowry said on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“Even though I was quite tired, it was nice to get to Adare on Monday and spend some time with the lads and do that and then nice to go home and see my folks.”

Winning, he admitted, was worth all the pain of the past four years. “You have to go through the tough times to experience the good times, and it's very, very hard at times to go through those tough times. But I'd go through them a million times over to experience what I did on Sunday.”

He was dragged back to mundane reality quickly at DP World Tour HW and admitted the Tour has “huge decisions” to make about its season-ending play-off events in the war-torn Middle East.

As things stand, the Abu Dhabi Championship (Nov.5-8) and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (Nov. 12-15), are scheduled to go ahead.

However, the DP World Tour said that, like its Formula 1 counterparts, which are expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to stage the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, it is monitoring the situation.

“We are in constant dialogue with our members and their management teams about the tournaments they play in, but ultimately players' individual schedule choices are a matter for them to decide,” the DP World Tour said.

"As far as our play-offs are concerned, it remains our intention to play as scheduled in the UAE, but we continue to monitor the situation and take advice from our international travel advisors.”

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick said he’s not “100 per cent comfortable" about travelling to Dubai to defend November’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, as there is concern that the United Arab Emirates could be a target due to the ongoing Iran-USA war.

“I think if the tour do go, I'm sure they have had the best advice possible on what that looks like,” he said. “As things stand right now, I wouldn't necessarily be too keen on going.

Lowry opted not to weigh in heavily on the issue when he arrived at Wentworth, where he won in 2022.

“Well, as of last week, I wasn't in them,” he said of the two play-off events. “Haven't had a chance to think, but to be honest, I was planning on taking a decent break this winter, so I'm not sure I'm planning on going anyway.

“I don't know. I just have to wait and see what they will do. The Tour will make a decision pretty soon. We'll see.

“They are huge decisions for everyone— obviously for the Tour, for Dubai itself, for Abu Dhabi— and I'm not going to sit here and comment on the whole thing because I think it's up to the powers above to kind of sort that all out.

“I think if the tournaments are on, the players are going to go. And if they are not, they will find an alternative.

“Fortunately enough, I'm in a position that if they are not on in November or January, I've got options [on the PGA TOUR].”

The conflict in the Middle East could also affect the Hero Cup team event, which is crucial to Europe’s Ryder Cup preparations, and is scheduled for Abu Dhabi Golf Resort the week before the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.

As for the 2027 DP World Tour schedule, it was confirmed that the Irish Open will move from September to July 1-4 to avoid a clash with the Ryder Cup in Adare.

“Yeah, it's going to make summer extra busy for us all,” Lowry said. “But you know, obviously it is what it is with the Ryder Cup with the date it is. It will be nice for me.

“I'll be able to stay at home. My family will be there. It will be a nice week to be at home.

Rory McIlroy, who shot a 12-under 60 in the BMW PGA Pro-Am, confirmed on Sunday that he’ll play at The K Club, though he fears some stars will stay away.

“Field-wise, we'll see; I'm not sure,” he said. “The Scottish Open will be the week after and a lot of guys are probably going to play that. But I get it. The Ryder Cup's in Ireland next year and something had to give."

Meanwhile, Séamus Power will look to bounce back from his missed cut at Doonbeg in the PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship in North Carolina.

The first of eight Fall Series events, it’s a chance for players to retain their spots among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup, who will be fully exempt this year or for players like 114th-ranked Power to improve their status.

On the Ladies European Tour, Lauren Walsh, Aine Donegan, Sara Byrne, Anna Foster, Annbel Wilson and Olivia Mehaffey tee it up in the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort in Spain.

Say what you want about President Donald J. Trump — and he has plenty of detractors— Doonbeg's staging of the Amgen Irish Open proved a massive success.

Shane Lowry's epic 11-shot win, huge crowds and brilliant TV pictures will have Tourism Ireland and Government officials doing cartwheels as the focus turns to the big public spend on next year's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

It wasn't just a huge week for Lowry as he silenced his doubters—a group in which he counted himself at times—with an imperious performance; it was also a mega-week for Irish golf, which is struggling to find the successors to a golden generation of golfers who have brought home 12 Major wins over the past 19 years.

Brian Shaw, Doonbeg's affable Head Professional for the past 26 years, took time away from a sponsors' day and the start of a five-week 'teardown' that began in pouring rain on Monday, to sum up what the event means.

"You couldn't have scripted it any better," he said of Lowry's victory. "He was the ideal person as a winner.

"The crowd up the 18, the golf on Sunday, it was Open Championship type stuff… it was bonkers."

It was a phenomenal two weeks for West Clare and the southwest after Lahinch Golf Club staged a remarkable Walker Cup the weekend before the Irish Open that yielded a heart-stopping finish that went right to the final putt on the final hole of the final match.

It looked an impossibly tough act to follow, but with the Trump circus adding to the razzmatazz and attracting millions of eyeballs to the Doonbeg links, the finale was dream stuff for all concerned.

"The exposure is colossal," said Shaw, who believes the two events will lead to an increased uptake in golf by the local kids who swarmed over the dunes. "That's huge in the area."

International business is always strong, but Irish and UK golfers are now vying with the American clientele for tee times.

"Already this morning the phone was hopping—086 and 087 numbers. A lot of Irish want to go and play."

It's safe to say that Doonbeg's Irish Open exceeded all expectations.

"Absolutely, one million per cent," Shaw said

The event moves to The K Club next year for the 100th anniversary staging, and while it's too soon to say whether it will return to Doonbeg, it's not ruled out.

"It's a tough one, really," Shaw said. "I would definitely want to see how long it takes for the course to come back. Once the teardown is finished, you can see it's six months or whatever. How long does it take? That's the first thing.

"But right now, with the emotion of the whole thing, absolutely, I'd love to host another one because we really, really enjoyed it."

Plans are already in place to remove pinch points, especially around the second and third.

Buy-in from local clubs from Kilkee, Kilrush, Lahinch, Dromoland Castle and Spanish Point bolstered the 450-strong volunteer cohort. 

"Lahinch had such an epic week themselves up there, and they're down marshalling and carrying scoreboards and all that kind of stuff; I just thought that was fantastic. All the clubs rallied, and like Paul McGinley's Irish Open at Lahinch in 2019, it was the same thing in terms of the cooperation with the Garda and Clare County Council. It was pretty cool.

"In terms of the impact for us, we're a busy club anyway, but the exposure is huge for the uptake in golf with kids. There are loads of juniors coming through the clubs, and I think that events like the last two weeks will really strengthen that.

"Next year is probably not quite sold out here, but most of the tour operator bookings are already nailed down. But we'll probably end up getting a lot more business from the UK too."

Player buy-in is key to any possible return, and Shaw received great feedback. 

"They really enjoyed the site," he said. "I was talking to a few of the lads there, Paul Waring and Matt Wallace, and they enjoyed their week."

Rory McIlroy's voice counts for a lot, and he had nothing but good things to say.

"I think it's been a great week," he said. "I think it's looked great on TV. There's been a lot of crowds. Obviously, we've got a great leaderboard. Everyone hopes that Shane can get it done today."

True to form, Lowry delivered an Irish Open that will go down as one of the most memorable ever played.

Shane Lowry has spent enough time with Pádraig Harrington over the past 18 years to know that time waits for no man in professional sport.

The 39-year-old Offaly man is three months older than Lionel Messi, who drew the curtain on his international career after Argentina's FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Golfers have a longer shelf-life than footballers, but Lowry has been referring to his age and the ticking clock for quite some time now, and if Sunday's epic Amgen Irish Open win proved anything, it's that he still has runway ahead.

"People don't notice, but you have a 20-year career, and I matched that exactly," 55-year-old Harrington said at Doonbeg last week. "I got my late win after 20 years. I won in 2015, 2016. But the game was really hard for me, really; I was trying so hard. I was going out there, shooting 72, 73, coming in, sitting with young lads at lunch and wondering, Should I be there? I was very much burnt out."

Lowry is far from being burnt out, but he's been patently aware of his golfing mortality for some time, even far back at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

"I said to the lads last night, I said, we've got a young team," Lowry said in Europe's victory press conference. "Rose is the only player on the team over 40; I'm the second-oldest at 36…"

Failing to make the top 50 in the FedEx Cup makes scheduling more demanding next season, as he won't automatically qualify for the signature events.

But after falling out of the world's top 50 last month for the first time in two and a half years, his record-setting Irish Open win - beating Bernhard Langer's 10-shot margin over Sandy Lyle at Royal Dublin in 1987 —catapults him from 53rd to 41st in the OWGR and back where a golfer needs to be.

It means he just has to remain inside the magic number until December 31 to secure his 12th start at Augusta and the chance to redeem himself after shooting respective final rounds of 81 and 80 in 2025 and 2026 when lying sixth and fourth.

It would have been easy to allow those days to fester and dwell on those disappointing losses in the Dubai Invitational, where he double-bogeyed the 72nd hole, or the Cognizant Classic, where he was three clear with four holes to play and suffered a late meltdown.

While some rely on mental coaches — and Lowry has worked on and off with Dr Bob Rotella — the Offaly man is a team sportsman at heart, and his mini boot camp with his closest confidantes after his FedEx Cup exit proved the difference.

His decision to change caddie after missing the cut at the US Open and go back to Dermot Byrne, who was on his bag for the first decade of his career, also proved vital.

"Obviously it all clicked this week," Lowry said on Sunday night. "But I felt mentally I was in an amazing place this week, as well. I felt like I went out and went after it. I felt like I played somewhat carefree golf, where I wasn't worried about making mistakes. I wasn't worried about the outcome of anything."

The way he approached the final round was pure Rotella.

When Harrington botched the 72nd hole in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, golf's most successful mental coach told the Dubliner how he wanted him to approach the play-off with Sergio Garcia,

"I want you to run out of holes (in the play-off) like a track man running through the tape," Rotella said. "If a trackman starts slowing down before the tape, he loses time. I want you to just run out of holes and then find out how you did."

Perhaps sensing that this is a watershed period of his career, for all his talk of minor results blips and an underlying trend of good golf, Lowry was a man on a mission all week.

A 349-yard drive and a short iron to 16 feet at the first yielded a birdie that extended his lead to five strokes and he never stopped pushing.

"I said to Neil [Manchip] this morning, maybe I got caught up a couple of times this year of not playing to the final whistle when things happen," he revealed.

"Whether I'm five ahead or five behind, I'm playing to the 18th and we'll see where we are after that. So I did that today."

He was so focused he didn't realise when he made a 10-footer for birdie at the 15th that he was ten clear.

Still, he kept on pressing, determined to burst through the finish line "and give the crowd something to cheer about."

It took over an hour and a half from the time he holed his final birdie putt to seal the biggest margin of victory in Irish Open history for Lowry to complete his round of speeches and media obligations.

He wore the same grin he wore on the first tee at Baltray in 2009, when he teed it up in his first Irish Open as an amateur and went on to win.

He continues to play the same brand of genius, artistic golf, but last week he played with an aggression unusual for a player whose imprimatur is relentless rhythm.

He wasn't Sugar Ray Leonard but Marvin Hagler.

"I said to myself this week, and I don't know why it came into my head, but I said I'm going to go out and go after this tournament," he said. "And I never really think like that, and it really stuck with me all week."

Shane Lowry might turn 40 next year, but he firmly believes his best golf lies ahead of him after he destroyed the field and romped to an 11-shot Amgen Irish Open win.

The Offaly man closed with a seven-under 63 to win on 23-under par and end a four-year victory drought that catapults him back into the world's top 50 and right to the top of the European Ryder Cup standings,

He admitted he had to "fight a few demons off on the course" after he followed tough losses in the Dubai Invitational and the Cognizant Classic with a disastrous closing 80 in the Masters.

But after mentally resetting with his team in Florida last month, he feels ready to achieve even bigger highs.

"Dubai was difficult," he said. "Cognizant was pretty hard. But I would go back to the Sunday of the Masters was especially difficult for me this year, and I feel like after that, a lot of wind went out of my sails. 

After gathering his team in Florida, he arrived in Doonbeg determined to win.

"I feel like I went out to win this week," he said. "I went out and went after it. I went after it differently than what I've done before, and it worked.

"I said to myself, I'm going to go out and I'm going to go after it this week. I'm going to go after this golf course, and I'm going to go after this tournament, and I did that. It's worked out unbelievably well.

"I felt mentally I was in an amazing place this week, as well. I felt like I played somewhat carefree golf, where I wasn't worried about making mistakes. I wasn't worried about the outcome of anything."

He admitted that turning 40 has been in the back of his mind, but his ambition knows no bounds.

"Driving in here Thursday morning for my 18th Irish Open, you're thinking ', I've been around a long time', but in a performance like that, you know, I've still got a lot of good golf in me, and I've still got a lot to give," he said, believing the best is yet to come. 

"This year has been hard, but you know, you have to go through the tough times. I've kept saying for the last few weeks, this is just a minor speed bump in the career. It's nothing really.

"I think you have to believe that [my best is ahead]. I think if you don't believe that, you're on the way out."

After his disappointments this year, he was determined to keep putting his neck on the line. 

"Put yourself in tough positions and try and fight through it," he said.

"Today was a big day for me. You know, if I didn't win today, I don't even want to think about what I would have been like for the next while. It would have been hard."

His win reminded him of winning The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, when he had a four-shot lead heading into the final round of a Major for the second time and banished the demons of the 2016 US Open loss to Dustin Johnson.

"I said to myself today, I have to go out and win this," he said. "I have no other choice. Honestly, there are a lot of similarities to 2019. 

"And I went out there and grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, and I did that, so that was pretty good."

His magical Sunday and brilliant putting performance owed much to his mini camp with manager Brian Moran, coach Neil Manchip and strength and conditioning coach Robbie Cannon after he failed to progress in the FedEx Cup play-offs after the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis and felt his heart wasn't in it. 

But he also felt his decision to part with caddie Darren Reynolds after the US Open and reunite with Dermot Byrne was just what he needed.

"All my caddies have been great; great people to be around, and they have been great servants to me," he said. "Dermot did pretty much the first ten years of my career with me.

"It was amazing to win The Open at Portrush with Bo [Martin], and I always remember that wasn't long after we finished, and I always remember feeling bad for Dermo' about that he didn't get to do that. 

"I said to him, walking up 18, I couldn't be happier walking up the 18th fairway today with anyone other than him."

"Darren has been great the last few years. We had some great times. Bethpage last year was incredible. He's a great caddie and a great person, too. I'm going to get to catch up with him at Wentworth, as well. He lives near there. So that will be good.

"But it's unbelievable to have Dermo back. He's been so positive and such a breath of fresh air for me when I needed it most.  

"That was unreal. It was great to have him out there today."

Shane Lowry didn’t just win the Amgen Irish Open; he pummelled the field into submission with a display of front-running that injects new life into his career and puts him right back into the conversation as a man with more Majors in his future.

Bad luck and self-inflicted wounds had left him bereft of individual titles for four years before he ran away with the title on the west Clare coast to return to the world’s top 50 in style and take a giant step towards automatic qualification for next year’s Ryder Cup in Adare.

He was four shots clear overnight, but his rivals never managed to lay a metaphorical glove on him from the moment he brushed in a 16-footer at the opening hole for the first of seven birdies, putting him on the road to a closing 63 and an 11-shot victory in 23-under par.

“I mean, this year has been quite difficult on the course for me. I’ve had a few chances to win, and I had some really tough times,” he said.

“To come here this week and do this like, come on! I don’t know. I just don’t do things by half measures. I can’t believe I’m standing here.

“I said to my caddie after 15, ‘How are we doing? Or how far ahead are we?’ He said, ‘Far enough. ’ A lot of things went right for me. But this has been the most spectacular week. I think everything about it, it’s just mad. I can’t believe it.

“Like my mum’s just standing there. It’s been unreal. My wife and my kids are back in Florida. When things are not going well at this level, it’s hard at home as well.

“But my wife’s been a huge support, and my kids, and I just I love them so much. I’m so happy just for them. I can’t wait to bring a trophy home.

“My daughter’s always asking me when you’re going to bring a trophy home. So yes, I’m going to bring one home. She’s going to be absolutely delighted with that.”

As for adding a second Irish Open to his CV, 17 years after winning as an amateur, he said: “I said to Dermo, walking in the last, obviously, Portrush was incredible. Bethpage last year was incredible, and I keep feeling like I can’t better it.

“I sat in Croke Park last Saturday night watching Katie Taylor with almost a little bit of jealousy about what she was achieving and getting to do it in front of her home fans, and I got to do this week. Like, this is incredible. So yeah, I’m so happy.”

As for his near misses this year, he said: “I’ve had to fight a few demons off over the past few months on the course when you get yourself into contention.

“I did take some time away the last few weeks, I worked pretty hard. I got all my team over to Florida, and we worked hard. And this just shows you what hard work can do.”

Five clear of Danish left-hander Jacob Skov Olesen after the first, he made a 10-footer at the fifth to stretch his lead to seven and a 43-foot monster at the seventh to move eight clear of the Dane and Patrick Reed, who closed with a 64 to finish tied second with Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (67) on 12-under.

He was still eight clear after a birdie at the eighth, and while he bogeyed the ninth to turn for home seven ahead, the back nine was a procession.

A two-putt birdie at the 10th restored his eight-shot lead, but he wanted more and knocked in an eight-footer for a two at the 14th and an outrageous 44-footer from off the green at the 15th to go ten ahead.

After lipping out with a birdie chip at the 16th, he parred the 17th and hit a stunning six-iron to 29 feet at the last before inevitably rolling in the birdie putt to clinch his seventh DP World Tour win with US President Donald Trump observing the mayhem from the stands.

Tom McKibbin tied for fifth on 10-under after a 67 to all but secure his DP World Tour card for 2027, assuming he doesn’t remain with LIV Golf.

Galway’s Liam Nolan was 31st on three-under on his Irish Open debut after a 69, while Rory McIlroy, undone by a third-round 74, was 41st on one-under after a 67.

The world number two mixed an eagle and 15 birdies with eight bogeys and four double bogeys over his four rounds at Doonbeg.

He hasn’t won since he retained his Masters but remains hopeful for the rest of the season as he eyes a fifth Race to Dubai triumph in a row that would see him tie Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight season-long crowns.

“I’ve seen enough good stuff this week to give me encouragement,” said McIlroy, who remains second in the standings behind Reed. “I don’t feel too far away.

“I've got next week, and India. Hopefully, we play two events in the Middle East, so four opportunities to play well and get myself in contention, get myself a little cushion at the top of the Race to Dubai.

“There were a couple of destructive shots, a couple of bad decisions off the tees yesterday, but overall, iron play was a lot better.”

Liam Nolan was proud to show mental resilience on his Amgen Irish Open debut and heads into the business end of the HotelPlanner Tour season with renewed confidence.

The Galway man (26) closed with a one-under 69 to finish tied for 33rd on three-under.

It wasn't the career-best cheque for €€41,342 that pleased him most, but the way he held his own against a world-class field.

"Very solid. Very happy with the week as a whole," he said. "I'm just really happy to play the four rounds and represent myself well."

The high winds that blew early in the week didn't bother him and he heads now into his final five events on the second-tier tour feeling good about himself.

The Bearna native wasn't distracted by the high-profile visit of President Trump or the superstars around him, having learned that the hard way when he played in The Open as an amateur at Royal Troon in 2024.

"I learned a lot from The Open. I was a young amateur. It was like Christmas Day, wanting to see everything and do everything," he joked of a week where he deliberately hit balls next to Tiger Woods.

"I made a point with my caddy that we're just going to treat this like any other tournament that we play. 

"Obviously it's huge; it's an Irish Open in the west of Ireland for me, especially. But not to hype it up and try harder, pretty much; just to do what I do week to week and see where we go from there.

"I think that's what I'm most proud of this week is how I held it together mentally… any time I got kicked out there, I was able to just put it behind me quickly.

"I'm just really happy. I was able to put four nice rounds together, and tee it up with some of the best players in the world, and prove that I'm not really that far off them. 

"So I suppose it's a bit of a confidence booster, and I'm hoping to bring that into the rest of the season."

He enjoyed his final round with Matt Wallace, who made seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch to shoot 66.

The transition from amateur golf to the pro game has taught him that on tour, you go low or go home.

"Amateur golf doesn't prepare you to shoot eight under… these guys are shooting 64s every day," he said of the second-tier tour. "So it's a great place to learn how to fire at flags and just be aggressive."

As for his cheque, he said: "I'll be playing for money for a while into my future, hopefully. It's more the experience for me, the learning. 

"I'm only into my second year as a pro, so look, the money's nice for sure. But I'm just out here to learn, really."

Perhaps one day, he'll get a chance to play an Irish Open in Connacht,

"Obviously, yes, I would love to see it," he said. "In terms of a links course, County Sligo is probably as strong as we have."

Rory McIlroy finished up making up the numbers at the Amgen Irish Open, but he believes he saw enough good stuff in his game to be positive heading to the BMW PGA at Wentworth.

The world number two mixed an eagle and 15 birdies with eight bogeys and four double bogeys over his four rounds at Doonbeg, closing with a three-under 67 to finish 40th on one-under.

He hasn't won since he retained his Masters title in April but remains hopeful for the rest of the season as he eyes a fifth Race to Dubai triumph in a row that would see him tie Colin Montgomerie's record of eight season-long crowns.

"I've seen enough good stuff this week to give me encouragement," McIlroy said before jetting straight home to London to see his family. "I don't feel too far away.

"I've got next week, and India. Hopefully, we play two events in the Middle East, so four opportunities to play well and get myself in contention, get myself a little cushion at the top of the Race to Dubai.

"There were a couple of destructive shots, a couple of bad decisions off the tees yesterday, but overall, iron play was a lot better."

Blaming his third-round 74 for taking him out of the tournament, he added: "I felt like I was within touching distance going into yesterday, and then just that bad start didn't give me any chance of contending after that.

"I was just trying to salvage something today. Yesterday wasn't a great day, but today was better. 

"I hit some good shots, saw a couple of putts drop in, which was nice, and at least gives me encouragement going into next week.

"It was just a struggle on the greens, and that was the big reason why I wasn't able to get myself into contention."

He praised the Irish Open and Doonbeg as a venue, but he was coy on how strong the field will be at The K Club next year as the Championship moves away from its September slot to a late June date, just before the Scottish Open and The Open, due to September's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

As for future venues post 2027, he recalled fond memories of County Sligo Golf Club, where he won back-to-back West of Ireland titles in 2005 and 2006.

"I think so," he said when asked if he'd be supportive of Rosses Point hosting Connacht's first Irish Open.

"Geez, I haven't been there since 2007. I guess Sligo could hold in terms of, like, it's a big enough town to have infrastructure around it and the roads in and out. "They've done some work to the golf course as well in the last 20 years so, I'm probably not the best person to judge whether it is good or not, but I've certainly good memories from it."

As for a return to Doonbeg, he said: "I think it's been a really good week. From a player perspective, most players can stay on site. There's accommodation. Even with the President visiting, it's been pretty seamless. 

"It hasn't been that hard to get in and out. It's a good venue. I mean, it was a shame it was so soft, just with all the rain. 

"I think if it had played like a true links course, it would have been a truer links test, I guess.

"Again, from a player perspective, everything's worked really well this week."

Shane Lowry has suffered more than his fair share of heartbreak this season, but riding the wave of emotion generated by a massive home crowd, he feels ready to end his four-year drought and claim his second Amgen Irish Open win at Doonbeg.

Seventeen years after he held off Robert Rock in a play-off to win the Irish Open as a 22-year-old amateur, he takes a four-shot lead over Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen into the final round.

"I'm feeling good," he said. "I felt great out there. I really did. I felt like I was just staying in shot by shot and doing my thing. 

"Obviously, it's a big day for me tomorrow. I'm going to be leading my home tournament, and it would mean the world to knock this one off. 

"So I'm just going to have to put my head down, get back to work whenever my tee time is tomorrow, and give it a run."

He needed nine singles putts on the back nine to build his lead, but while six were for par, backing up a course-record 62 with a five-under 65 shows he's got the game to get over the line.

"I felt like I did a great job today of just staying in the moment and playing my own game," he said. "I had so much fun out there in the back nine. 

"Crowds are incredible, and they cheered me on the whole way home.·Hopefully they'll do the same tomorrow."

He had a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2016 US Open at Oakmont and lost to Dustin Johnson. But after converting another four-shot lead into victory at The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 and going to become a Ryder Cup hero last year, there's no doubt that the field has its work cut out.

"It would mean the world to me to knock this one off"

Shane Lowry leads by four going into tomorrow's Amgen Irish Open final round: https://t.co/A6ije7e6aM pic.twitter.com/bLowSfnGkO

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 12, 2026

As for that incredible run of single putts — 10 in 11 holes from the eighth and nine in a row on the back nine—he was grinning from ear to ear.

"I was walking down 18 and it popped into my head," he said. "It's amazing what you think of. It was nice. 

"But I was just holing the putts you're supposed to. Obviously I holed a couple of nice ones, but you know a lot of them are in the sort of six-to-seven-foot range, which are the ones that you really think you should hole, and if you miss, it kind of annoys you a little bit. So it was nice to see the ball going in.

"I was out of position a few times, but I knew if I could put myself back in position that I was rolling the ball well. So let's hope that stays the way through tomorrow.

"I'm normally the one watching other people do it, so why not me sometimes? So it's nice. 

"I'm seeing my lines well and starting the ball where I want, and they're going in, and hopefully that stays that way for another 24 hours."

Perhaps the most crucial putt he holed came at the eighth, where he brushed in an 11-footer to regain the lead after Olesen made eagle to tie momentarily.

"That was big," he said. "I felt my round was gone a bit stale and a bit slow, and it kind of got me going again.

"He [Olesen] played great today. If he plays the same tomorrow, I'm going to have to play better to beat him. He's a great young player. He was impressive out there. 

"So I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Final group, leading my home tournament, it's nice."

Around 20,000 fans are expected for the final round, and Lowry wants to give them something to cheer about.

"I obviously want to try and enjoy it as much as I can," he said. "But there's only one way I'm going to enjoy tomorrow, and we all know what that is.

"It's been an amazing week so far. I think Ireland has done great again with another amazing golf tournament, and I'm happy to be at the top of the leaderboard."

As for the distraction of Donald Trump landing as he played the third, he grinned: "I was ready for any distractions… I just got on with it because I feel like I've been around long enough to deal with stuff like that.

"It was a pretty insane day, and I'm just happy where I'm sitting this time."

Winning, he said, "would mean a lot."

He planned a quiet dinner with his friends and coaching team to plan for Sunday.

"If I can't feel good now, I never will," he said. "I've got a nice lead going into tomorrow. Hopefully it's going to be a great day."

As for the support, it hit home as he made that ninth consecutive one-putt at the 18th for par.

"I knew it was for my ninth one-putt in a row, so I pretty thought that was pretty cool," he said. "Never done that before. I wish they were all for birdies, but they weren't. 

"I just look around at the crowd, the support I got. It's late on a Saturday night. People have kids out there. They have to get home. So I'm chuffed that they're still behind to support me."